Code of Colorado Regulations
700 - Department of Regulatory Agencies
716 - Division of Professions and Occupations - State Board of Nursing
3 CCR 716-1 - NURSING RULES AND REGULATIONS
Section 3 CCR 716-1.5 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR LICENSURE OF PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIANS

Universal Citation: 3 CO Code Regs 716-1 ยง 5

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 17, September 10, 2024

A. STATEMENT OF BASIS AND PURPOSE

The Rules in Rule 1.5 are adopted pursuant to authority granted the State Board of Nursing pursuant to sections 12-20-202(3), 12-20-204(1), and 12-255-107(1)(k), C.R.S., in order to specify procedures used in obtaining and maintaining psychiatric technician licensure.

B. EXAMINATION INFORMATION

1. The State Board of Nursing (herein after referred to as the "Board") determines the licensing examination for psychiatric technicians.

2. Any needed contract for the use of the examination will be approved by the Executive Officer or designee in the absence of the Executive Officer.

3. The examination will be administered by the Board at least annually at such times and places determined by the Board.

4. Candidates will be informed in writing regarding examination performance.

5. Applicants for licensure by examination must pass the written examination in three or fewer attempts within one year of receipt of a complete psychiatric technician application. The Board retains the ability to grant a waiver for a fourth attempt of the exam upon petition of an applicant. The authority to grant a waiver is at the sole discretion of the Board.

C. APPLICANTS FOR LICENSURE MUST:

1. Apply in a manner approved by the Board.

2. Submit payment of application fee.

3. Submit proof of successful completion of an approved psychiatric technician program as described in Section (D) of Rule 1.5.

4. Successfully complete a state approved psychiatric technician licensure or registration examination.

5. Submit verification of high school graduation or equivalent.

6. Take an oath that they have not committed any crime that constitutes a violation of the Psychiatric Technician Practice Act.

7. Applicants for licensure by endorsement must also include verification of active licensure in another state or territory of the United States, provided the requirements in the other jurisdiction are substantially equivalent to those in Colorado at the time of application.

D. EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE

1. Candidates for licensure must have successfully completed:
a. A psychiatric technician program approved by the Colorado Board of Nursing; or

b. An approved or accredited program outside Colorado that meets substantially the same educational requirements as Colorado programs; or

c. United States military personnel who have education and training documented on an official transcript and determined to be substantially equivalent, as determined by the Board, to the psychiatric technician training program curriculum requirements in Rule 1.6 for Accreditation of Psychiatric Technician Programs will be eligible to take the Colorado licensing exam for psychiatric technicians as provided for in section 12-20-202(4),C.R.S. and are subject to requirements of Section (C) of these Rule 1.5.

E. GENERAL RULES RELATING TO LICENSES

1. The Executive Officer of the Board has been delegated authority to administer examinations, issue licenses by endorsement and examination, renew licenses, and issue temporary licenses and permits to qualified applicants during the period between meetings.

2. Certificates are subject to renewal as set forth in section 12-20-202, C.R.S.
a. The license may be renewed when the psychiatric technician maintains continued licensure prior to the expiration date of the license.
(1) Psychiatric technician license renewal applications received after the license expiration date, and prior to the end of the grace period, may be assessed a late fee.

(2) The licensee's online renewal confirmation or a receipt from the Board will be considered as proof of renewal until the renewed license is issued.

(3) Separate payments are required for each renewal application.

b. A psychiatric technician license not renewed within the renewal period including the sixty-day grace period will be subject to reinstatement requirements.

3. Change of name and address:
a. The licensee must supply to the Board legal evidence of name change within thirty days of the effective date of the name change.

b. The licensee must notify the Board within thirty days of any change of address. This notification may be submitted in writing or via the Board's on-line system.

4. Any application not completed within one year of the date of the original application expires and will be purged.

5. Inactive status:
a. Licensees may apply for inactive status if not practicing as a psychiatric technician.

b. A licensee must notify the Board in writing of such inactive status. Prior to resumption of practice, the licensee shall be required to notify the Board and remit a renewal fee for the current annual period. After a five year period in inactive status, the license may be renewed only by complying with provisions of licensure by examination as found in Section (C) of Rule 1.5.

F. REINSTATEMENT and REACTIVATION

1. A licensee who does not renew his or her license within the sixty-day grace period, as set forth in section 12-20-202(1)(e), C.R.S., will have an expired license and is ineligible to practice until such license is reinstated.

2. A licensee may elect inactive status, but may not apply for inactive status to avoid disciplinary action. Upon inactivation, any and all authorities attached to that license will be cancelled.

3. The licensee must apply for reinstatement or reactivation in a manner approved by the Board.

4. The licensee applying for reinstatement or reactivation must pay an application fee.

5. A licensee who has practiced on an expired or inactive license may be subject to disciplinary action.

6. A licensee whose license has been expired or inactive two or less years must comply with requirements of sections (F)(3) and (F)(4) of Rule 1.5.

7. An individual whose license has been expired or inactive for more than two but no more than five years must comply with requirements of sections (F)(3) and (F)(4) of Rule 1.5. and demonstrate competency. The Program Director or designee may accept proof of competency through 20 contact hours or continuing education for each two years without an active license. Hours of clinical experience for clinical competency may also be considered.

8. Upon a petition by the licensee, and with due consideration of the need to protect the public, the Board may accept an alternative method for establishing competency, to include hours worked under a temporary emergency license. The decision to accept an alternative method for establishing competency is at the sole discretion of the Board.

9. A licensee whose license has been expired for five years or more must comply with Sections (F)(3) and (F)(4) of Rule 1.5 and demonstrate competency to practice. Competency to practice for the purposes of this Section (F)(9) of Rule 1.5 may be demonstrated by:
a. Attesting to having an active psychiatric technician license in good standing in another state or territory of the United States and to having actively practiced as a psychiatric technician in that state or territory of the United State during the two years immediately preceding the application receipt date; or

b. Provide evidence of having reentered and successfully completed an accredited psychiatric technician education program and retaking and passing the licensing examination for psychiatric technicians.

G. LICENSURE AS MILITARY SPOUSE

1. The spouse of a person who is actively serving the in the United States Armed forces and who is stationed in Colorado in accordance with military orders shall be entitled to a temporary license as set forth in section 12-20-202, C.R.S.

Adopted: January 9, 1997

Adopted: January 9, 1997

Revised: October 24, 2012

Effective: December 15, 2012

Revised: January 22, 2013

Effective: March 18, 2013

Revised: July 26, 2017

Revised: October 27, 2021

Effective: December 30, 2021

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Colorado may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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