State GuidesColoradoProfession dossier

Colorado behavior analysts

Colorado has enacted behavior-analyst and assistant-behavior-analyst licensure, but practitioner licensure does not begin until July 1, 2028 and is not a current Colorado credential.

Public research guide—not professional advice.Sources verified 2026-08-11 · independently cross-checked · professional approval owner-attested.
Review scope and limits

Verified against the cited official sources on 2026-08-11. Informational only; not legal, clinical, employment, tax, or billing advice.

Editorially cross-checked by a second research agent. Professional approval was confirmed by the project owner on 2026-08-11; reviewer identity and credentials are retained outside this public guide.

This remains informational research—not legal, clinical, employment, tax, or billing advice, and not approval by a regulator, licensing board, or payer.

Source verification
2026-08-11
Next scheduled review
2026-09-11
Independent cross-check
Cross-checked
Professional review
Approved — owner attested

Future Colorado Behavior Analyst Licensing Board within DORA; implementation begins before July 1, 2028

Credential names: Future Licensed Behavior Analyst, Future Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst

What the official sources support

Applicability and exclusions are shown with each finding. “Qualified” or “conflicting” findings are not simplified into an operational answer.

Authority, credentials, and scope

Regulator, governing authority, credential names, regulated titles, scope boundaries, exemptions, and prohibited activities.

Colorado behavior-analyst licensure is not current

Enacted, not operational · Confirmed

As of August 11, 2026, Colorado does not yet issue the behavior-analyst and assistant-behavior-analyst licenses created by House Bill 26-1425.

Applies to
Use for Future Licensed Behavior Analyst, Future Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst research in CO.
Known exclusions
A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
Effective date
2028-07-01
Fact checked
2026-08-11

Application and practice status

Application, education, examination, background check, fees, temporary authority, endorsement, and supervised versus independent practice.

A future DORA licensing board was enacted

Enacted, not operational · Confirmed

House Bill 26-1425 creates the Colorado Behavior Analyst Licensing Board within DORA to implement and regulate the future licenses.

Applies to
Use for Future Licensed Behavior Analyst, Future Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst research in CO.
Known exclusions
A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
Effective date
2028-07-01
Fact checked
2026-08-11

Supervision and workforce evidence

Supervisor qualifications, written agreements, settings, hours, reporting, license verification, and hiring or credentialing evidence.

Mandatory practitioner licensure begins July 1, 2028

Enacted, not operational · Confirmed

Beginning July 1, 2028, a nonexempt individual may not engage in or offer applied behavior analysis without the license created by the act.

Applies to
Use for Future Licensed Behavior Analyst, Future Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst research in CO.
Known exclusions
A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
Effective date
2028-07-01
Fact checked
2026-08-11

Cross-border and practice structure

Telehealth location rules, registration, compact privileges, ownership, entity naming, fee sharing, and multidisciplinary practice.

Assistant behavior analysts will require supervision

Enacted, not operational · Confirmed

The future assistant behavior analyst license requires practice under a licensed behavior analyst and within the scope established by Board rules.

Applies to
Use for Future Licensed Behavior Analyst, Future Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst research in CO.
Known exclusions
A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
Effective date
2028-07-01
Fact checked
2026-08-11

Client-facing operations and records

Disclosure, consent, telehealth, emergencies, advertising, confidentiality, access, retention, minors, subpoenas, closure, fees, billing, and termination.

Technician and temporary-certification rules are separate

Enacted, not operational · Confirmed

The act distinguishes behavior technicians from the future licensed professions and directs Medicaid reimbursement treatment for certification and one temporary certification-pursuit period.

Applies to
Use for Future Licensed Behavior Analyst, Future Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst research in CO.
Known exclusions
A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
Effective date
No separate future date recorded
Fact checked
2026-08-11

Maintenance, complaints, and monitoring

Renewal, continuing education, audits, inactive status, reinstatement, complaints, discipline, effective dates, exclusions, and unresolved interpretations.

ABA and day-treatment facility transitions have earlier dates

Published research · Confirmed

Newly captured day-treatment facilities were required to apply by August 1, 2026 and must be licensed by August 1, 2027; the act separately directs licensing standards for ABA clinics.

Applies to
Use for Future Licensed Behavior Analyst, Future Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst research in CO.
Known exclusions
A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
Effective date
2026-08-01
Fact checked
2026-08-11

Confirm before acting

  • Confirm how the controlling board applies its rules to the proposed facts, setting, services, and payer arrangement.

What gets rechecked

  • Recheck board notices, applications, fees, compact activity, and rulemaking monthly.

Strengthen this guide

Send the controlling official section, form, bulletin, or dated regulator instruction through the public corrections route.

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Credential, telehealth, and supervision worksheets

Credential and license-maintenance checklistTrack verification, renewal, continuing education, audits, inactive status, and reinstatement.4 steps · WS-CO-LICENSE-MAINTENANCE

Check steps as you work. Evidence links stay tucked away until you need them.

0 of 4 complete
  1. Evidence · 9 official sources
  2. Evidence · 2 official sources
  3. Evidence · 2 official sources
  4. Evidence · 9 official sources
Telehealth and cross-border decision treeDocument the client location, practitioner authority, registration or privilege, consent, emergency plan, and payer rule.4 steps · WS-CO-TELEHEALTH

Check steps as you work. Evidence links stay tucked away until you need them.

0 of 4 complete
  1. Evidence · 2 official sources
  2. Evidence · 9 official sources
  3. Evidence · 2 official sources
  4. Evidence · 2 official sources
Hiring and supervision checklistCollect credential evidence and document role, supervision, setting, hours, reporting, and payer enrollment.4 steps · WS-CO-HIRING-SUPERVISION

Check steps as you work. Evidence links stay tucked away until you need them.

0 of 4 complete
  1. Evidence · 2 official sources
  2. Evidence · 9 official sources
  3. Evidence · 2 official sources
  4. Evidence · 2 official sources

Sources used in this dossier