The State of Colorado Massage Therapy License Requirements
Throughout the 104,185 square miles of the Centennial State, approximately 12,418 massage therapists work to help the more than 5 million people in their state find relief from pain, rehabilitation from injuries, and comfort in the midst of stress and anxiety.
With 705,576 people in Denver, 464,871 people in Colorado Springs, and 369,111 people in Aurora, massage therapists who work in Colorado can find an engaged environment to open, continue, or join a massage therapy business.
How Do I Become A Massage Therapist in Colorado?
To receive your Colorado massage license, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- Complete a minimum of 500 hours from an approved massage therapy program
- Pass one of the following examinations for licensure: Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB), National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM)
- Submit fingerprint and background check as well as answer criminal history screening questions
- Submit a $90 application payment
- Provide information on other licenses you may hold
- Provide license verification information
- Meet Colorado’s professional liability insurance coverage requirement
- Complete the Healthcare Professionals Profile
Where Can I Study?
The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies provides information on what an “approved” school is. If the school meets the requirements listed on their site, future LMTs can complete their 500 required hours at that location.
Below are two popular massage therapy schools in Colorado to help you get started on what you may be looking for in massage therapy education.
- Denver School of Massage Therapy: Training massage therapists for more than 30 years, students at this school perform more than 200,000 massages per year in the weekend clinic. Accredited by the ACCET, graduates work with top industry employers and continue to receive career assistance.
- Colorado School of Energy Studies: Teaching the art and science of somatic therapy, this school uses an energy-based approach that teaches “introspective self-awareness and gentle, natural remedies to facilitate and enhance the body’s inherent healing resources.” The school is approved and regulated by the State of Colorado, Department of Education, Division of Occupational Schools.
Other education options include Healing Arts Institute in Fort Collins, and Collinson Massage School in Colorado Springs.
How Much Will I Earn?
The average annual wage of a massage therapist in Colorado was $53,063 in 2021. This is on the average side of state earnings, with the average national salary at $53,222. Massage therapists who work in Boulder have the opportunity to earn a higher salary, with the average for this city at $54,521 annually.