Healthcare Recruiting
Colorado CRNA License 2026: APRN Requirements, Independent Practice, Salary
Colorado is a full practice authority state for all APRNs including CRNAs. No physician supervision or collaborative agreement is required by state law, and Colorado has opted out of the federal Medicare CRNA supervision requirement. Denver's major health systems operate both ACT and CRNA-independent models; resort communities and rural mountain facilities are primarily CRNA-only. Colorado's scenic quality of life and strong salary market make it one of the most competitive states for CRNA recruitment.
Practice Model
- Full Practice Authority — no supervision or collaboration agreement required
- Colorado has opted out of federal Medicare CRNA supervision requirement
- ACT model: UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Children's Hospital Colorado, National Jewish Health
- CRNA-independent model: most community hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, mountain resort facilities
- Mountain resort communities (Vail, Aspen, Steamboat) primarily rely on CRNA-only anesthesia with competitive pay packages
Application Requirements
- Active Colorado RN license (compact or CO-issued)
- Current NBCRNA certification
- Official nurse anesthesia program documentation
- Completed dora.colorado.gov online application + $100 fee
- Criminal background check
Processing Timeline
Colorado Board of Nursing processes APRN applications in 6–8 weeks from complete submission. Temporary authorization to practice is not routinely available. The Colorado licensing portal is well-maintained; complete applications typically process without significant delays.
CRNA Salary in Colorado (2026)
| Market | Avg CRNA Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Denver / Aurora | $205,000–$235,000 | UCHealth, SCL Health, Centura, Banner; both ACT and independent |
| Colorado Springs | $198,000–$225,000 | UCHealth Memorial, Centura; military-adjacent; lower COL than Denver |
| Boulder / Fort Collins | $200,000–$228,000 | Boulder Community Health, UCHealth Poudre Valley; university markets |
| Mountain Resorts (Vail/Aspen/Steamboat) | $215,000–$260,000 | CRNA-only; orthopedic/sports surgery heavy; housing stipend often included |
| Rural / CAH facilities | $200,000–$230,000 | Eastern Plains + Western Slope CAHs; CRNA-only; recruitment bonuses |
Top Employers in Colorado
- UCHealth — Denver metro + Fort Collins + Colorado Springs; largest health system in CO; both ACT and CRNA-only settings
- SCL Health / Intermountain Health — Denver + Front Range; Catholic health system; growing CRNA demand post-merger
- Centura Health (CommonSpirit) — Denver + Colorado Springs; multi-site CRNA hiring
- Children's Hospital Colorado — Aurora; pediatric anesthesia; ACT model; CRNA fellowship available
- Vail Health — Vail; mountain resort medicine; CRNA-only; housing assistance for relocating CRNAs
What We See at Ava Health
Colorado consistently ranks among the top 10 CRNA markets for quality of life. Mountain resort positions are uniquely lucrative — Vail and Steamboat Springs positions routinely offer $240K+ with housing assistance, primarily serving orthopedic and sports medicine surgical volumes. Denver's competitive COL has moderated somewhat since 2022, but Boulder remains expensive. The Eastern Plains (Greeley, Pueblo, rural counties) offer strong CRNA packages with housing costs 40–50% below Denver.
Related: CRNA Salary by State 2026, NP License Colorado 2026, CRNA License Arizona 2026.
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