Professional Licensure
https://at.cccs.edu/professional-licensure-disclosure/
Important Note for Prospective Students:
If you are considering an academic program that leads to a professional license in the state where you plan on living and working after graduating, it is highly recommended that you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency in that state BEFORE beginning the academic program at RRCC. Please visit specific program webpages for more information.
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Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetician, and Nail Technician
As a student applying for or attending the Cosmetology Program, you have the right to know the program meets the applicable state prerequisites for licensure or certification in Colorado.
Completion of the Cosmetology Certificate prepares students to take the State of Colorado licensure boards/exams, and the program meets the requirements for cosmetology licensing in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia.
The Cosmetology program does not meet the requirements for licensing in the following states: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Many states allow individuals who hold cosmetology licenses from other states to apply for licensure by reciprocity. Each state has different requirements for licensure by reciprocity, and students are encouraged to visit the Department of Regulator Affairs (DORA) for the state they want to practice in to get further specifics.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
The licensing body; ARDMS is a national and globally recognized registry. Currently, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oregon are the only states with approved legislation mandating the licensure of sonographers. This means these states will require those who choose to work there to obtain a state license in addition to their national license.
Early Childhood Education
In all fifty states and in all territories, teachers and directors of early childhood programs must be licensed. These vary widely and we recommend you visit the National Database of Childcare Licensing Regulations website to identify the requirements for the state in which you plan to live and practice. RRCC can only guarantee that the requirements for the state of Colorado are met with the program.
Electrician
The Colorado State Electrical Board is housed within the Department of Regulatory Agencies’ Division of Professions and Occupations. The Board licenses, registers, and regulates electricians, apprentices, and electrical contractors. The Board’s mission is to protect the health and safety of the people of Colorado by enforcing the state electrical statutes. States have reciprocity agreements in place through the National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA) for those holding a Journeyworker or higher license.
Emergency Medical Technology
Graduates of the EMS programs at Red Rocks Community College are eligible to take certification exams appropriate to their level through the National Registry of EMTs which provides a pathway for certification or licensure in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each state issues certifications and licenses to practice in their specific state and have varying reciprocity processes in regards to how NREMT certification is utilized. Graduates who plan to practice in states other than Colorado should contact the EMS office of the state they plan to move to in order to determine their specific reciprocity policies. An overview of acceptance of NREMT certification and state EMS office contact information can be found at https://nremt.org/resources/state-ems-offices.
Fire Science (Firefighter and Hazardous Materials Operations)
The Pro Board and The International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) are the two main certifying bodies in the United State for the fire service. South Dakota does recognize Pro Board. South Dakota needs to be contacted individually for their reciprocity processes. RRCC fire science programs are recognized by the other forty states.
Medical Assisting
Once program requirements have been met, students are eligible to sit for their National certification through the AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants). This credential is a nationalcertification recognized by employers across the country. Once test is successfully passed they become certified medical assistants and are recognized in all 50 states.
Medical Billing / Coding
Once program requirements have been met the students can sit for the AAPC certification. This is offered by AAPC for coding and is accepted in all 50 states.
Nurse Aide
All graduated nurse aide students must take and pass the Nurse Aide licensure exam in the state or territory where you wish to be licensed. The RRCC nurse aide program qualifies graduates to sit for the exam, and practice in: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Washington D.C., American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Northern Marianas, Palau, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands.
Nursing
Colorado participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) meaning Nurses can practice in other NLC states. The NUR program trains nursing students to obtain a Colorado State Nursing License. Once a graduate receives the Colorado State license they may then practice in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. (NCSBN, 2024)
Connecticut and the U.S. Virgin Islands are awaiting NLC implementation. Students may practice in these states once the compact has been implemented.
The Nursing program does not meet the state licensure requirements for the states below, as graduates cannot practice in these states and U.S. territories without obtaining additional licenses. Alaska, California, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico. Pennsylvania and Guam have partial implementation of the NLC (NCSBN, 2024).
Phlebotomy
Once program requirements have been met the students can sit for their RPT-AMT certification. This is offered by American Medical Technologists (AMT). AMT certification is accepted in all 50 states.
Physician Assistant
Completing PA education in an ARC-PA (Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant) accredited program in the United States allows the PA the ability to sit for the NCCPA (National Certification Commission for Physician Assistants) certifying exam. Upon passing the PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination), PA-C’s can apply for licensure in any state, U.S. territory, and Canada.
