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DPO COVID-19 Guidance and Emergency Regulations

Emergency rules related to COVID-19 and adopted in response to Executive Order D 2020-038 (which has been amended and extended several times) expired May 4, 2023 with the expiration of the Executive Order. 


Please note - Temporary Nurse Aide certifications are valid until the expiration date listed on the temporary license, but no longer than June 30, 2023. Employers should be mindful of the impact of the reinstatement of federal requirements based on the anticipated May 11, 2023 end of the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency declarations.


The following programs are no longer authorized by Colorado law:

Temporary licenses. The termination of the provision means no further temporary licenses will be granted on or after May 4, 2023. Those holding a current temporary license may work until the expiration date listed on the temporary license.

  • Nursing
    • Temporary licenses for professional or practical nurses holding an active, unrestricted license in good standing in a non-compact state
  • Medical 
    • Temporary licenses for Foreign Medical Graduates 


Delegation of authority in hospitals and inpatient settings:

  1. Physicians, Physician Assistants, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and Respiratory Therapists may no longer delegate services within their scope of practice to the following Colorado Licensed Professionals working in a hospital or inpatient facility. 

         a.  Podiatrists

         b.  Optometrists

         c.  Chiropractors

         d.  Veterinarians

         e.  Dentists

         f.  Physical Therapists

         g.  Physical Therapy Assistants

         h.  Occupational Therapists

         i.  Occupational Therapy Assistants

         j.  Speech-Language Pathologists

        k.  Surgical Assistants

        l.   Surgical Technologists

      m.   Volunteer Retired Nurses

       n.   Nurse Aides

       o.   Temporary International Medical Graduate (IMG) Licensees (Physicians only)

   2. Physicians, Physician Assistants, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and Respiratory Therapists may no longer delegate services within their scope of practice to the following unlicensed persons working in a hospital or inpatient facility.

       a.  Volunteer Nursing Students

       b.  Medical Assistants


Expanded scope of practice for Practical Nurses and Certified Nurse Assistants to administer the COVID-19 vaccination. Upon the termination of this provision, CNAs are no longer authorized to administer the COVID-19 vaccination. Practical Nurses may continue to administer vaccinations within their scope of practice.


Nurse and nurse aide education requirements

The following requirements are no longer waived.

  • Rule 1.2(C)(11) (requiring concurrent clinical and theory experiences to allow clinical hours to be completed beyond six (6) months of relevant theory content);
  • Rule 1.2(E)(15)(c)(4)(a) (requiring a minimum of four hundred (400) clinical hours graduation from a practical nursing education program);
  • Rule 1.2(E)(15)(c)(4)(b) (requiring a minimum of seven hundred fifty (750) clinical hours for graduation from a professional nursing education program);
  • Rule 1.2(E)(15)(c)(4)(c) (requiring fifty percent of clinical hours in the Medical Surgical Nursing II, Community Health and Capstone (practicum) courses, pediatrics, obstetrics, psychiatric and medical surgical nursing, including those clinical hours required for nurse refresher courses, be completed in a clinical setting);
  • Rule 1.2(E)(15)(c)(13)(d) (requiring faculty supervision for healthcare related volunteer experiences);
  • Rule 1.10 (D)(12)(a) (requiring successful completion of a written and skills-based examination prior to certification); and,
  • Rule 1.11 (E)(2)(a) (requiring a minimum of sixteen (16) hours of clinical instruction be performed in a clinical setting).