DEPARTMENT OF REGULATORY AENCIES 
MASSAGE THERAPY LICENSURE RULES AND REGULATIONS

Basis

These rules are promulgated and adopted by the Director of the Division of Professions and Occupations
(“Division”) pursuant to § 12-35.5-117, C.R.S.

Purpose

These rules are adopted to implement the Director’s authority to license persons as massage therapists and to set forth the requirements for being so licensed pursuant to the Massage Therapy Practice Act (“MTPA”) §§ 12-35.5-101 through 12-35.5-120, C.R.S.

Rule 1 Application for Licensure

The purpose of this rule is to specify the form and manner of an application for massage therapy licensure, as required by §§ 12-35.5-107(1), and 12-35.5-107(2), C.R.S.

An applicant for licensure must:

 A. Submit a completed application for licensure on forms provided by the Director;

 B. Submit with the application all fees established by the Director pursuant to § 12-35.5-107(1)(d), C.R.S.;

 C. Submit an official certificate or transcript in the form and manner required by the Director detailing 500 hours of coursework and clinical work from an approved school as defined in Rule 2.  If a program or institution granting credit is no longer in operation, the Director may approve a copy of a certificate of completion, transcript or diploma if the documentation meets the program hour requirements set out in Rule 2.

D.  Submit, in the form and manner required by the Director, proof of passing one of the examinations as detailed in Rule 3.

E.  Submit proof that the applicant is at least 18 years old in the form and manner required by the Director.

 F. Sign the attestation that the applicant has obtained, and will maintain, professional liability insurance as required by § 12-35.5-116, C.R.S.

 G. Undergo a fingerprint-based criminal history record check as required by § 12-35.5-107(2), C.R.S., and in accordance with procedures set forth by the Director; and

 H. Submit additional information as may be requested by the Director to fully and fairly evaluate the applicant’s qualifications for licensure and to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

Rule 2 Education and Training Requirements

The purpose of this rule is to provide additional guidance regarding the educational and training requirements for licensure set forth in §§ 12-35.5-103(3) and 12-35.5-107(1)(a), C.R.S.

A. An applicant for licensure must have successfully completed a massage therapy program from an approved massage school.

B. An applicant for licensure must have successfully completed at least five hundred (500) total hours of course work and clinical work from an approved massage school.

C. “Approved massage school” means:

1. A massage therapy educational school that has a valid certificate of approval from the Division of Private and Occupational Schools in accordance with the provisions of Article 59 of Title 12, C.R.S.; or

2. A massage therapy educational program certified by the Colorado Community College
System;or

3. A massage therapy educational program that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency including but not limited to a massage therapy educational program that is accredited by an accrediting agency published by the U.S. Department of Education; or

4. A massage therapy program at a school located in another state or territory of the United States if the school was approved by that state or territory’s community college system or educational regulatory body at the time the applicant completed the program; or

5. A massage therapy program at a school located in a foreign country provided that:

a. The foreign-trained applicant submits his/her qualifications, credentials, and work experience to one of the following credentialing agencies for review:

i. International Education Research Foundation (IERF). ii. International Consultants of Delaware, Inc. (ICD).
iii. A credentialing agency approved by the Director.

b. Failure to have a review completed by the credentialing agency pursuant to the terms of this subsection and the massage therapy application procedures identified by the Director may result in the Director denying the application.

c. The Director, in her discretion, may accept or refuse any recommendation made by the credentialing agency.

D. An applicant who has completed a massage therapy program at a school that is assigned a school code in good standing with the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) at the time the applicant completed the program shall be deemed to have met the education and training requirements for licensure set forth in Rule 2 (A) and (B), above.

Rule 3 Examination Requirement

The purpose of this rule is to delineate the examination requirement for licensure set forth in § 12-35.5-
107(1)(b), C.R.S.

An applicant for licensure must pass one of the following examinations:

A. The Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State MassageTherapy Boards; or

B. The National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM) or the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCETMB) offered by NCBTMB; or

C. An examination approved by the Director.

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Rule 4 is to remain in the rule set unchanged

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Rule 5 Reinstatement of Expired License

The purpose of this rule is to establish the qualifications and procedures for reinstatement of an expired license pursuant to §§ 12-35.5-108, 24-34-102(8)(d), and 24-34-105, C.R.S.

A. An applicant seeking reinstatement of an expired license shall complete a reinstatement application and pay a reinstatement fee.

B. If the license has been expired for more than two (2) years, but less than five (5) years, an applicant must demonstrate competency to practice as follows:

1. Verification of licensure or registration as a massage therapist in good standing from another state, along with proof of active massage therapy practice in that state for a minimum of
400 hours over a 12-month period during the two (2) years immediately preceding the date of application for reinstatement. The work experience shall meet the approval of
and be attested to in a manner prescribed by the Director; or

2. Proof of completion of twenty-four hours of continuing education related to the practice of massage therapy during the two (2) years immediately preceding the date of application for reinstatement. The continuing education must meet the approval of and shall be attested to in a manner prescribed by the Director.  The Director will consider the following when determining approval of continuing education:

a. Courses must be directly related to the practice of massage as defined in § 12-35.5-
103(7) C.R.S.

b. Up to two (2) hours may be related to the promotion of practice building or office management.
c. Two (2) hours must be related to ethics.

d. Courses in practices which are outside the massage therapy scope of practice do not meet the requirements of this rule.

C. If the license has been expired for more than five (5) years, an applicant must demonstrate competency to practice as follows:

1. Pass an examination approved under Rule 3 within two (2) years immediately preceding submission of an application for reinstatement;

2. Verification of licensure or registration as a massage therapist in good standing from another state, along with proof of active massage therapy practice in that state for a minimum of
400 hours over a 12-month period during the two (2) years immediately preceding the date of application for reinstatement. The work experience shall meet the approval of
and be attested to in a manner prescribed by the Director; or

3. By any other means approved by the Director.

D. An applicant for reinstatement who has actively practiced in Colorado with an expired license in violation of § 12-35.5-108, C.R.S., is subject to denial of the application, disciplinary action, and/or other penalties as authorized in the MTPA, and in accordance with § 24-34-102, C.R.S.

Rule 6 Supervision of Student Massage Therapists

The purpose of this rule is to clarify the supervision requirements for students enrolled in a massage therapy program at an approved massage therapy school and providing massage therapy as a part of that program of study to complete the five hundred (500) hour requirement, as authorized by §§ 12-35.5-107 (1)(a), 12-35.5-110(1)(a) and 12-
35.5-103(3), C.R.S.

A massage therapy student may provide massage therapy services to clients in order to complete the five hundred (500 hour training requirement for licensure provided that the student is:

A. Currently enrolled in a massage therapy program at an approved school as defined in Rule 2;

B. Providing massage therapy services to clients as a part of that program of study;

C. Identified as a “student massage therapist” and not holding himself or herself out as a licensed massage therapist; and

D. Practicing massage therapy under the immediate supervision of a licensed massage therapist.

	1.  For purposes of this rule, “immediate supervision” means the supervising massage therapist is present on the premises where the services are being performed and is available for immediate consultation to assist the person being supervised.

	2.  For the purposes of this rule, “premises” means within the same building, massage therapy facility, or massage therapy training area and within close enough proximity to respond in a timely manner to an emergency or the need for assistance.

E. Faculty members teaching nonclinical aspects of massage therapy are not required to be licensed massage therapists.