Legally Reviewed by Shazam Kianpour on August 31, 2026
Level I Education is a 12-hour alcohol education course that Colorado requires many first-time DUI and DWAI offenders to complete, and it is the shortest of the state’s alcohol education and therapy tracks for people convicted of impaired driving. It is administered through the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), the state agency that now oversees the licensed providers who run these classes, and it is separate from any jail time, fines, or license consequences a court may also impose.
At Shazam Kianpour & Associates, P.C., we represent clients across Denver DUI and DWAI cases throughout the metro area, and we regularly field questions about what a sentence actually requires once a case is resolved. Below, we explain when Level I Education applies, how it differs from Level II education and therapy, and what can happen if a court-ordered class or evaluation goes uncompleted.
What Triggers a Level I or Level II Assignment
Colorado sorts DUI and DWAI offenders into education tracks based on a few key factors. Level I Education is generally reserved for first-time offenders whose blood alcohol content (BAC) fell below 0.15 percent and who submitted to a breath or blood test when asked. A first-time DUI charge in Colorado does not automatically mean Level I, however, since the assignment also depends on the outcome of a court-ordered alcohol evaluation.
Level II Education and therapy apply more broadly. Anyone with more than one DUI or DWAI conviction, anyone who tested at 0.15 percent BAC or above, and anyone who refused a breath or blood test after being lawfully stopped under Colorado’s express consent law will typically be assigned to Level II rather than Level I, regardless of whether it was their first arrest.
What Level I Education Involves
Level I Education is a 12-hour course delivered in a group setting over a minimum of three days, with no more than four hours of instruction permitted in any single day. The curriculum covers the effects of alcohol and drugs on driving ability, the legal consequences of impaired driving, and strategies for avoiding repeat offenses. Classes are run by BHA-approved providers using a standardized curriculum, not by the court or by defense counsel.
Completion of Level I Education is usually a condition of probation, and it may also be a prerequisite for reinstating a suspended or revoked driver’s license through the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles.
What Level II Education and Therapy Involve
Level II Education requires 24 hours of group instruction spread over a minimum of 12 weeks, roughly double the time commitment of Level I. Many people assigned to Level II Education must also complete Level II therapy, which is organized into four tracks based on prior offenses, BAC, and test refusal.
Track assignments generally run from about 42 hours of therapy over 21 weeks for a first-time offender with a lower BAC, up to roughly 86 hours over 43 weeks for a repeat offender with a high BAC or a test refusal. The two tracks in between scale accordingly, so the more aggravating factors present in a case, the longer and more intensive the therapy requirement tends to be.
How the Court-Ordered Alcohol Evaluation Determines Your Track
After a DUI or DWAI conviction, the sentencing court typically orders a substance abuse evaluation, often coordinated through the local probation department and conducted by a licensed provider. The evaluator reviews prior offenses, the BAC result or refusal at the time of arrest, and any history of substance use to recommend a specific level and, if applicable, a specific therapy track.
This evaluation, not the criminal charge itself, is what ultimately determines whether someone completes Level I Education alone or moves into Level II education and therapy. The same underlying facts, particularly BAC and refusal, drive both the criminal penalties a court imposes and the treatment track an evaluator recommends.
What Happens If You Do Not Complete Your Education or Therapy
Failing to complete a court-ordered alcohol education or therapy program can create problems well beyond the original DUI case. Probation officers can report noncompliance to the court, which may lead to a probation violation, additional fines, or in some cases additional jail time. Because completion is often tied to license reinstatement, an unfinished program can also mean a suspended or revoked license stays that way indefinitely, even after every other part of the sentence has been satisfied.
Providers may allow someone to restart or transfer a program if life circumstances interfere, but the requirement itself does not go away on its own. Addressing an incomplete class or missed evaluation early, rather than waiting for a probation violation notice, generally puts a person in a better position with the court.
How Alcohol Classes Fit Into Your Broader DUI Sentence
Level I and Level II requirements are only one part of what a Colorado DUI or DWAI conviction can involve. A typical sentence may combine several consequences at once, and courts have discretion in how they are applied. Depending on the facts of the case, a sentence can include:
- Fines and court costs: A first-time DUI can carry fines up to $1,000, with higher amounts possible for repeat offenses or aggravating factors.
- License suspension or revocation: A first conviction can lead to a nine-month suspension, with longer revocation periods for subsequent offenses or a test refusal.
- Probation: Courts may impose probation for up to two years, during which completion of alcohol education or therapy is typically monitored.
- Ignition interlock requirements: Many offenders must install an ignition interlock device before regaining full driving privileges.
Because these consequences can overlap and extend well beyond the courtroom, understanding how the alcohol education requirement fits into the rest of a sentence can help someone plan around it rather than be caught off guard by it.
Get Legal Guidance for Your Colorado DUI Case
Shazam Kianpour has more than 22 years of criminal defense experience in Colorado, including time as a public defender, and our firm has handled thousands of DUI, DWAI, and DUID cases across the Denver metro area. That background gives us insight into how prosecutors build these cases and where the evidence, or the sentencing recommendations that follow a conviction, may be open to challenge.
If you are facing a DUI or DWAI charge in Colorado and want to understand what a conviction could mean for your license, your record, and your obligations going forward, we can walk through your options with you. You can reach our team through our online contact form to schedule a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Level I Education
What is the main difference between Level I and Level II alcohol education in Colorado?
Level I Education is a shorter 12-hour course typically assigned to first-time offenders with a lower blood alcohol content who submitted to testing. Level II Education is a longer 24-hour course, and it often comes with additional therapy, for repeat offenders, higher BAC results, or test refusals. The distinction depends on the outcome of a court-ordered alcohol evaluation rather than the charge alone.
How many days does it take to complete Level I Education?
Level I Education requires 12 total hours of instruction spread over a minimum of three days, since providers cannot schedule more than four hours of class in a single day. Most people complete the course within one to two weeks, depending on the provider’s schedule and how sessions are arranged.
Who decides whether I need Level I or Level II therapy?
A licensed provider conducts a substance abuse evaluation after conviction, usually coordinated through the local probation department. The evaluator considers prior DUI or DWAI history, the BAC result or a refusal to test, and other relevant factors before recommending a specific level and track to the court.
What happens if I do not finish my required alcohol classes?
Not completing a court-ordered class or therapy program can lead to a probation violation, additional fines, or further jail time in some cases. Because completion is often required for license reinstatement, an unfinished program can also leave a suspended or revoked license in place well after the rest of the sentence has been served.
Can Level II therapy be shortened once it has started?
Track lengths are set by the evaluation and the applicable regulations, so they generally cannot be shortened simply by request once assigned. In some circumstances a provider may reassess progress partway through a program, but any change to the track or hours required typically has to go through the provider and the court rather than being adjusted informally.
ABOUT THE ATTORNEY
Founding Attorney, Shazam Kianpour & Associates, P.C.
Shazam Kianpour founded Shazam Kianpour & Associates, P.C., a Denver-based criminal defense firm representing clients across Colorado in DUI matters.
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Shazam KianpourDenver Criminal Defense Attorney & Founder, Shazam Kianpour & Associates, P.C. — Over 10,000 criminal and traffic cases handled across Colorado.