Optician (Dispensing) / Colorado
2026 data Colorado board official source

Colorado Optician (Dispensing) License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Fits and adjusts eyeglasses and contact lenses. Licensed in ~22 states.

What the Colorado data shows for Optician (Dispensing)s

Becoming a licensed optician (dispensing) in Colorado means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 1,000 training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a background history check. Colorado regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Certificate/Degree".

Upfront cost is $100 on a 2-year cycle. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in Colorado, so the annualized maintenance burden is lower than in states that mandate ongoing hours.

Colorado evaluates out-of-state credentials case-by-case rather than through a published reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Optician (Dispensing) · Colorado

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training D
1,000 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C-
$100
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Colorado

Education / Training Hours
Certificate/Degree
1,000 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$100
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Optician (Dispensing) All Colorado licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Colorado licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Optician (Dispensing) in Colorado? ▼
Colorado requires 1000 education/training hours, passing an exam, and an initial fee of $100. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as an Optician (Dispensing) in Colorado? ▼
To become a licensed optician (dispensing) in Colorado, you must meet the state's requirements including 1000 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Colorado licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Optician (Dispensing) license to Colorado from another state? ▼
There's no published blanket reciprocity rule for optician (dispensing)s in Colorado - applications from other states are reviewed individually. Interstate licensing compacts cover many occupations and may still apply. Reach out to the Colorado licensing board for the current process.
Does Colorado require a background check for Optician (Dispensing) licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for optician (dispensing) licensing in Colorado. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.

Related Guides

What to do with this optician (dispensing) license

Optician (Dispensing) in Colorado is one requirement row in an optician (dispensing)-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Colorado licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.