Starting residency · CO
Starting residency in Colorado
Colorado requires residents to hold a training license from the Colorado Medical Board: the Physician Training License. Colorado has a flat income tax (4.4% for 2026).
Training license
- Status
- Training license required
- Called
- Physician Training License
- Apply
- State law: the program's statement must reach the board at least 30 days before the resident starts, and the license lapses if a complete application is not received within 60 days after starting.
- Renewal
- Valid 3 years (expiring August 31); renewable once for 3 more years
Who applies: Resident, online; the program director or supervising physician signs a Training Program Statement.
Residents without a full Colorado license need a training license, except for Colorado rotations of 60 days or less. The license allows practice only under supervision and only for the named program, so moonlighting is not covered, and it ends when the resident leaves the program. The board does not publish the fee on the pages read; state law caps it at $50.
Full license: After 1 year of board-approved postgraduate training, for US graduates (MD or DO) and IMGs (who also need ECFMG certification). A full license matters if you plan to moonlight.
Source: Colorado Medical Board
State income tax
Flat income tax: 4.4% for 2026. Some cities charge a flat monthly Occupational Privilege Tax on people who work there. Denver's employee share is $5.75 a month once Denver earnings reach $500 in the month; Aurora and Greenwood Village charge $2.
Source: taxfoundation.org
Match Day to your first loan payment
Assumes you enroll in RAP or IBR when the grace period ends, recertify once a year, and file each tax return by April. Your servicer's dates govern.
Mid-March
Match Day
You learn where you'll train. Your program sends its residency (GME) agreement and onboarding steps.
March–April
Colorado training license
Apply for your Colorado training license as soon as your program sends instructions. Applications often need school records and background checks that take weeks.
April–June
Credentialing and onboarding
Hospital credentialing, health screening, payroll and benefits forms, and a DEA registration if your program requires one.
Late June–July 1
Move and start
Intern orientation usually starts in the last week of June. When the first paycheck arrives depends on the hospital's payroll schedule, so budget for a few weeks of moving costs without one.
About 6 months after graduation
Federal loan grace period ends
Payments start 6 months after you leave school. Choose a plan before then, or request residency forbearance, during which interest accrues and months don't count toward PSLF.
First year of payments
Payments use last year's income
RAP and IBR use the adjusted gross income on your most recent tax return, which for most new residents is a student year. Payments rise after you recertify with a resident's income.
One board licenses MDs and DOs. A TABOR surplus can trigger a temporary rate cut, but the September 2026 Legislative Council forecast says no TABOR refunds will be paid for tax year 2026.
Related
- Compare RAP, IBR and Tiered Standard on a resident's income
- Colorado physician non-compete law, for when you sign your first attending contract
- All states
General information, checked on the date above. Board requirements and fees change; confirm with the Colorado Medical Boardand your program before you apply.