Solar Installation — Colorado license requirements
01 The project
The starting point is the work itself — Solar Installation in Colorado. The job determines which trades are involved, and the trades determine which license classifications may be required.
| Component | Trade |
|---|---|
| Solar energy system | Solar |
| Electrical interconnection | Electrical |
02 Jurisdiction
This project is evaluated for Colorado — the two-layer state with no statewide general contractor license at all (a verified absence, not a gap). The state regulates exactly two trades, plumbing (C.R.S. Art. 155) and electrical (Art. 115), through DORA's Division of Professions and Occupations; general construction licensing is entirely local with six researched regimes, and the permit / inspection authority flips state ↔ local by job-site county. There is no statewide dollar threshold, bond or general-liability figure — each a verified absence — and registration conditions are workers' compensation + unemployment evidence only. Colorado jurisdiction page.
Permit fees, plan-review timelines, exemption lists and every locality beyond Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs/PPRBD, Fort Collins, Larimer County and Jefferson County remain LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED; PPRBD was unreachable all research day, so its license types, fees and exams are NOT_VERIFIED. The official C.R.S. host returns HTTP 403 to this environment, so statutory text was read on FindLaw's mirror retaining the official section anchors — a published limitation on the hub. Without a job-site location the local answer is NOT_DETERMINED, never a guess. State requirements are not the complete story for any locality.
03 Trade → license
Relations below are recorded per state — only this jurisdiction's classifications are shown.
Trades involved: Solar, Electrical.
- Component basis MASTER-ELECTRICIAN — Master Electrician (ME) confirmed S-CO-12-115-107 rule CO-ELECTRICAL-LICENSEThe interconnection limb, verbatim: on installations of at least 300 kW, ALL photovoltaic electrical work — 'the interconnection of the modules, grounding of the modules, any balance of system wiring, and the customer-side point of connection to the utility grid' — 'must be performed by a licensed master electrician, licensed journeyman electrician, licensed residential wireman, or properly supervised electrical apprentices' (§12-115-107(2)(f)). Smaller systems follow the same licensing regime via board rules/permits — no separate statutory hour threshold is published (research §O).
- May require ELECTRICAL-CONTRACTOR — Electrical Contractor (business registration) confirmed S-CO-ELEC-APPS rule CO-ELECTRICAL-CONTRACTORThe default answer: a hired rooftop PV install is electrical work → licensed electricians (RW/JW/ME) working for a registered Electrical Contractor, plus a state Electrical (Photovoltaic) permit obtained before installing (homeowner, electrical contractor OR photovoltaic installer may obtain it; plan review via SolarApp+ or Symbium). There is NO generic 'solar contractor license' in Colorado — verified absence (research §O).
- Alternative path PHOTOVOLTAIC-INSTALLER — Photovoltaic Installer (business registration — SB25-165, new) confirmed S-CO-ELEC-APPS rule CO-PV-INSTALLER-REGThe NEW alternative business credential: SB25-165 PV installer registration with the State Electrical Board 'no later than December 31, 2026' — ≥1 NABCEP Certified employee, designated agent(s), Colorado Secretary of State good standing, qualifying by PV work on or before 2025-09-01. A registration, not a license; applications open late 2026 (time-gated facts → NOT_DETERMINED) (research §O).
04 Scope
What the official sources say about the work involved — typed assertions, never a boolean "covers". Interpretations are marked as such.
- Officially included MASTER-ELECTRICIAN Planning Laying Out Installing And Repairing Wiring For Light Heat And Power Per Current Nec (may_perform) C.R.S. §12-115-107(2)(a)(I) S-CO-12-115-107 The electrical trade field as the board defines it — new work, additions, alterations AND repairs, all against the current NEC. Attached to ME as the highest license; the same standards sentence governs all three licenses (research §E).
