StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Colorado

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
500 hrs
Upfront cost
$265
Exam
MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Colorado Office of Massage Therapy Licensure (Division of Professions and Occupations, Department of Regulatory Agencies)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. 3 CCR 722-1 Rule 1.1(E) requires proof the applicant is at least eighteen years old. Rule 1.1(G) requires a fingerprint-based criminal history record check per section 12-235-108(2), C.R.S. Applicants must also attest they have obtained, and will maintain, professional liability insurance as required by section 12-235-116, C.R.S. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 500 hours of training at a state-approved program. Massage Therapy Licensure Rules and Regulations (3 CCR 722-1), Rule 1.2: applicants must complete at least 500 total hours of course work and clinical work from an approved massage school (Colorado-approved school, a Colorado Community College System-certified program, a nationally-accredited program, an out-of-state program, or a foreign program reviewed by a recognized credentialing agency). [1]

  3. 3

    MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination)

    Pass the MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) (fee: $265). 3 CCR 722-1 Rule 1.3 accepts the MBLEx or the NCETM/NCETMB offered by NCBTMB. The $265 fee is FSMTB's published current MBLEx fee, paid to FSMTB/Pearson VUE, not the Colorado Office of Massage Therapy Licensure. [1]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Colorado Office of Massage Therapy Licensure (Division of Professions and Occupations, Department of Regulatory Agencies). [2]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Colorado Office of Massage Therapy Licensure (Division of Professions and Occupations, Department of Regulatory Agencies) issues your Massage Therapist License for Colorado.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] None specified
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] None specified
MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) [1] $265

Colorado's massage therapy rules (3 CCR 722-1, Rule 1.1(B)) state only that applicants must 'submit with the application all fees established by the Director pursuant to section 12-235-108(1)(d), C.R.S.' — the Office does not publish those dollar amounts as static text on its informational pages; applications and renewals are submitted entirely through DORA's online licensing portal, where current fees are shown at checkout. Secondary (non-official) sources report widely inconsistent figures (application fee reported anywhere from $80 to $217, with a commonly repeated $179 renewal figure), so none is recorded here per source rule 3 (never guess a number from an unverified source). The Applications page does confirm a $15 late fee applies during the two-month renewal grace period.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

All Massage Therapist licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years, with a two-month grace period after expiration (a $15 late fee applies during the grace period). The Massage Therapy Licensure Rules do not impose a continuing-education requirement for standard biennial renewal — 24 hours of CE is required only for the reinstatement pathway (license lapsed beyond the grace period) and, separately, for licensure-by-endorsement applicants, per Rule 1.4/1.5 — so ceHours is null for the ordinary renewal cycle covered here.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

3 CCR 722-1 Rule 1.4 (Licensure by Endorsement): a person licensed/registered to practice massage therapy in another state, territory, or foreign country may apply for endorsement if they hold substantially equivalent experience/credentials — either completion of a 500-hour program (with credit of 50 hours granted for each year of 400 hours of documented practice, if the applicant's original program was shorter) plus a qualifying exam, or NCBTMB certification — and pass a fingerprint-based background check. Colorado has not enacted the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact); massagecompact.org states Colorado currently has no IMpact legislation introduced.

7 state-approved training providers in Colorado — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $265
Total$265

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Colorado require for a massage therapist license?

500 total hours of coursework and clinical work from an approved massage school.

Which exam does Colorado require?

Either the FSMTB MBLEx or the NCBTMB NCETM/NCETMB exam.

When does a Colorado massage therapist license expire?

All licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years, with a two-month grace period afterward (a $15 late fee applies during the grace period).

Is continuing education required to renew a Colorado massage license?

Not for a standard on-time renewal. Colorado requires 24 hours of continuing education only for reinstating a lapsed license or for licensure-by-endorsement applicants.

Can I transfer an out-of-state massage license to Colorado?

Yes, through licensure by endorsement if you hold a substantially equivalent license from another state/territory/country — generally a 500-hour program plus a qualifying national exam, or NCBTMB certification — along with a fingerprint-based background check.

Sources

  1. [1] sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] dpo.colorado.gov/MassageTherapy/Applications — accessed 2026-07-12