Colorado Massage Therapy Continuing Education Requirements 2026
Colorado is different from many states when it comes to massage therapy continuing education. Colorado does not currently require continuing education for a standard, on-time massage therapy license renewal.
Colorado massage therapy licenses are renewed every two years and expire on December 31 of even-numbered years. Continuing education becomes relevant in certain situations, including some reinstatement and licensure-by-endorsement applications.
When 24 hours of continuing education are required, the courses must be related to the practice of massage therapy and meet Colorado's requirements. Colorado rules allow up to 2 hours related to practice building or office management and up to 2 hours related to ethics.
You can verify this information or contact the state of Colorado with further questions by visiting the Colorado Board of Massage.
Colorado Massage Therapy CE Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | Colorado |
|---|---|
| CE required for standard license renewal | No |
| License renewal period | Every 2 years |
| License expiration | December 31 of even-numbered years |
| CE required for certain reinstatement situations | 24 hours |
| CE required for certain endorsement situations | 24 hours may be required |
| Practice building/office management | Up to 2 hours when CE is required |
| Ethics | Up to 2 hours when CE is required |
| Online CE | May be used when CE is required, subject to applicable requirements |
| CE for NCBTMB Board Certification | Separate NCBTMB requirements apply |
Does Colorado Require Continuing Education for Massage Therapists?
Not for a standard, on-time license renewal.
Colorado's current massage therapy rules do not impose a continuing education requirement for routine renewal of an active massage therapy license.
Colorado massage therapy licenses expire on December 31 of even-numbered years. Massage therapists should still complete the normal license renewal process before their license expires.
Continuing education is required in certain other circumstances, including specific reinstatement and licensure-by-endorsement situations.
How Many CE Hours Does Colorado Require?
For a standard Colorado massage therapy license renewal, no CE hours are currently required.
However, Colorado requires 24 hours of continuing education in certain circumstances.
For example, an applicant seeking reinstatement of an expired license may need to provide proof of 24 hours of continuing education completed during the two years immediately preceding the application, depending on how long the license has been expired and whether the applicant meets the alternative competency requirements.
Colorado's rules also allow 24 hours of continuing education to be used as a competency pathway for certain licensure-by-endorsement applicants who do not meet the applicable active-practice requirement.
When Does a Colorado Massage Therapist Need 24 CE Hours?
The 24-hour requirement is important primarily for certain reinstatement and endorsement situations, rather than ordinary license renewal.
Colorado rules specify that the 24 hours must be related to the practice of massage therapy.
If the 24-hour CE pathway applies to you, make sure your courses meet the current Colorado requirements before completing them.
What Topics Qualify for Colorado Massage Therapy CE?
When continuing education is required, Colorado specifies that courses must be directly related to the practice of massage therapy.
Colorado rules allow:
- Up to 2 hours related to practice building or office management
- Up to 2 hours related to ethics
- The remaining education should be directly related to the practice of massage therapy
Courses involving practices outside the scope of massage therapy do not satisfy the Colorado requirement.
This means that if you are completing 24 hours for a Colorado reinstatement or endorsement requirement, you should choose courses carefully and make sure the subject matter meets the state's requirements.
Can Colorado Massage Therapists Take CE Online?
Yes, when continuing education is required, online education may be an option.
Colorado's massage therapy rules focus on the required number and subject matter of the continuing education rather than establishing a general online-versus-in-person limit for the 24-hour reinstatement requirement.
If you are completing CE for reinstatement, endorsement, NCBTMB Board Certification, or another purpose, verify the requirements that apply to that specific situation before enrolling.
MassageTherapyCEU.com offers online and home-study massage therapy continuing education courses and is an NCBTMB Approved Provider #409296-00.
Does Colorado Require Ethics CE?
No specific ethics hours are required for a standard Colorado license renewal.
When the 24-hour CE requirement applies to a reinstatement or other qualifying situation, Colorado allows up to 2 hours of the required education to be related to ethics. Ethics is therefore not a mandatory separate CE category for the standard renewal of an active Colorado massage therapy license.
Does Colorado Require CE for License Renewal?
No.
Colorado massage therapists do not currently have a routine CE-hour requirement for renewing an active license on time.
This is an important distinction because some massage therapists may see information about Colorado's 24-hour CE requirement and assume that they must complete 24 hours every two years. The 24-hour requirement applies to specific circumstances such as certain reinstatement and endorsement situations, rather than ordinary renewal.