05 Requirements
| Requirement | Kind | Statement | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical contractor registration required — a master electrician as responsible individual, one company only, WC + UC evidence DPO Electrical Applications verbatim (read 2026-10-04) | registration | DPO Electrical Applications verbatim: 'To perform Electrical Contracting in the State of Colorado, you must be a licensed Electrical Contractor registered with the State of Colorado… Hold or employ a licensed master electrician to serve as the responsible individual for the company. The Master Electrician and Company Owner (if separate individuals) must sign an Acknowledgment of Responsibility Form. The selected Master Electrician may be the responsible party for one company only. Must submit evidence of compliance with Workers' Compensation and Unemployment Compensation laws. For local requirements, contact the city and/or county government in the area in which you work.' | S-CO-ELEC-APPSSource S-CO-ELEC-APPS — Colorado State Electrical BoardDPO Electrical — Applications (contractor registration, reciprocity, SB25-165) — DPO Electrical Applications verbatim (read 2026-10-04) https://dpo.colorado.gov/Electrical/Applications Retrieved 2026-10-04 · last verified 2026-10-04 Read 2026-10-04 (canonical URL confirmed in page HTML). Electrical Contractor registration verbatim: 'To perform Electrical Contracting in the State of Colorado, you must be a licensed Electrical Contractor registered with the State of Colorado… Hold or employ a licensed master electrician to serve as the responsible individual for the company. The Master Electrician and Company Owner (if separate individuals) must sign an Acknowledgment of Responsibility Form. The selected Master Electrician may be the responsible party for one company only. Must submit evidence of compliance with Workers' Compensation and Unemployment Compensation laws. For local requirements, contact the city and/or county government in the area in which you work.' Experience paths (RW 4,000 h residential-only ≥2 years OR ≥2 years accredited training; JW 8,000 h ≥4 years incl. 2,000 commercial/industrial ≥2 years + 288 hours classroom 'for ALL applicants'; ME three paths). Reciprocity (NERA, journeyman-only): 'a state-administered examination with a passing score from the licensing state', license held ≥1 year, current/active/good standing, no grandfathered licenses — listed states AK, AR, ID, IA, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, ND, OK, SD, UT, WY. SB25-165 verbatim: 'Senate Bill 25-165 requires Photovoltaic Installers to register with the State Electrical Board no later than December 31, 2026' — ≥1 NABCEP Certified employee, designated agent(s), good standing with the State and registered with the Colorado Secretary of State, qualifying by 'performing PV work on or before September 1, 2025'; applications open late 2026. Foreign-trained path: one year in-country experience, ≤3 years (JW) / ≤4 years (ME) out-of-country credit, transcripts evaluated by an accredited electrical engineering department (research §C/§D/§K/§O). |
| State electrician license required to perform electrical trade work — residential wireman scope limit C.R.S. §12-115-109(1)–(2) verbatim (FindLaw mirror, read 2026-10-04) | license | C.R.S. §12-115-109(1) verbatim: 'No person shall engage in or work at the business, trade, or calling of a journeyman electrician, master electrician, or residential wireman in this state until the person has received a license from the division…'. §12-115-109(2) verbatim: a residential wireman 'shall not perform electrical work of a type that is beyond the authorization of the license held.' The board's minimum standards are the current NEC (§12-115-107(2)(a)) and localities may adopt MORE stringent standards but not weaker ones. | S-CO-12-115-109Source S-CO-12-115-109 — Colorado General Assembly (C.R.S. official host) — read via FindLaw mirrorC.R.S. §12-115-109 — Electrician licenses (journeyman, master, residential wireman) — C.R.S. §12-115-109(1)–(2) verbatim (FindLaw mirror, read 2026-10-04) https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-12-professions-and-occupations/co-rev-st-sect-12-115-109/ Retrieved 2026-10-04 · last verified 2026-10-04 Read 2026-10-04 (FindLaw mirror). (1) verbatim: 'No person shall engage in or work at the business, trade, or calling of a journeyman electrician, master electrician, or residential wireman in this state until the person has received a license from the division…'. (2) verbatim residential-wireman scope limit: a residential wireman 'shall not perform electrical work of a type that is beyond the authorization of the license held.' Contains NO dollar threshold (verified absence — research §B/§F). |
