Level 2 alcohol classes in Colorado are a two-part program: 24 hours of Level II Therapeutic Education, followed by Level II Treatment on one of four tracks, ranging from 42 to 86 hours. Your BAC, whether you refused a chemical test, and your prior offenses set the track. Both the court and the DMV can require it.
This guide from the Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani, LLC explains how Colorado’s alcohol education and treatment ladder works, from the 12-hour Level I class to the longest Level II track. It covers who orders the program, whether online classes count, what it typically costs, and how an experienced Denver DUI lawyer can affect how many hours you end up completing.
Key Takeaways
- Level I Education is 12 contact hours of alcohol and drug education. Level II Therapeutic Education is 24 contact hours spread over at least 12 weeks.
- Level II Treatment has four tracks. Track A is 42 hours over at least 21 weeks, Track B is 52 hours over 26 weeks, Track C is 68 hours over 34 weeks, and Track D is 86 hours over 43 weeks.
- A BAC of 0.15 or higher, a chemical test refusal, or a prior DUI or DWAI moves you to a longer track under Colorado Behavioral Health Administration rules.
- Current state rules allow you to complete Level I, Level II Education, and Level II Treatment Tracks A through D in person or via telehealth through a licensed Colorado provider.
- The sentencing court orders classes under C.R.S. 42-4-1307, and the DMV separately requires Level II completion or enrollment before reinstating a license after a 0.15 BAC or persistent drunk driver designation under C.R.S. 42-2-126.
- A DWAI plea or a successful challenge to the BAC evidence can change which level or track applies, which can mean dozens of fewer hours.
What are Level 2 alcohol classes in Colorado?
Level 2 alcohol classes are the court-ordered and DMV-required education and treatment programs for impaired driving in Colorado. The Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) licenses the agencies that run them and sets the content, hours, and group sizes in its rule, 2 CCR 502-1. The programs are built specifically for DUI and DWAI cases, and every curriculum must include a legal session on Colorado’s ignition interlock laws.
Colorado uses the term “Level II” to describe two separate pieces. The first is Level II Therapeutic Education, which is a classroom-style program. The second is Level II Treatment, which is counseling on an assigned track. Most people complete the education component first,d then move into treatment, unless a clinician documents a reason to combine them.
Level I Education: the 12-hour class
Level I Education is the shortest program on the ladder. Under 2 CCR 502-1, it consists of 12 contact hours of DUI-specific instruction, with no more than four hours in a single day, in groups of no more than 20 people. The DMV describes Level I as a program that is typically taught in at least three sessions.
Level I is the common outcome for a first DWAI or a lower-BAC first offense when the alcohol and drug evaluation does not show a need for treatment. If you are weighing a plea, it helps to understand what a DWAI is in Colorado and how it differs from a DUI, because that difference often decides whether Level I is realistic.
Level II Therapeutic Education: the 24-hour class
Level II Therapeutic Education is 24 contact hours. The rule caps credit at two hours per week, so the program takes at least 12 weeks, and groups are limited to 12 people. The instructor must be a certified addiction technician, certified addiction specialist, or licensed mental health professional, or a candidate for that license.
How are the Level II therapy tracks assigned?
Level II Treatment tracks are assigned by three factors: your BAC, whether you refused a breath or blood test, and how many DUI or DWAI offenses you have. Section 10.8 of 2 CCR 502-1 sets the minimum hours and weeks for Tracks A through D. The “statutory PDD level” in the rule refers to the 0.15 BAC persistent drunk driver threshold.
- Track A: BAC below 0.15, no refusal, one offense. 42 hours over at least 21 weeks.
- Track B: BAC of 0.15 or higher or a test refusal, one offense. 52 hours over at least 26 weeks.
- Track C: BAC below 0.15, no refusal, two or more offenses. 68 hours over at least 34 weeks.
- Track D: BAC of 0.15 or higher or a test refusal, two or more offenses. 86 hours over at least 43 weeks.
Credit is capped at two clinical contact hours per week on every track, and the rule doesn’t allow make-up sessions, so the calendar time is as fixed as the hours. The DMV’s own summary adds the 24 education hours on top of each track, which is why you will see combined totals of 66 to 110 hours quoted for a full Level II program.