What Happens If a Colorado Massage License Expires?
Colorado has specific reinstatement requirements for expired licenses.
If a license has been expired for more than two years but less than five years, the applicant must demonstrate competency through one of the pathways established by Colorado, which may include active practice in another jurisdiction or completion of 24 hours of qualifying continuing education.
If a license has been expired for more than five years, different competency requirements apply, so massage therapists should contact the Colorado Office of Massage Therapy Licensure for current instructions.
How to Complete Colorado Massage Therapy CE
Because Colorado does not require CE for a normal license renewal, your first step is determining why you need continuing education.
Step 1: Check Your Colorado License
Check your Colorado massage therapy license and determine your expiration date.
Step 2: Determine Why You Need CE
If you are simply renewing an active Colorado massage therapy license on time, you do not currently need CE for the renewal.
If your license has expired, you are applying for licensure by endorsement, or you need CE for another credential, determine which requirements apply to your situation.
Step 3: Determine How Many Hours You Need
If Colorado's 24-hour CE requirement applies to your situation, you will need 24 hours of qualifying continuing education completed during the applicable two-year period.
Step 4: Choose Qualifying Courses
Choose courses directly related to the practice of massage therapy.
If using practice-building, office-management, or ethics courses, remember that Colorado limits those categories to 2 hours each when the 24-hour requirement applies.
Step 5: Complete Your Courses
MassageTherapyCEU.com offers convenient online and home-study massage therapy CE courses for professional development and for qualifying situations where continuing education is required.
Step 6: Keep Your Certificates
Keep your certificates of completion and other CE documentation with your professional records.
Colorado Massage Therapy CE FAQs
How many CE hours does a Colorado massage therapist need?
For a standard, on-time Colorado massage therapy license renewal, no CE hours are currently required.
A 24-hour CE requirement applies in certain reinstatement and licensure-by-endorsement situations.
Does Colorado require 24 CE hours every two years?
No. Colorado does not currently require 24 CE hours for every routine license renewal.
The 24-hour requirement applies to certain situations, including specific reinstatement and endorsement pathways.
When does a Colorado massage therapy license expire?
Colorado massage therapy licenses expire on December 31 of even-numbered years.
Does Colorado require ethics CE?
Not for standard license renewal. When the 24-hour CE requirement applies, Colorado allows up to 2 hours of ethics.
Can Colorado massage therapists take CE online?
Online CE may be used when continuing education is required, but the therapist should verify the requirements that apply to their specific situation.
Does Colorado require CE to renew an active license?
No. Colorado currently does not impose a routine continuing education requirement for an active massage therapy license renewal.
Do I need 24 CE hours if my Colorado license has expired?
Possibly. Colorado provides different reinstatement pathways depending on how long the license has been expired. For certain reinstatement situations, 24 hours of qualifying CE may be used to demonstrate competency.
Can I use NCBTMB-approved courses for Colorado?
NCBTMB-approved courses can be useful when Colorado CE is required, provided the courses meet the requirements applicable to your situation.
MassageTherapyCEU.com is an NCBTMB Approved Provider #409296-00.
Can I take CE in Colorado for professional development even though it isn't required for renewal?
Yes. Continuing education can still be valuable for expanding massage therapy knowledge, learning new techniques, improving client care, and maintaining other professional credentials.
Does NCBTMB require CE separately from Colorado?
Yes. Colorado's state licensing requirements and NCBTMB's Board Certification requirements are separate.
If you maintain NCBTMB Board Certification, you must follow NCBTMB's current renewal requirements even though Colorado does not require CE for routine state license renewal.
Complete Your Colorado Massage Therapy CE
Colorado is one of the states where massage therapists do not currently need continuing education simply to renew an active license on time.
However, CE may still be necessary for certain reinstatement or endorsement situations, NCBTMB Board Certification, professional development, or other professional requirements.
MassageTherapyCEU.com offers convenient online and home-study massage therapy continuing education courses for massage professionals who want to continue learning or need CE for an applicable credential or licensing situation.
NCBTMB Approved Provider #409296-00
Before purchasing a course for a specific Colorado licensing purpose, verify the current requirements with the Colorado Office of Massage Therapy Licensure to make sure the course meets the requirement for which you are taking it.