| Photovoltaic Installer registration — SB25-165, register with the State Electrical Board no later than December 31, 2026 DPO Electrical Applications verbatim (read 2026-10-04) + 3 CCR 710-1 Rule 1.13(A) | registration | DPO verbatim: 'Senate Bill 25-165 requires Photovoltaic Installers to register with the State Electrical Board no later than December 31, 2026.' Requirements (same page): employ at least one NABCEP Certified employee; designate agent(s) — 'the registration is invalidated if the agent leaves'; be in good standing with the State and registered with the Colorado Secretary of State; qualify by 'performing PV work on or before September 1, 2025.' Applications become available late 2026. 3 CCR 710-1 Rule 1.13(A) confirms photovoltaic-installer registrations renew every three years with board licenses. | S-CO-ELEC-APPSSource S-CO-ELEC-APPS — Colorado State Electrical BoardDPO Electrical — Applications (contractor registration, reciprocity, SB25-165) — DPO Electrical Applications verbatim (read 2026-10-04) + 3 CCR 710-1 Rule 1.13(A) https://dpo.colorado.gov/Electrical/Applications Retrieved 2026-10-04 · last verified 2026-10-04 Read 2026-10-04 (canonical URL confirmed in page HTML). Electrical Contractor registration verbatim: 'To perform Electrical Contracting in the State of Colorado, you must be a licensed Electrical Contractor registered with the State of Colorado… Hold or employ a licensed master electrician to serve as the responsible individual for the company. The Master Electrician and Company Owner (if separate individuals) must sign an Acknowledgment of Responsibility Form. The selected Master Electrician may be the responsible party for one company only. Must submit evidence of compliance with Workers' Compensation and Unemployment Compensation laws. For local requirements, contact the city and/or county government in the area in which you work.' Experience paths (RW 4,000 h residential-only ≥2 years OR ≥2 years accredited training; JW 8,000 h ≥4 years incl. 2,000 commercial/industrial ≥2 years + 288 hours classroom 'for ALL applicants'; ME three paths). Reciprocity (NERA, journeyman-only): 'a state-administered examination with a passing score from the licensing state', license held ≥1 year, current/active/good standing, no grandfathered licenses — listed states AK, AR, ID, IA, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, ND, OK, SD, UT, WY. SB25-165 verbatim: 'Senate Bill 25-165 requires Photovoltaic Installers to register with the State Electrical Board no later than December 31, 2026' — ≥1 NABCEP Certified employee, designated agent(s), good standing with the State and registered with the Colorado Secretary of State, qualifying by 'performing PV work on or before September 1, 2025'; applications open late 2026. Foreign-trained path: one year in-country experience, ≤3 years (JW) / ≤4 years (ME) out-of-country credit, transcripts evaluated by an accredited electrical engineering department (research §C/§D/§K/§O). |
| PV ≥300 kW must be performed by licensed master/journeyman/residential wireman or properly supervised apprentices C.R.S. §12-115-107(2)(f) verbatim (FindLaw mirror, read 2026-10-04) | license | C.R.S. §12-115-107(2)(f) verbatim: 'On and after January 1, 2020, all photovoltaic electrical work for installations of at least three hundred kilowatts, including the interconnection of the modules, grounding of the modules, any balance of system wiring, and the customer-side point of connection to the utility grid, must be performed by a licensed master electrician, licensed journeyman electrician, licensed residential wireman, or properly supervised electrical apprentices and must comply with all applicable requirements of this article 115…' | S-CO-12-115-107Source S-CO-12-115-107 — Colorado General Assembly (C.R.S. official host) — read via FindLaw mirrorC.R.S. §12-115-107 — Electrical board powers: NEC standards, PV ≥300 kW, EV/solar-ready code — C.R.S. §12-115-107(2)(f) verbatim (FindLaw mirror, read 2026-10-04) https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-12-professions-and-occupations/co-rev-st-sect-12-115-107/ Retrieved 2026-10-04 · last verified 2026-10-04 Read 2026-10-04 (FindLaw mirror). (2)(a)(I) verbatim minimum standards: 'the minimum standards governing the planning, laying out, and installing or the making of additions, alterations and repairs in the installation of wiring apparatus and equipment for electric light, heat, and power in this state' per the most current NEC. (2)(a) last sentence verbatim: 'Nothing contained in this section prohibits any city, town, county, city and county … from making and enforcing any such standards that are more stringent than the minimum standards adopted by the board…' (2)(b) board registers apprentices. (2)(f) verbatim: 'On and after January 1, 2020, all photovoltaic electrical work for installations of at least three hundred kilowatts, including the interconnection of the modules, grounding of the modules, any balance of system wiring, and the customer-side point of connection to the utility grid, must be performed by a licensed master electrician, licensed journeyman electrician, licensed residential wireman, or properly supervised electrical apprentices…'. (3)(a) HB23-1233 model electric-ready/solar-ready code (enforcement since March 1, 2024); (3)(b) local provisions yield to it (research §A/§O). |