Level II Four Plus for repeat offenders
Drivers with four or more impaired driving offenses can be placed in Level II Four Plus, sometimes called Track F. Under Section 10.9 of the rule, that program requires at least 180 clinical contact hours over at least 18 months, with individualized treatment and reviews every 60 days. It is generally delivered in person, with telehealth allowed only when the record documents a reason.
Who orders DUI classes in Colorado: the court or the DMV?
Both can, but for different reasons. The criminal court orders education or treatment as part of your sentence, while the DMV requires it as a condition of getting your license back. The DMV’s reinstatement brochure states plainly that a court-ordered program may differ from the Motor Vehicle reinstatement requirement, so you must satisfy both.
What the sentencing court requires
Under C.R.S. 42-4-1307, a first DUI carries five days to one year in jail, a fine of $600 to $1,000, and 48 to 96 hours of useful public service. The court may suspend the minimum jail time if you complete a Level I or Level II program based on your alcohol and drug evaluation. For a first DWAI, the range is two to 180 days in jail, a $200 to $500 fine,e and 24 to 48 hours of public service, with the same evaluation-based option.
For a second offense, the statute requires at least two years of probation and makes a Level II education or treatment program a mandatory probation condition at your expense. The evaluation ordered under C.R.S. 42-4-1301.3 tells the court which level and track fit your case, which is why it matters so much to the outcome. The overview of DUI penalties in Colorado walks through how those penalties scale with each offense.
What the DMV requires for reinstatement
The DMV’s alcohol and drug education and treatment page lists when Level II is required for your license: two alcohol violations within five years, three or more in your lifetime, a revocation for a BAC of 0.15 or higher, multiple per se revocations, or a chemical test refusal. Under C.R.S. 42-2-126(4)(d)(II), the department must require Level II completion before it restores driving privileges after a 0.15 BAC or persistent drunk driver designation, and it then issues an interlock-restricted license.
You do not have to finish the full program before you reinstate. You can file an Affidavit of Enrollment (form DR 2643), completed by your BHA-licensed agency, and finish Level II as a condition of reinstatement. If the agency later reports you as non-compliant, the DMV will cancel and deny your license, and you will lose the ability to reinstate on an affidavit. When you complete the program, the agency must provide a DUI/DWAI Referral Summary (DRS) within 10 business days at no charge; that document serves as proof for both the court and the DMV.
Can you take Level 2 alcohol classes online in Colorado?
Yes, with limits. The current BHA rule states that Level I Education, Level II Therapeutic Education, and Level II Treatment Tracks A through D may be completed in person or by telehealth. Telehealth means live sessions with a licensed Colorado provider, not a self-paced video course, and the same weekly hour caps and group limits apply.
Two cautions apply. First, Level II Four Plus is an in-person program except when a clinician documents a reason to use telehealth. Second, an out-of-state or unlicensed online course will not generate a DRS, and neither the court nor the DMV will accept it. The Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani, LLC recommends using the BHA’s OwnPath directory to confirm a provider is licensed before you pay.
How much do DUI classes cost in Colorado?
You pay for the program yourself, and prices vary by agency, so treat any figure as a typical range rather than a quote. Level I Education usually costs a few hundred dollars. A full Level II program, meaning the 24-hour education class plus a treatment track, commonly runs from several hundred dollars for the shortest track to a few thousand dollars for Track D, since agencies charge per session or per hour.
Those costs sit on top of the DMV’s $95 reinstatement fee and $25 DUI restoration fee, the evaluation fee, SR-22 insurance,e and any interlock lease. Because the hours drive the cost, the track you are placed on is also the biggest cost variable you can influence.
How does completing classes affect your license and probation?
Completion depends on three things: the end of your probation, your reinstatement, and the length of your ignition interlock requirement. The court will not close a DUI probation until the agency reports completion, and a judge can treat an unfinished program as a probation violation. On the DMV side, noncompliant discharge triggers the cancel-and-deny process described above.
