Licensure/Certification

The Colorado Office of Audiology Licensure and the Colorado Office of Speech-Language Pathology Certification are both divisions of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). DORA regulates individual license and certificate holders in the state of Colorado.

DORA activities include setting the requirements for licensure and certification, investigating complaints, and enforcing disciplinary actions against those who violate the Audiologist Practice Act or the Speech-Language Pathology Practice Act and Director’s rules and regulations. The mission of DORA is consumer protection through licensing and enforcement.

What’s the difference between licensure and certification?

Licensure and certification both protect consumers by establishing and enforcing a set of competency requirements that a professional must meet in order to practice. Licensure is regulated by a Licensure Board whereas certification is not.

Colorado State Certification

Colorado Licensure Requirements for Audiologists

DORA mandates that audiologists must obtain state licensure to practice in the state of Colorado. A speech-language pathologist who holds a special services license issued by the Department of Education and also works outside of the educational setting is not required to obtain certification from DORA.

What are the requirements for state licensure?
The DORA website provides details about what clinicians need for state licensure:
www.colorado.gov/pacific/dora/Audiology

The licensure board is available to answer questions about state licensure:
dora_audiologyboard@state.co.us
303-894-7800

Colorado Licensure Requirements for Speech-Language Pathologists

DORA mandates that speech-language pathologists must obtain state certification to practice in the state of Colorado. School speech-language pathologists who are paid solely by a school district, board of cooperative services, or state charter school providing services to exceptional children are excluded from regulation by DORA.

What are the requirements for state certification?

The DORA website provides details about what clinicians need for state certification:

• Continuing Professional Competency – Speech-Language Pathologists
  www.colorado.gov/dora/Speech-Language_Pathology_CPC
• Office of Speech-Language Pathology Certification
  www.colorado.gov/pacific/dora/Speech_Language_Pathology
• Certification Application
  www.colorado.gov/pacific/dora/Speech-Language_Applications
• Provisional Certification Application
  www.colorado.gov/pacific/dora/Speech-Language_Applications

DORA’s website has a video with information about how to meet the requirements of continuing professional competency requirements for certification: 

SLIDE GUIDE (VIDEO)

The DORA help desk is available to answer questions about certification:

dora_dpo_continuedcompetency@state.co.us
303-894-2363

School-Based Practitioners

For school-based speech-language pathologists and audiologists, please review the information found on our Colorado Department of Education Licensure page.