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How to get a Massage Therapist license in Colorado

Colorado licenses massage therapists statewide through the Office of Massage Therapy Licensure.1 For the Massage Therapist license you need at least 650 clock hours2 of education, a passing score on the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), or NCBTMB NCETM/NCETMB, or a Director-approved exam2 and a criminal background check1. You renew every 2 years3.

Last checked · 9 official sources

Who issues it

Office of Massage Therapy Licensure

Training and experience

Training: at least 650 clock hours2

Exam

Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), or NCBTMB NCETM/NCETMB, or a Director-approved exam2

Renewal

Every 2 years3

From another state

License by endorsement2 Details

On this page
  1. Colorado massage therapist licenses
  2. Who needs a Massage Therapist license
  3. Requirements for a Massage Therapist license
  4. How to apply
  5. Renewal and continuing education
  6. Moving to Colorado with a license from another state
  7. Military Spouse - Massage Therapist
  8. City and county rules
  9. Check a license or report a problem
  10. Laws and rules
  11. Rule changes since January 2024
  12. Common questions
  13. Massage therapist licenses in other states

Colorado massage therapist licenses

Colorado issues 2 massage therapist credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

LicenseWhat it coversTraining or experienceExam
Massage TherapistMassage therapy: structured touch, palpation or movement of another person's soft tissue to enhance or restore health; only licensees may use titles such as "massage therapist", "masseuse", "L.M.T.".1Training 650 clock hours2Yes1
Military Spouse - Massage Therapist–––

Who needs a Massage Therapist license

Massage therapy: structured touch, palpation or movement of another person's soft tissue to enhance or restore health; only licensees may use titles such as "massage therapist", "masseuse", "L.M.T.".1

Work that does not need this license:

  • No license needed for students under immediate supervision in an approved school, federal employees, certain visiting out-of-state practitioners (sports teams, events, disaster teams, short educational programs), family members, and alternative contact methods (reflexology, Feldenkrais, reiki, Rolfing etc.) not held out as massage.1

Requirements for a Massage Therapist license

Minimum age
18 years old2
Education or training
At least 650 clock hours2
Massage therapy program of at least 650 total hours of coursework and clinical work from an approved massage school (applies from July 1, 2024; students enrolled by July 1, 2024 who graduated by October 1, 2025 are grandfathered under the old program requirement)1
Who may teach it: Approved school = DPOS-approved school, Colorado Community College System program, nationally accredited program, out-of-state school approved by that state's community college system or education regulator, or foreign school evaluated by IERF/ICD; NCBTMB-coded schools in good standing are deemed to qualify.2
Alternative: Endorsement applicants without 650 program hours may get 50 hours of credit for each year of 400 hours of documented licensed practice in another state.2
Exam
Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), or NCBTMB NCETM/NCETMB, or a Director-approved exam2
Given by: Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (MBLEx); NCBTMB (NCETM/NCETMB)2
Background check
Background check required1
Fingerprints required2
The Director may deny for grounds for discipline or for convictions/deferred sentences for unlawful sexual behavior, prostitution- or human-trafficking-related offenses, and must consider rehabilitation (including whether the applicant was a trafficking victim).1
Also required
Applicants must also complete the Healthcare Professions Profile and answer screening questions; applications expire one year after submission.4

How to apply

  1. Complete a 650-hour program at an approved massage school (or qualify under the 2024-2025 grandfather clause) and have the official transcript sent to DPO.2
  2. Pass the MBLEx (or an NCBTMB exam or other Director-approved exam).2
  3. Apply online with DPO ("License by Examination or Endorsement") and pay the fee by credit card.5
  4. Get fingerprinted through the CBI process for the state and FBI background check.1
  5. Attest that you hold professional liability insurance before you start practicing.2
Temporary or provisional license
Provisional massage therapist licenses are historic only and no longer renew.3

Renewal and continuing education

How often
Every 2 years3
Late renewal
Late renewal fee: $155 (renewal during the two-month grace period after expiration)
If it expires
Expired 2-5 years: reinstate with 400 hours of practice in 12 months under another state license within the last 2 years, or 24 hours of approved CE in the last 2 years. Expired over 5 years: pass an approved exam within 2 years, show the 400-hour out-of-state practice, or another means the Director approves.2

Renewal planner

Enter the expiration date printed on your Colorado Massage Therapist license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.