Interlock rules are connected too. Under C.R.S. 42-2-132.5, a driver with a 0.15 BAC or persistent drunk driver designation must hold an interlock-restricted license for at least one year after reinstatement, and repeat offenders face two to five years. A new law, House Bill 26-1242, takes effect June 1, 2027, for revocations on or after that date, and it will require first-time DUI offenders to keep the interlock for nine months while expanding financial assistance for the device. The firm’s guide to ignition interlock requirements in Colorado explains the current timelines in detail.
How a Denver DUI lawyer can lower the hours
The Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani, LLC handles DUI and DWAI cases in Denver County Court and across Colorado, and the track question comes up in almost every one of them. Because BAC, refusal status, and prior offenses set track placement, the most effective work happens before the evaluation, not after. Here is where our attorneys see the biggest differences.
- Challenge the BAC number. If a breath or blood result at or above 0.15 is thrown out or reduced, Track B becomes Track A, which is 10 fewer treatment hours and five fewer weeks, and the one-year interlock requirement may no longer apply.
- Contest the refusal at the express consent hearing. A refusal alone places you on Track B or D and brings a persistent drunk driver designation. You have only seven days after arrest to request that DMV hearing.
- Negotiate a DWAI plea where the facts support it. A first DWAI with a lower BAC often results in Level I, the 12-hour class, as a realistic evaluation outcome rather than a full Level II program.
- Verify the prior-offense count. Out-of-state convictions and older cases are sometimes counted incorrectly, and the difference between one and two offenses is the difference between Track A and Track C.
- Enroll early. Starting a licensed program before sentencing shows the court good faith, lets you reinstate on an Affidavit of Enrollment, and avoids a gap that extends your probation.
Common mistakes our attorneys see
The most expensive mistake is paying for an unlicensed online course that produces no DRS, then paying again for the real program. Close behind is missing the seven-day DMV hearing deadline, which locks in a refusal and the longer track. We also see clients stop attending after a schedule conflict, not realizing that the rule bars make-up sessions and that a non-compliant discharge restarts the reinstatement problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Level 2 alcohol class take in Colorado?
Level II Therapeutic Education is 24 hours over at least 12 weeks. Level II Treatment then adds 42 to 86 hours over 21 to 43 weeks, depending on the track. A complete Level II program typically takes eight to 13 months because credit is capped at two hours per week.
What is the difference between Level 1 and Level 2 alcohol classes in Colorado?
Level I is a 12-hour education class with no treatment component, usually assigned for a first DWAI or lower-BAC first offense. Level II combines 24 hours of education with a 42- to 86-hour treatment track. Your alcohol and drug evaluation, BAC, refusal status, and prior record determine which level you receive.
Can I do my Colorado DUI classes online?
Under the current Behavioral Health Administration rule, you may complete Level I and Level II Education and Treatment Tracks A through D via telehealth with a Colorado-licensed provider. Sessions are live, not self-paced, and the weekly hour caps still apply. Level II Four Plus is an in-person program except when a clinician documents a reason to use telehealth.
Do I need to finish Level II before I can get my license back?
Not always. You can reinstate using an Affidavit of Enrollment (form DR 2643) from your licensed agency and finish the program as a condition of reinstatement. If the agency reports you as non-compliant, the DMV will cancel and deny your license until you show completion or renewed enrollment.
Does a DWAI require alcohol classes in Colorado?
Often, yes. Under C.R.S. 42-4-1307, a first DWAI sentence can include a Level I or Level II program based on your evaluation, and the court may suspend the two-day minimum jail term if you complete it. A DWAI with a lower BAC and no priors is more likely to result in Level I than a DUI is.
Who provides proof that I completed my classes?
Your BHA-licensed agency issues a DUI/DWAI Referral Summary, called a DRS, within 10 business days of your request at no charge. The DRS is the document both the court and the DMV accept as proof of enrollment or completion.
Talk to a Denver DUI lawyer before your evaluation
Level 2 alcohol classes in Colorado can mean 66 to 110 hours and most of a year of your life, and the track you land on is largely decided by what happens in the first weeks of your case. The Law Offices of Steven J. Pisani, LLC works to protect the BAC evidence, the refusal question, and the prior-offense count before the evaluation sets your hours. Learn more about how our Denver DUI defense attorney approaches these cases, then contact the firm for a free consultation or call (303) 635-6768. Every case depends on its facts, and an early conversation is the best way to find out which options apply to yours.