| HB23-1233 model electric-ready / solar-ready code applies to electrical permits for new construction and major multifamily renovations C.R.S. §12-115-107(3) (FindLaw mirror, read 2026-10-04) | permit | C.R.S. §12-115-107(3)(a): for electrical permits on new construction or major renovations of multifamily buildings, applicants must comply with the model electric-ready and solar-ready code (EV power-transfer-infrastructure requirements); enforcement since March 1, 2024. §12-115-107(3)(b): local building and zoning provisions yield to these rules. | S-CO-12-115-107Source S-CO-12-115-107 — Colorado General Assembly (C.R.S. official host) — read via FindLaw mirrorC.R.S. §12-115-107 — Electrical board powers: NEC standards, PV ≥300 kW, EV/solar-ready code — C.R.S. §12-115-107(3) (FindLaw mirror, read 2026-10-04) https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-12-professions-and-occupations/co-rev-st-sect-12-115-107/ Retrieved 2026-10-04 · last verified 2026-10-04 Read 2026-10-04 (FindLaw mirror). (2)(a)(I) verbatim minimum standards: 'the minimum standards governing the planning, laying out, and installing or the making of additions, alterations and repairs in the installation of wiring apparatus and equipment for electric light, heat, and power in this state' per the most current NEC. (2)(a) last sentence verbatim: 'Nothing contained in this section prohibits any city, town, county, city and county … from making and enforcing any such standards that are more stringent than the minimum standards adopted by the board…' (2)(b) board registers apprentices. (2)(f) verbatim: 'On and after January 1, 2020, all photovoltaic electrical work for installations of at least three hundred kilowatts, including the interconnection of the modules, grounding of the modules, any balance of system wiring, and the customer-side point of connection to the utility grid, must be performed by a licensed master electrician, licensed journeyman electrician, licensed residential wireman, or properly supervised electrical apprentices…'. (3)(a) HB23-1233 model electric-ready/solar-ready code (enforcement since March 1, 2024); (3)(b) local provisions yield to it (research §A/§O). |
| Valid state permit required BEFORE installing plumbing/electrical work — work started first costs double the permit fee DPO permits page (permit-before-work) + 3 CCR 720-1 / 3 CCR 710-1 (double fee) + DPO permit information (validity), all read 2026-10-04 | permit | DPO permits page verbatim: 'A valid Colorado State Electrical permit must be obtained prior to installing electrical wiring' and 'A valid Colorado State Plumbing permit must be obtained prior to installing plumbing.' Both rule sets state: 'Any work commencing prior to the purchase of a permit is subject to twice the prescribed permit fee' (3 CCR 720-1 and 3 CCR 710-1). State permits are valid 12 months with ONE 6-month extension; reinspection fee at the discretion of the inspector; a trim permit fee applies if a permit expires after rough-in. Residential state plumbing permits are priced by fixture count (traps, water hammer arrestors, backflow preventers, water heaters, fuel gas outlets, regulators) and commercial by valuation. | S-CO-DPO-PERMITSSource S-CO-DPO-PERMITS — DORA — Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO)DPO — Electrical and Plumbing permits (jurisdiction lists, notices, program history) — DPO permits page (permit-before-work) + 3 CCR 720-1 / 3 CCR 710-1 (double fee) + DPO permit information (validity), all read 2026-10-04 https://dpo.colorado.gov/ElectricalPlumbingPermits Retrieved 2026-10-04 · last verified 2026-10-04 Read 2026-10-04 (tabs read in served HTML). 'A valid Colorado State Electrical permit must be obtained prior to installing electrical wiring' and 'A valid Colorado State Plumbing permit must be obtained prior to installing plumbing.' County jurisdiction lists verbatim (state does NOT inspect where a local program exists — Adams except Federal Heights, Arapahoe except Bow Mar/Deer Trail/Sheridan, Boulder, Broomfield, Chaffee, City of Pueblo and Town of Boone, Delta (city only), Denver, Douglas, Eagle except Minturn/Town of Avon, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Mesa, Pitkin, Pueblo, Routt, San Miguel (Telluride & Mountain Village), Summit, Teller, Weld; plumbing adds Clear Creek, Elbert, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, La Plata, Lake, Moffat, Prowers and differs in the electrical-only exceptions): 'If the county where your job site is located is listed below, do not continue with the permit application process and use the links provided to access the local jurisdiction.' Board history + the 'Notice to Homeowner' ('it is a violation of state law for an individual (other than the homeowner) that is not a registered Electrical or Plumbing Contractor to install an electrical or plumbing project on your property'). State plumbing inspectors cover 27 counties where local programs don't exist (research §A/§B/§C). |
