Colorado § 12-205-110 - Scope of article - exclusions - authority for clinical setting - definitions.

§ 12-205-110. Scope of article - exclusions - authority for clinical setting - definitions.

(1) Nothing in this article 205 prohibits:

(a) The practice of athletic training that is an integral part of a program of study by students enrolled in an accredited athletic training education program. Students enrolled in an accredited athletic training education program shall identify themselves as "athletic training students" and shall only practice athletic training under the direction and immediate supervision of a licensee. An athletic training student shall not represent himself or herself as an athletic trainer.

(b) The practice of athletic training by a person who is certified by a national certifying agency and who is employed by the United States government or any bureau, division, or agency of the federal government while acting in the course and scope of employment;

(c) The practice of athletic training by a person who resides in another state or country, is currently licensed or registered in another state, or is currently certified by a national certifying agency, and is:

(I) Administering athletic training services to an athlete who is a member of a bona fide professional or amateur sports organization or of a sports team of an accredited educational institution, if the person acts in accordance with rules established by the director and engages in the unlicensed practice of athletic training for no more than ninety days in any calendar year; or

(II) Participating in an educational program of not more than twelve weeks' duration. Upon written application by the person prior to the expiration of the twelve-week period, the director may grant an extension of time.

(d) The practice of any health-care profession, other than athletic training, by a person licensed or registered under any other part or article of this title 12 in accordance with the lawful scope of practice of the other profession or the performance of activities described in subsection (2) of this section, if the person does not represent himself or herself as an athletic trainer or as engaging in the practice of athletic training;

(e) Athletic training by a patient for himself or herself or gratuitous athletic training by a friend or family member who does not represent himself or herself as an athletic trainer.

(2) Nothing in this article 205 limits or prohibits the administration of routine assistance or first aid by a person who is not a licensee for injuries or illnesses sustained at an athletic event or program.

(3) Nothing in this article 205 requires an entity offering or sponsoring an athletic event or regular athletic activity, including a youth sports team or program whose participants are eighteen years of age or younger, to employ a licensed athletic trainer.

(4) (a) A school coach, athletic director, or other employee or a person contracted with a school is not engaging in the practice of athletic training when he or she engages in or holds responsibility for the following activities in the course of his or her regularly scheduled duties:

(I) Planning, administering, or modifying methods for prevention and risk management of injuries and illnesses;

(II) Administering routine assistance for first aid to an injured athlete;

(III) Directing conditioning exercises;

(IV) Educating or counseling athletes concerning the prevention of injuries and illnesses; or

(V) Referring an athlete to a licensed health-care professional.

(b) As used in this subsection (4), "school" means a public or private elementary, middle, junior high, or high school.

(5) A licensee may provide athletic training services in a clinical setting to a person who is not an athlete if the athletic trainer is under the direction and supervision of a Colorado-licensed or otherwise lawfully practicing physician or physician assistant who treats sports or musculoskeletal injuries. As used in this subsection (5), "direction and supervision" means the issuance of written or oral directives by the physician or physician assistant to the licensee pertaining to the athletic training services to be provided.

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1039, § 1, effective October 1; (1)(a), (1)(c)(I), (2), (3), and (5) amended, (HB 19-1083), ch. 61, p. 222, § 20, effective October 1. L. 2021: (5) amended, (SB 21-147), ch. 174, p. 952, § 5, effective September 1.

Editor's note: (1) This section is similar to former § 12-29.7-109 as it existed prior to 2019.

(2) Before its relocation in 2019, this section was amended in HB 19-1083. Those amendments were superseded by the repeal and reenactment of this title 12, effective October 1, 2019. For those amendments to the former section in effect from August 2, 2019, to October 1, 2019, see HB 19-1083, chapter 61, Session Laws of Colorado 2019.