Plumbing
The Colorado State Plumbing Board is housed within the Department of Regulatory Agencies’ Division of Professions and Occupations. The Board licenses, registers, and regulates plumbers, apprentices, and plumbing contractors. The Board’s mission is to protect the health and safety of the people of Colorado by enforcing the state statutes. If you train to become a Journeyworker Plumber in Colorado, you may be eligible for license reciprocity or license by examination in other states.
Radiologic Technologists (Radiography), (Computed Technology), (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Graduates practicing as radiologic technologists are certified through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). ARRT certification qualifies technologists to practice in all fifty United States, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana, Palau, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Some states may require an additional state-specific license before working as a technologist there. For more info visit https://www.arrt.org/(link is external).
Water Quality Operator
The American Waterworks Association details the Water Operator certification requirements catalogued for all 50 states.
Water and wastewater plants operate within districts that are classified based on the population served, source water quality, and complexity of the system, on a D-A and 1-4 scale. A high percentage of holders of A and 4 licenses are WQM students. In order to gain and maintain employment at a treatment plant, an operator must hold a valid license for the discipline, equivalent to (or higher than) the classification of the district within which the plant operates.
Each discipline license is sequential and students must start with a Level 1 or Class D license after having passed a state licensing examination. Each of the five basic disciplines requires its own license. In addition to the five basic licenses, there are three additional licenses available for small systems. For more information on small systems licensing, please contact the OCPO office.
The five basic licenses are
1. Water Treatment Operator
2. Wastewater Treatment Operator
3. Industrial Wastewater Treatment Operator
4. Wastewater Collection Operator
5. Water Distribution Operator
Each facility is classified on a scale of either D-A or 1-4 for each discipline:
Water Treatment System D-A
Wastewater Treatment System D-A
Industrial Wastewater Treatment System D-A
Wastewater Collection System 1-4
Wastewater Distribution System 1-4
Gaining Employment as a Water Operator
Students that want quick entry into the water industries workforce are encouraged to take the following WQM college courses in the first semester. These courses have been designed to prepare WQM students for the state license exam. Upon successful completion of these courses, students may apply to take the state license exams. Grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the TAA-Department of Labor funded the development, redesign and adaptation of these WQM courses for hybrid and distance learning.
Recommended courses:
WQM 100 - Introduction to Water Quality
WQM 124 - C & D Review for Water Treatment, or
WQM 125 - C & D Review for Wastewater Treatment
Optional course:
WQM 105 - Specific Calculations for Water Quality
Maintaining an Operator License through RRCC
Each license level must be renewed every three years with up to three training units (TUs). This can be acquired by passing courses offered by RRCCs WQM program. One TU is acquired by completing 10 contact hours of study at the college level. The Water/Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board automatically approves each WQM-accredited course in 10-hour increments. In addition, grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the TAA-Department of Labor funded the development, redesign and adaptation of many WQM courses for hybrid and distance learning.
Preparing for the State License Exam
The Operator Certification Program Office (OCPO) receives more than 2,500 exam applications per year. Follow the pointers below as small mistakes can delay your application processing and approval.
1. You may submit your application approximately 5-6 weeks prior to the deadline date. The testing schedule can be found on www.OCPOweb.com
2. ONLY register for a test date at a testing site specifically listed on the website under Exam Instructions Dates and Locations.
3. If you are taking two or more exams, you must fill out a separate application for each exam. There is a fee for each application. If paying by check or money order, separate payment is required for each application. Online exams cost an additional amount per approved exam at the time of scheduling.
4. Once approved to take an exam, it is the examinee's responsibility to confirm an online exam date and time and pay the additional fee. Instructions for scheduling an online exam are on the exam approval letters. Once approved for an online exam you cannot change to a traditional paper, pencil exam.
5. Entry-level testers do not need to submit a TU (training unit) summary form.
6. For those submitting TUs and/or transcripts, include cop ies of your transcript if you are submitting for-credit college classes, or Certificate of Completion if you are submitting not-for-credit classes, with the application.
7. You do not need to list every class you are taking on your application. Simply write Red Rocks student and attach a copy of your transcript. Be prepared to provide an official copy, should the committee request it.
8. When listing your previous work experience, include only jobs that are relevant to the water and wastewater industry and the exam for which you are applying. Be specific; e.g., Sampling, processing, monitoring, lab analysis, disinfect ing clear wells, etc. If you are unsure about the process, call OCPO at 303-394-8994 for immediate assistance. As grades on the exam are part of our evaluation process, please submit a copy of your results so that we can better serve you.