Colorado HB20-1326 - Colorado HB20-1326 and Impact on Professional Engineers

Colorado Occupational Credential Portability Program

By: Ryan Malone
Published: 08/07/2020

This communication is to inform you of recent legislation affecting professional engineers appying for licensure in Colorado.

On June 25, 2020, Governor Jared Polis signed HB20-1326 Create Occupational Credential Portability Program, which takes effect January 1, 2021. The new law removes the credential endorsement, reciprocity, or transfer language from the practice acts for most of the professions/occupations under the purview of the Division of Professions and Occupations (Division) and centralizes them in the newly created Occupational Credential Portability Program (Program). The new law directs the regulators for the affected professions/occupations to implement the Program in the least burdensome way necessary to protect the public. This law also allows military spouses to obtain, at no cost, three-year temporary credentials for any profession or occupation under the purview of the Division, if they hold a credential in good standing from another US jurisdiction.

Under the Program, regulators for the affected professions and occupations shall grant a Colorado credential to an applicant with a credential in good standing from another US jurisdiction, upon:

Submission of satisfactory proof that the applicant’s experience or credential is substantially equivalent to that specified in Colorado state law and that the applicant has not committed an act that would be unprofessional conduct or grounds for discipline in Colorado.
Payment of applicable fees.
Compliance with requirements set out in Colorado state law for the profession or occupation, such as passing an exam.

Professionals affected by these changes are encouraged to read the entire text of HB20-1326. Implementation of these changes is in process. Questions may be referred to dpo@state.co.us. Please visit the DPO Legislative Update webpage for all updates affecting licensees under the Division’s regulatory authority.

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