How to start a private practice in Colorado

Use only the title your license gives you, "Licensed Professional Counselor" or "LPC."

• Candidates should use "Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate."
• Don't use a title for a license you don't hold.

Not yet confirmed: We found no rule on exact ad wording or a license number. The title-use statute we found was an old version (former C.R.S. 12-43-216), so check the current section with the board.

4 CCR 737-1 and C.R.S. Title 12, Art. 245

Keep ads truthful, and don't advertise anything that counts as health insurance abuse.

• Misleading, deceptive or false advertising is a violation.
• You may pay an independent advertising or marketing agent, including per-patient pay for results.
• A guarantee of results or an unearned specialty claim could be read as misleading.

Not yet confirmed: We found no specific rule on testimonials, "specialist" claims or guarantees. Check with the board.

C.R.S. 12-245-224(1)(c), (d)(II) and (q)

Your board has no rule on the exact title or license number ads must show that we could find.

• Your disclosure statement must list your degrees and licenses, but that is not an ad rule.

Not yet confirmed: Check with the board.

C.R.S. 12-245-216(1)(b)

Keep ads truthful, because misleading, deceptive or false advertising is a violation.

• Don't advertise acts that count as health insurance abuse.

Not yet confirmed: No specific limits on testimonials, "specialist" claims or guarantees were found. Check with the board.

C.R.S. 12-245-224(1)(c), (d)(II)

Make sure any title you use in an ad is accurate.

• Your mandatory disclosure statement must list your degrees, credentials and certifications.

Not yet confirmed: We found no Colorado rule saying which title or license number an ad must show. The disclosure point comes from a secondary source. Check with the board.

C.R.S. 12-245-224(1)(c) and 12-245-216(1)

Never run ads that are misleading, deceptive or false.

• Don't advertise that you'll do anything that counts as health insurance abuse.
• A claim of expertise you lack could also draw discipline, since practicing outside your training or competence is a violation.

Not yet confirmed: We found no specific ban on testimonials, "specialist" claims or guarantees. Check with the board.

C.R.S. 12-245-224(1)(c), (d)(II) and (h)

Use your exact title, "Licensed Psychologist," and don't imply a license you don't hold.

• Your first written disclosure must list your name, business address and phone, and your degrees, credentials and licenses with the education, experience and training for each.

Not yet confirmed: We found no board rule on exact ad title, credential or license number text. Check with the board.

C.R.S. 12-245-216(1)(a) and (1)(b)(II)

Keep ads truthful, and don't advertise anything that counts as health insurance abuse.

• Misleading, deceptive or false advertising is grounds for discipline.
• You may pay an independent marketing agent, including per-patient pay.
• The board can also judge ads by accepted practice standards, which may include APA standards.

Not yet confirmed: We found no board rule on testimonials, "specialist" or "board certified" claims, or guarantees. Check with the board before using them.

C.R.S. 12-245-224(1)(c), (d)(II) and (g)(I)

Give clients a written mandatory disclosure statement at your first contact.

• Include your name, business address and phone, the Division's regulation of your practice with the board's address and phone, and the client's right to information on methods, duration and fees.
• Say the client may get a second opinion or end therapy anytime, that sexual intimacy is never appropriate and should be reported to the board, and that therapy is legally confidential with stated exceptions.
• Give it to a minor who consents alone, or to the parent or guardian who consents. The board's model says to have the client sign by the second visit.
• The board posts a Model Mandatory Disclosure Statement.

Not yet confirmed: The statute also asks you to explain your credential level, but the current text wasn't fully visible. Check it.

C.R.S. 12-245-216 and Rule 1.5

Keep adult records 7 years from the end of services or last contact, whichever is later.

• For a minor: 7 years from the last day of treatment or their 18th birthday, whichever is later, but no more than 12 years total.
• Store records securely, and arrange who handles them if you become unavailable.
• Include the mandatory disclosure statement in the record.

4 CCR 737-1, Rule 1.16

Put the board's address and phone number in your written disclosure statement, given at first contact.

• Also state that sexual intimacy should be reported to the board.
• There's no stand-alone complaint notice rule that we found.

Not yet confirmed: We found no requirement to repeat this on your website or in ads. Check with the board.

C.R.S. 12-245-216(1)(c) and (d)(III)

Give a written disclosure statement at the first client contact.

