2017 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions and Occupations
Health Care
Article 35.5 - Massage Therapists
§ 12-35.5-107. License - reciprocity - denial of license application

(1) Every applicant for a license to practice massage therapy shall:

(a) Attain a degree, diploma, or otherwise successfully complete a massage therapy program that consists of at least five hundred total hours of course work and clinical work from an approved massage school;

(b) Pass one of the following examinations:

(I) The massage and bodywork licensing examination offered by the federation of state massage therapy boards;

(II) A national certification examination offered by the national certification board for therapeutic massage and bodywork; or

(III) An examination approved by the director;

(c) Submit an application in the form and manner specified by the director;

(d) Pay a fee in an amount determined by the director;

(e) Submit to a criminal history record check in the form and manner as described in subsection (2) of this section; and

(f) Document that he or she will be at least eighteen years of age at the time of licensure.

(2) In addition to the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, each applicant must have his or her fingerprints taken by a local law enforcement agency or any third party approved by the Colorado bureau of investigation for the purpose of obtaining a fingerprint-based criminal history record check. If an approved third party takes the person's fingerprints, the fingerprints may be electronically captured using Colorado bureau of investigation-approved livescan equipment. Third-party vendors shall not keep the applicant information for more than thirty days unless requested to do so by the applicant. The applicant shall submit payment by certified check or money order for the fingerprints and for the actual costs of the record check at the time the fingerprints are submitted to the Colorado bureau of investigation. Upon receipt of fingerprints and receipt of the payment for costs, the Colorado bureau of investigation shall conduct a state and national fingerprint-based criminal history record check utilizing records of the Colorado bureau of investigation and the federal bureau of investigation and shall forward the results of the criminal history record check to the director.

(3) After an applicant has fulfilled the requirements of subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the director shall issue a license to the applicant.

(4) Repealed.

(5) The director shall issue a license to an applicant who otherwise meets the qualifications set forth in this article and who submits satisfactory proof and certifies under penalty of perjury that the applicant currently possesses an unrestricted license or registration, in good standing, to practice massage therapy under the laws of another state or territory of the United States or a foreign country if:

(a) The director determines that the qualifications for massage therapy licensure or registration in the other state, territory, or foreign country are substantially equivalent to those required by this section;

(b) The applicant submits proof of experience and competency on a form determined by the director;

(c) The applicant submits to a criminal history record check pursuant to subsection (2) of this section; and

(d) The director reviews any disciplinary actions taken against the applicant.

(6) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, the director may deny a license if the applicant has committed any act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under section 12-35.5-111 or if the director determines, subsequent to the criminal history record check, that the applicant was convicted of, pled guilty or nolo contendere to, or received a deferred sentence for a charge of unlawful sexual behavior as defined in section 16-22-102, C.R.S., any prostitution-related offense, or a human trafficking-related offense as described in sections 18-3-503 and 18-3-504, C.R.S., whether or not the act was committed in Colorado.

(7) The director may deny a license if the director determines that the applicant is not competent, trustworthy, or of good moral character.

(8) Pursuant to section 24-5-101, C.R.S., the director shall consider whether an applicant with a criminal record has been rehabilitated, specifically considering whether the applicant has been a victim of human trafficking and the lapse of time since the offense.