2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions and Occupations
Health Care
Article 29.7 - Athletic Trainer Practice Act
§ 12-29.7-109. Scope of article - exclusions - authority for clinical setting

(1) Nothing in this article prohibits:

(a) The practice of athletic training that is an integral part of a program of study by students enrolled in an accredited athletic training education program. Students enrolled in an accredited athletic training education program shall be identified as "athletic training students" and shall only practice athletic training under the direction and immediate supervision of an athletic trainer currently registered under this article. An athletic training student shall not represent himself or herself as an athletic trainer.

(b) The practice of athletic training by a person who is certified by a national certifying agency and who is employed by the United States government or any bureau, division, or agency of the federal government while acting in the course and scope of employment;

(c) The practice of athletic training by a person who resides in another state or country, is currently licensed or registered in another state, or is currently certified by a national certifying agency, and is:

(I) Administering athletic training services to an athlete who is a member of a bona fide professional or amateur sports organization or of a sports team of an accredited educational institution, if the person acts in accordance with rules established by the director and engages in the unregistered practice of athletic training for no more than ninety days in any calendar year; or

(II) Participating in an educational program of not more than twelve weeks' duration. Upon written application by the person prior to the expiration of the twelve-week period, the director may grant an extension of time.

(d) The practice of any health care profession, other than athletic training, by a person licensed or registered under any other article of this title in accordance with the lawful scope of practice of the other profession or the performance of activities described in subsection (2) of this section, if the person does not represent himself or herself as an athletic trainer or as engaging in the practice of athletic training;

(e) Athletic training by a patient for himself or herself or gratuitous athletic training by a friend or family member who does not represent himself or herself as an athletic trainer.

(2) Nothing in this article limits or prohibits the administration of routine assistance or first aid by a person who is not a registered athletic trainer for injuries or illnesses sustained at an athletic event or program.

(3) Nothing in this article requires an entity offering or sponsoring an athletic event or regular athletic activity, including a youth sports team or program whose participants are eighteen years of age or younger, to employ a registered athletic trainer.

(4) (a) A school coach, athletic director, or other employee or a person contracted with a school is not engaging in the practice of athletic training when he or she engages in or holds responsibility for the following activities in the course of his or her regularly scheduled duties:

(I) Planning, administering, or modifying methods for prevention and risk management of injuries and illnesses;

(II) Administering routine assistance for first aid to an injured athlete;

(III) Directing conditioning exercises;

(IV) Educating or counseling athletes concerning the prevention of injuries and illnesses; or

(V) Referring an athlete to a licensed health care professional.

(b) As used in this subsection (4), "school" means a public or private elementary, middle, junior high, or high school.

(5) A registered athletic trainer may provide athletic training services in a clinical setting to a person who is not an athlete if the athletic trainer is under the direction and supervision of a Colorado-licensed or otherwise lawfully practicing physician, dentist, or health care professional who treats sports or musculoskeletal injuries. As used in this subsection (5), "direction and supervision" means the issuance of written or oral directives by the physician, dentist, or licensed health care professional to the registered athletic trainer pertaining to the athletic training services to be provided.