Moving to Colorado with a license from another state

These are the routes the Office of Massage Therapy Licensure publishes for the Massage Therapist license. The other massage therapist licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Route
License by endorsement
What the board says
Holders of an unrestricted license/registration in another state or territory (or a military occupational specialty) can get a license by endorsement with substantially equivalent credentials (650 hours or credit for practice, plus MBLEx/NCETMB/BCETMB) or at least one year of licensed practice in a jurisdiction with a similar scope.2
Conditions
Disclose all discipline in other jurisdictions.2

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Military education, training or service must be credited toward licensure; military spouses/dependents licensed in good standing elsewhere are entitled to a license valid six years with the application fee waived (see the Military Spouse - Massage Therapist record).1

Military Spouse - Massage Therapist

Requirements

Also required
Military spouses, gold star spouses and dependents of servicemembers relocated to Colorado who hold a license in good standing in another state or territory are entitled to licensure on sworn proof of that license.1

How to apply

  1. Apply to DPO with sworn proof of your active, good-standing massage license from another state or territory and proof of the servicemember's relocation to Colorado.1

From another state

Route
Military service members and spouses
What the board says
License for relocated military spouses and dependents holding a good-standing license elsewhere.1

City and county rules

Massage TherapistColorado licenses massage therapists statewide and bars cities and counties from regulating the practice; several large cities license massage businesses (not individual therapists), usually exempting solo licensed therapists. HB26-1257 (became law 2026) lets local governments add business licensing requirements and removes the $150 local fee cap.1

City or countyWhat it requiresLink
DenverMassage businesses need a Denver massage business license (DRMC ch. 33.5) since July 1, 2022; solo licensed therapists are exempt; from July 1, 2026 every employee must have an FBI fingerprint check submitted with new and renewal applications.7Official page7
Colorado SpringsOrdinance 26-53 (City Code 2.3.101 et seq.) requires a massage business license for each premises; self-employed licensed therapists working from home or the client's location, and qualifying solo practitioners, are exempt.8Official page8
AuroraBusinesses providing massage need an Aurora Massage Facility License (Ordinance 2018-13) unless exempt; solo practitioners who follow the ordinance are exempt.9Official page9

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a massage therapist in Colorado, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Colorado is on the Colorado license lookup page.

Look up a license
apps.colorado.gov6

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Rule changes since January 2024

  • July 1, 2026: HB 24-1371 and HB 26-1257: from July 1, 2026 all massage-business employees need FBI fingerprint checks (Denver collects the results with business license applications); HB26-1257 widened local business licensing powers.7
  • June 7, 2024: SB 24-201 raised the education requirement to 650 hours for applications from June 7, 2024 (effective July 1, 2024 with a grandfather clause to October 1, 2025).1

Common questions

How long does it take to get a Massage Therapist license in Colorado?

The rules set at least 650 clock hours2 before you can be licensed. The board does not publish how long it takes to process an application.

Can I transfer my massage therapist license to Colorado?

The Office of Massage Therapy Licensure publishes this route for the Massage Therapist license: license by endorsement2. Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew a Massage Therapist license in Colorado?

Every 2 years3.

Massage therapist licenses in other states

Sources

Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.

  1. Colorado Revised Statutes 2024Colorado General Assembly, Office of Legislative Legal ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
  2. 3 CCR 722-1 Massage Therapy Licensure Rules and Regulations (eff. 09/30/2025)Colorado Secretary of State, Code of Colorado Regulations (Office of Massage Therapy Licensure)Dated September 30, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
  3. Professional and Occupational License Types in ColoradoState of Colorado, Colorado Information MarketplaceDated January 8, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  4. Massage Therapist - Reinstatement ChecklistColorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations - Office of Massage Therapy LicensureChecked November 7, 2026
  5. Massage Therapy ApplicationsColorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations - Office of Massage Therapy LicensureChecked November 7, 2026
  6. Office of Massage Therapy Licensure homeColorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations - Office of Massage Therapy LicensureChecked November 7, 2026
  7. Massage business license (Denver)City and County of Denver, Department of Licenses and Consumer ProtectionChecked November 7, 2026
  8. Signed Ordinance 26-53 (Article 3 - Sales of Goods and Services)City of Colorado Springs, City CouncilChecked November 7, 2026
  9. Other LicensesCity of Aurora, Tax and Licensing DivisionChecked November 7, 2026