06 Rule: CO-ELECTRICAL-LICENSE
C.R.S. §12-115-109(1) verbatim: 'No person shall engage in or work at the business, trade, or calling of a journeyman electrician, master electrician, or residential wireman in this state until the person has received a license from the division…'. §12-115-109(2): a residential wireman 'shall not perform electrical work of a type that is beyond the authorization of the license held.' Work type triggers — NO dollar threshold; homeowner self-performance is a separate outcome. Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| license-required | state_trade_license_required |
|
| license-already-held | license_already_held |
|
| homeowner-self-perform | homeowner_self_perform_conditions |
|
| not-electrical-work | outside_state_electrical_regulation |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-CO-12-115-109
07 Rule: CO-ELECTRICAL-CONTRACTOR
DPO Electrical Applications verbatim: to perform electrical contracting in Colorado you must be a registered Electrical Contractor — hold or employ a LICENSED MASTER electrician as the responsible individual, sign the Acknowledgment of Responsibility Form, 'The selected Master Electrician may be the responsible party for one company only', and evidence workers' compensation + unemployment compensation compliance. NO bond, NO general-liability figure (verified absence). Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| registration-required | state_trade_registration_required |
|
| registered | registration_held |
|
| not-an-electrical-business | outside_registration_scope |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-CO-ELEC-APPS
08 Rule: CO-PV-INSTALLER-REG
SB25-165 via DPO Electrical Applications verbatim: 'Senate Bill 25-165 requires Photovoltaic Installers to register with the State Electrical Board no later than December 31, 2026.' Conditions: ≥1 NABCEP Certified employee; designated agent(s) (invalidated if the agent leaves); good standing with the State and registered with the Colorado Secretary of State; qualifying by 'performing PV work on or before September 1, 2025.' Applications open late 2026 (time-gated facts → NOT_DETERMINED). Renewal every 3 years (Rule 1.13(A)). Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| registration-required | pv_installer_registration_required |
|
| registration-held | pv_registration_held |
|
| no-pv-work | rule_not_engaged |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-CO-ELEC-APPSS-CO-CCR-710-1
09 Rule: CO-PERMIT-BEFORE-WORK
DPO verbatim: 'A valid Colorado State Electrical permit must be obtained prior to installing electrical wiring' and 'A valid Colorado State Plumbing permit must be obtained prior to installing plumbing.' Both board rule sets: 'Any work commencing prior to the purchase of a permit is subject to twice the prescribed permit fee.' The permit applicant must be a 'qualified applicant' (§12-155-120(11)). State permits are valid 12 months with ONE 6-month extension. Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| permit-missing | permit_required_before_work |
|
| permit-obtained | permit_in_hand |
|
| no-state-trade-work | rule_not_engaged |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-CO-DPO-PERMITSS-CO-CCR-720-1S-CO-CCR-710-1
10 Rule: CO-INSPECTION-AUTHORITY
DPO verbatim: 'The State does not inspect in local jurisdictions having its own Electrical Inspection Program. You are responsible for determining the correct inspection authority.' The caller states whether the job-site county runs its own local program (from the DPO county lists). Without that LOCATION fact the answer is NOT_DETERMINED — never guessed. §12-155-120(1)(a) exempts local-program jurisdictions from state plumbing inspection; §12-115-107(2)(a) lets localities enforce more stringent electrical standards.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| local-authority | local_inspection_authority |
|
| state-authority | state_inspection_authority |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-CO-DPO-PERMIT-INFOS-CO-DPO-PERMITS
11 No solar license — electrical credential, new registration, one permit gate
Colorado has NO generic "solar contractor license" (verified absence). A hired rooftop PV install is electrical work with two business paths and one statutory performance rule:
| Question | Colorado answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Default credential path | licensed electricians (RW/JW/ME) working for a registered Electrical Contractor — master as responsible individual, one company only (rule CO-ELECTRICAL-CONTRACTOR) | S-CO-ELEC-APPS |
| Alternative business credential | the NEW photovoltaic installer REGISTRATION (SB25-165): register with the State Electrical Board no later than 2026-12-31, ≥1 NABCEP Certified employee, agent designation, Secretary of State good standing, qualifying by PV work on or before 2025-09-01 — a registration, not a license (rule CO-PV-INSTALLER-REG) | S-CO-ELEC-APPS |
