Healthcare Recruiting
Colorado PA License 2026: Physician Assistant Requirements, OTP Authority, and Salary
Colorado adopted Optimal Team Practice (OTP) for physician assistants, removing the requirement to file formal supervision agreements with the Medical Board. Colorado PAs document their collaborative physician relationships at the institutional or practice level, but no state approval of those arrangements is required. This has made Colorado one of the most PA-friendly states in the Mountain West and contributed to strong recruitment in the Denver metro and resort communities.
Practice Model: Optimal Team Practice (OTP)
Under Colorado's OTP framework, PAs establish collaborative arrangements with physicians through their employing organization, but the arrangement does not need state registration or approval. PAs can adapt their practice scope to their training and the needs of the practice without navigating BME or medical board approval processes.
- No state supervision filing: Collaborative relationships managed at institutional level
- Full prescriptive authority: Schedule II–V with DEA registration
- Independent clinic eligibility: PAs may practice in independent settings under OTP framework
Application Requirements
- Active NCCPA certification
- Graduation from ARC-PA accredited program
- Colorado Medical Board application and fee (~$200)
- Background check
- DEA registration if prescribing controlled substances
Processing Timeline
The Colorado Medical Board typically processes complete PA applications in 4–6 weeks. Colorado is generally faster than many western states. Total time to practice-ready including DEA: approximately 6–8 weeks.
PA Salary in Colorado (2026)
| Setting | Median Base | Typical Sign-On |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital / Inpatient (Denver) | $132,000 | $10,000–$20,000 |
| Surgical First-Assist | $142,000 | $10,000–$22,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $135,000 | $8,000–$18,000 |
| Primary Care / Outpatient | $118,000 | $5,000–$15,000 |
| Mountain / Resort Community | $128,000 | $8,000–$18,000 |
Top PA Employers in Colorado
UCHealth (University of Colorado Health) is the state's academic flagship, with the University of Colorado Hospital as the primary teaching and subspecialty campus. UCHealth recruits extensively for PA roles across its Denver, Aurora, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs facilities. SCL Health (now Intermountain, post-merger) operates several front-range hospitals. Centura Health (Advent Health affiliate) covers the Denver suburbs and Colorado Springs. Children's Hospital Colorado (Aurora) is the state's premier pediatric PA employer. Mountain communities — Vail Health, Aspen Valley Hospital, St. Anthony Summit — recruit for resort and wilderness medicine PAs with outdoor-lifestyle premiums.
What We See at Ava Health
Colorado's OTP model and 6–8 week licensure timeline make it one of the most efficient states for PA deployment. The Denver metro is competitive — sign-on bonuses are real but not exceptional compared to rural Colorado or out-of-state markets. Candidates who negotiate well in Colorado focus on RVU productivity bonuses and CME allowances rather than sign-on packages.
Related: NP License Colorado 2026, PA Salary by State 2026, Healthcare Recruiting in Colorado 2026.
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