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United States Licensing Atlas

Colorado Massage Therapy Licensing Requirements

Colorado licenses massage therapists. The current standard path uses at least 650 education hours, an accepted examination, and CBI/FBI fingerprint review; routine renewal CE was not identified.

Statewide requirements and local regulation are identified separately. This record is general information, not legal advice.

Colorado Office of Massage Therapy Licensure
CO · licensing record1 PX ≈ 1.2 MI
Albers equal-area · 105.6°W · SP 37.7/40.3°N · footprint 273 px · MASS-limitedFull Colorado plate on the state guide →

Overview

State massage therapist license required

Last verified 2026-10-06

Counties may regulate massage facilities under state law, and separate local business or zoning requirements may apply.

Before you act

Details worth confirming

Requirements can change, and some official materials differ on narrow details. Use the current official instructions when applying or renewing.

Confirm current fees in the portal

A stable unauthenticated application or renewal fee was not established. Confirm the amount shown by DORA when filing.

Reinstatement CE is not routine renewal CE

No routine CE requirement was identified for ordinary renewal. A 24-hour option is one competency route for specified reinstatement cases.

Regulatory authority

Colorado Office of Massage Therapy Licensure

Local business, facility, zoning, and professional rules may apply in addition to statewide requirements. Confirm current requirements with the responsible authority before acting.

Entry requirements

Education, examination, and application

Credential
Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)
Credential requirement
Colorado requires the state massage therapist license for regulated practice, subject to statutory exemptions and separate local facility powers.
Minimum education
650 hours
Approved education
The standard path requires at least 650 hours of massage-therapy education under current rule.
Examination
Rule 1.3 accepts the MBLEx, the NCBTMB's NCETM or NCETMB, or another examination approved by the Director; for endorsement, Rule 1.4 also names the BCETMB.
MBLEx relationship
MBLEx is one accepted examination option under current Colorado rule.
Application
Submit the DORA application, education and examination records, fingerprints for CBI and FBI review, and the portal fee.
Application fees
A stable unauthenticated current fee amount was not established; confirm the amount in DORA's application portal at filing.
Background check or fingerprinting
Applicants complete both Colorado and FBI fingerprint-based criminal history checks.
Reciprocity or endorsement
Endorsement is available for qualifying unrestricted out-of-state credentials in good standing under current equivalency conditions.
Additional requirements
Applicants satisfy current identification, education, exam, criminal-history, disclosure and portal requirements, and attest that they carry professional liability insurance of at least $50,000 per claim and $300,000 aggregate per year (C.R.S. § 12-235-116; Rule 1.1(F)).

Renewal

Renewal and continuing education

Cycle
Licenses renew every two years.
Continuing education
No recurring CE hours identified
Renewal fee
A stable public renewal fee was not established; confirm the current amount through DORA.
Required topics
No routine subject requirement was identified for ordinary renewal.

Sourced finding. The reviewed authority does not identify recurring CE hours for the ordinary renewal described here. Reinstatement, another credential or local requirements may differ.

Practice information

Scope, titles, and local requirements

Scope of practice
Colorado regulates systematic manipulation of soft tissue and related massage methods under Article 235 and current rules.
Protected titles
The state license and LMT title are regulated, subject to statutory exemptions.
Restrictions
The credential does not authorize diagnosis, prescription, or acts reserved to chiropractic, physical therapy, or another profession.
Municipal or local requirements
Counties have statutory power to license or regulate massage facilities in specified circumstances; local review remains necessary.
Establishments and other regulated activities
County massage-facility regulation may apply under HB 22-1300 even though practitioner licensing is state-administered.
Practitioner notes
Check the fee in DPO Online Services before applying or renewing; licenses expire December 31, 2026.

Authoritative sources

Official record evidence

Change history

Public record revisions

No revision to this record has been published yet. Its current review dates are in the overview above, and its official sources are listed below.