Colorado

Colorado credentials three types of addiction counselors. A licensed addiction counselor (LAC) must have a master’s or doctorate degree in the behavioral health sciences, passed the master addiction counselor examination administered by the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, completed the number of clock hours of addiction-specific training, as specified by the board by rule, including training in evidence-based treatment approaches, clinical supervision, ethics, and co-occurring disorders and completed at least 2,000 direct clinical hours of clinically supervised work experience in the addiction field.

A certified addiction specialist (CAS) must have a bachelor’s degree in a behavioral health concentration or human services equivalent, completed at least 3,000 hours of supervised clinic work hours over a minimum of 18 months, passed an examination and passed the national certification addiction counselor level II examination administered by the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors.

A certified addiction technician (CAT) must have a high school diploma, completed at least 1,000 hours of supervised clinical experience over a minimum of six months, passed an examination and passed the national certification addiction counselor level I examination administered by the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors.

An individual may receive a certification as an addiction counselor if they have met the requirements for certification as a certified addiction technician or a certified addiction specialist.

Colo. Rev. Stat. §12-245-804 and 2 Colo. Code of Regs. §502-1-21.330 and 4 Colo. Code of Regs. §744-1-21.330 and Colorado State Board of Addiction Counselor Examiners

Licensed professional counselors may provide mental health, psychological, or human development services through cognitive, affective, behavioral, or systematic intervention strategies that address wellness, personal growth, or career development, as well as pathology. A licensed professional counselor may render the application of these principles to individuals, couples, families, or groups. Services may also include, but is not limited to, evaluation, assessment, testing, diagnosis, treatment and psychotherapy. Colo. Rev. Stat. §12-245-603

As of August 2018, 116 NPs in Colorado have received a federal waiver to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine-containing products. Consistent with their prescriptive authority and with proper training or appropriate experience an NP with full practice authority can receive a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products. An NP with provisional prescriptive authority may be able to receive a federal waiver with proper training or experience and with a mentoring physician who is certified, trained, or permitted to treat and manage patients with opioid use disorder. Colo. Rev. Stat. §12-38-111.6 and 3 Colo. Code Regs. § 716-1-15

As of August 2018, 52 PAs in Colorado have received a federal waiver to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine-containing products. A Colorado PA may prescribe drugs and controlled substances when supervised and delegated by a physician. With proper training or appropriate experience a PA in Colorado can receive a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products, as long as the supervising physician is certified, trained, or permitted to treat and manage patients with opioid use disorder. 3 Colo. Code Regs. § 713-7-400

As outlined in Colorado state law, peer support specialists self-identify as having experienced the process of recovery from a mental health disorder, substance use disorder, trauma, or one or all of such conditions, either as a consumer of recovery services or as the parent or a family member of the consumer. They have successfully completed formal training covering all content areas outlined in the core competencies for peer support professionals established by either the state department or the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). They also provide nonclinical support services that align with recommendations from SAMHSA, including engaging individuals in peer-to-peer relationships that support healing, personal growth, life skills development, self-care, and crisis-strategy development to help achieve recovery, wellness, and life goals.

Training, credentialing, and certification for peer specialists are not set out by state law and the process is currently provided by third-party, nonprofit certification providers. Colo. Rev. Stat. §27-60-108

NPs are authorized to sign medical orders for scope of treatment forms. Colo. Rev. Stat. §15-18.7-103(i)

An advanced practice registered nurse shall practice in accordance with the standards of the appropriate national professional nursing organization and have a safe mechanism for consultation or collaboration with a physician or, when appropriate, referral to a physician. Advanced practice registered nursing also includes, when appropriate, referral to other health-care providers. Colo. Rev. Stat. §12-255-111

An NP is authorized by the State Board of Nursing to prescribe drugs after certain requirements are met, including educational classes and a preceptorship. Upon conclusion of meeting the requirements, provisional authority may be granted and the NP may prescribe drugs and Schedule II-V controlled substances. A mentorship with a physician or NP with full prescriptive authority must be completed within three years after receiving provisional authority. An articulated plan for safe prescribing must also be developed in the mentorship. Colo. Rev. Stat. §12-255-112 and Colo. Board of Nursing Rules Chapter 15

NPs are recognized in state policy as primary care providers. The NP must practice within a specific population focus (e.g. neonatal, pediatric, women’s health, adult, family, mental health). Colo. Board of Nursing Rules Chapter XIV 1.10

Optometrists may only perform procedures related to foreign body removal and the examination, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of the human eye. Additional allowable procedures are authorized by statute. Colo. Rev. Stat. §12-275-103(1)

Optometrists may use injections to counter anaphylactic reactions as well as the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. Colo. Rev. Stat. §12-275-103(1) and Executive Order D 2021 008

Optometrists may prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances and also Schedule II hydrocodone or hydrocodone combination medications. Colo. Rev. Stat. §12-275-103(1)

Dental hygienists may perform most of their authorized procedures without supervision. However, dental hygienists must be supervised by a licensed dentist when preparing study casts, administering local anesthesia, or placing interim therapeutic restorations. Colorado law also allows dental hygienist to own a dental hygiene practice and authorizes unsupervised dental hygienists to prescribe fluoride supplements, some topical anti-carries treatments, and some topical anti-infectives in collaboration with a dentist. A dental hygienist may prescribe and apply silver diamine fluoride after meeting certain requirements. Colo. Rev. Stat. §12-220

Statute does not identify dental therapists as an oral health provider.

Colorado Medicaid allows for the practice and reimbursement of an interim therapeutic restoration in teledentistry. Colo. Rev. Stat. §25.5-5-321.5

Colorado has not enacted legislation allowing pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the federal PREP Act does allow pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine through the duration of the public health emergency.

Pharmacists may make minor prescriptions adaptions including changes to prescribed dosages and quantities if the change achieves the intent of the original prescriptions. The pharmacist must document the adaption, the justification for the change and notify the prescribing practitioner. (Bill enacted in 2021. Statute not yet updated)

A pharmacist must complete a training course in the subject area of hormonal contraception drug therapy and must include instruction in specific content areas. A written protocol for hormonal contraception drug therapy must be approved by the Board of Pharmacy. (Bill enacted in 2021. Statute not yet updated)

A pharmacist must complete a training course in the subject area of tobacco cessation drug therapy and must include instruction in specific content areas. A written protocol for tobacco cessation drug therapy must be approved by the Board of Pharmacy. Colo. Rev. Stat. §10-16-144

The State Medical Board establishes supervision requirements for new PA graduates, experienced PAs new to a practice setting, and all other PAs. The supervising physician must provide periodic assessment of a PA. Colo. Code Regs. §3-713, Rule 400, Sec. 2(B)2-3, (C)5-6

A PA may prescribe drugs and controlled substances when supervised and delegated by a physician. Colo. Code Regs. §3-713, Rule 400, Sec. 3

The supervising physician delegates medical procedures and services to a PA. Delegated services must be consistent with the physician’s education, training, experience and active practice. Colo. Code Regs. §3-713, Rule 400, Sec. 2