• Include your name, business address and phone, your degrees and licenses with required education, and the levels of regulation.
• State that psychotherapy is regulated by the division, with the board's address and phone number.
• Say clients can get information on methods, techniques, duration and fees, can get a second opinion or end therapy any time, and that sexual intimacy is never appropriate.
• Explain legal confidentiality and its limits. For a child, give it to the parent or guardian. The client signs unless unable or refusing.

Not yet confirmed: The 2022 text also listed a record-retention statement, and a 2024 amendment reduced the required items. Confirm the current statute.

C.R.S. 12-245-216(1) and 4 CCR 736-1.5

Keep adult records 7 years from the end of services or the last contact, whichever is later.

• For minors: 7 years from the last treatment or from age 18, whichever is later.
• The LPC rule caps child records at 12 years. A cap in the MFT rule wasn't confirmed.

Not yet confirmed: The disclosure statement has also included a statement that records may not be kept past 7 years. Check the current text (C.R.S. 12-245-226).

4 CCR 736-1.16(A) and C.R.S. 12-245-204(4), 224(1)(u)

Put the board's address and phone number in your written disclosure statement.

• Also tell clients that sexual intimacy should be reported to the board.

Not yet confirmed: No separate "how to file a complaint" notice or posting rule was found. Check with the board.

C.R.S. 12-245-216(1)(c)

Give every client your written mandatory disclosure statement at the initial contact.

• Include your name, business address and phone, your degrees, credentials and relevant training, and the board's address and phone with a statement that the Division regulates psychotherapy practice.
• Say clients may ask about methods, techniques, length of therapy and fees, may get a second opinion, and may stop at any time.
• Say sexual intimacy with a therapist is never appropriate and should be reported to the board.
• Say therapy information is confidential except as C.R.S. 12-245-220 and other legal exceptions allow, and that records may not be kept after 7 years. Get a signature by the second visit unless the client can't or refuses. For a minor, give it to the minor if they consent to care, or to the parent or guardian.

Not yet confirmed: Some details come from a secondary summary of the 2024 amendment. The board's Model Mandatory Disclosure Statement is on its Applications page. Confirm the current wording.

C.R.S. 12-245-216

Keep adult records 7 years from the end of services or the last contact, whichever is later.

• Destroy them only after 7 years, in a way that removes identifying data, and store them securely.
• Within 180 days after treatment ends, tell clients in writing that records may not be kept past 7 years. Your disclosure statement can do this.

Not yet confirmed: The counselor, MFT and psychologist boards keep child records 7 years from the last treatment or the child's 18th birthday, whichever is later. We couldn't confirm social work has the same wording. Check with the board before shortening a minor's file.

Board Rule 1.16, 4 CCR 726-1, C.R.S. 12-245-204(4), 12-245-224(1)(u), 12-245-226(1)(a)(II)

Put the board's address and phone number in your written disclosure statement, with a line that the Division regulates psychotherapy practice.

• Give it to the client at first contact.

Not yet confirmed: We found no rule requiring this notice on websites or ads. The 2024 amendment is summarized only by a secondary source, so confirm the current wording of subsection (1) on the state statute site.

C.R.S. 12-245-216(1)

Give clients a written Mandatory Disclosure Statement at your first contact.

• Include your name, address and phone, your degrees, credentials and licenses with required education and training, and the Division's regulation with the board's address and phone.
• Cover the client's right to information on methods, duration and fees, the right to a second opinion or to stop anytime, and the statement that sexual intimacy is never appropriate and should be reported to the board.
• State that client information is legally confidential, with the exceptions in 12-245-220.
• Give it to a minor who consents alone, or to the consenting parent or guardian.

Not yet confirmed: The statute was amended effective 8/7/2024 to repeal the "levels of regulation" explanation. Check the current statute and the board's model form.

C.R.S. 12-245-216 and Rule 1.5

Keep adult records 7 years after services end or the last treatment, whichever is later.

• For a child: 7 years after the last treatment or after they turn 18, whichever is later.
• Don't destroy records before 7 years.
• Store records securely, and have a plan for them if you become disabled, die or close your practice.

Not yet confirmed: We read the version current through March 2024. Check for updates.

3 CCR 721-1, Rule 1.16

Put the board's address and phone number in your written Mandatory Disclosure Statement.

• Also say sexual intimacy should be reported to the board.
• Board address: 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, CO 80202. Phone: 303-894-7800.

Not yet confirmed: We found no rule requiring the notice on websites or ads. Check with the board.

C.R.S. 12-245-216(1)(c) and (d)