| Installs ≥300 kW | §12-115-107(2)(f) verbatim: all PV electrical work — interconnection, grounding, balance-of-system wiring, customer-side point of connection — "must be performed by a licensed master electrician, licensed journeyman electrician, licensed residential wireman, or properly supervised electrical apprentices" | S-CO-12-115-107 |
| Permit before installing | an Electrical (Photovoltaic) permit must be obtained BEFORE installing; the homeowner, an electrical contractor OR a photovoltaic installer may obtain it; plan review via the state system | S-CO-DPO-PERMITS |
| EV / solar-ready code | electrical permits for new construction and major multifamily renovations must comply with the model electric-ready/solar-ready code (enforced since 2024-03-01); local provisions yield | S-CO-12-115-107 |
| Who inspects | the job-site county decides — local-program counties own the permit and inspection for their area | S-CO-DPO-PERMIT-INFO |
Time-gated facts (application availability, agent departure, registration status) return NOT_DETERMINED until they exist — the rule never pretends the 2026-12-31 registration has already happened. Smaller systems follow the same licensing regime via board rules and permits — no separate statutory hour threshold is published. The EV/solar-ready provision is one of the few places Colorado law preempts local provisions (§12-115-107(3)(b)).
12 Permit and inspection layer
The state decides WHO MAY WORK at the two state trades; the job-site county decides who permits and inspects. DPO verbatim: "The State does not inspect in local jurisdictions having its own Electrical Inspection Program. You are responsible for determining the correct inspection authority." In DPO-listed counties: "If the county where your job site is located is listed below, do not continue with the permit application process…" State plumbing inspectors cover the 27 counties with no local program. S-CO-DPO-PERMIT-INFO
A permit is per JOB, a credential is per WHO: "A valid Colorado State Electrical permit must be obtained prior to installing electrical wiring" / "A valid Colorado State Plumbing permit must be obtained prior to installing plumbing", and work started first costs twice the prescribed permit fee (3 CCR 720-1 / 710-1). Local building permits (roofing, mechanical, general) follow each jurisdiction's own schedule — LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED. S-CO-DPO-PERMITS
Verify the credential that actually applies on the official lookup before relying on any outcome here: DORA License Lookup (covers every DPO credential) — Denver publishes its own Contractor License Search for local classes. S-CO-DPO-HOME
Source S-CO-ELEC-APPS — Colorado State Electrical Board
DPO Electrical — Applications (contractor registration, reciprocity, SB25-165) — DPO Electrical Applications verbatim (read 2026-10-04)
https://dpo.colorado.gov/Electrical/Applications
Retrieved 2026-10-04 · last verified 2026-10-04
Read 2026-10-04 (canonical URL confirmed in page HTML). Electrical Contractor registration verbatim: 'To perform Electrical Contracting in the State of Colorado, you must be a licensed Electrical Contractor registered with the State of Colorado… Hold or employ a licensed master electrician to serve as the responsible individual for the company. The Master Electrician and Company Owner (if separate individuals) must sign an Acknowledgment of Responsibility Form. The selected Master Electrician may be the responsible party for one company only. Must submit evidence of compliance with Workers' Compensation and Unemployment Compensation laws. For local requirements, contact the city and/or county government in the area in which you work.' Experience paths (RW 4,000 h residential-only ≥2 years OR ≥2 years accredited training; JW 8,000 h ≥4 years incl. 2,000 commercial/industrial ≥2 years + 288 hours classroom 'for ALL applicants'; ME three paths). Reciprocity (NERA, journeyman-only): 'a state-administered examination with a passing score from the licensing state', license held ≥1 year, current/active/good standing, no grandfathered licenses — listed states AK, AR, ID, IA, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, ND, OK, SD, UT, WY. SB25-165 verbatim: 'Senate Bill 25-165 requires Photovoltaic Installers to register with the State Electrical Board no later than December 31, 2026' — ≥1 NABCEP Certified employee, designated agent(s), good standing with the State and registered with the Colorado Secretary of State, qualifying by 'performing PV work on or before September 1, 2025'; applications open late 2026. Foreign-trained path: one year in-country experience, ≤3 years (JW) / ≤4 years (ME) out-of-country credit, transcripts evaluated by an accredited electrical engineering department (research §C/§D/§K/§O).