What Does It Mean for an ABA Therapy Clinic to Be Licensed in Colorado? A Guide for Parents
When you're searching for ABA therapy for your child, you're probably comparing things like location, availability, therapist experience, and insurance coverage. But there's one factor many parents don't think to ask about—and it might be one of the most important: Is the ABA clinic licensed?
In Colorado, the answer may surprise you. While ABA therapy is the gold-standard treatment for autism spectrum disorder and is covered by most insurance plans, the state’s policies are unclear on whether or not they currently require ABA clinics to be licensed. That means the vast majority of ABA providers in Colorado, including some of the largest corporate chains with dozens of locations, operate without any state-level oversight of facilities.
Every one of our Colorado Behavior and Learning Group (CBLG) clinic locations is licensed by the Colorado Department of Human Services (DHS). Here's what that means for your family—and why it matters.
What Is ABA Clinic Licensure in Colorado?
In Colorado, ABA clinics that choose to pursue licensure are classified as Day Treatment Centers under the Colorado Department of Human Services. This designation applies to facilities that provide structured behavioral treatment programs for children.
Being a licensed Day Treatment Center means the facility has submitted to state oversight and agreed to meet specific standards for safety, staffing, and operations. It's a higher bar than simply employing certified therapists—it's about the entire facility meeting state requirements.
Here's the key distinction: While individual therapists (BCBAs and RBTs) hold professional certifications from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), those certifications don't extend to the facility itself. A clinic can employ certified therapists while still operating without any state-level inspection or oversight of its physical space, safety protocols, or administrative practices.
What Does DHS Licensure Require?
When an ABA clinic is licensed by the Colorado Department of Human Services, it means the facility has undergone—and continues to undergo—rigorous oversight. Here's what that includes:
Fire Safety Inspections: Licensed facilities are inspected by local fire departments to ensure they meet safety codes, including proper exits, fire suppression systems, and evacuation procedures.
Health Department Inspections: The facility must meet health and sanitation standards to ensure a clean, safe environment for children.
Staff Background Checks: All employees must complete fingerprint-based criminal background checks through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and, when applicable, the FBI. Staff files are reviewed and managed by DHS.
Child Abuse and Neglect Checks: In addition to criminal background checks, all staff must be cleared through the state's child abuse and neglect registry.
Training Requirements: Licensed facilities must ensure staff complete required training, including trauma-informed care, cultural competency training, and ongoing professional development—beyond just the RBT certification requirements.
Ongoing Monitoring: DHS licensing specialists conduct regular inspections to verify continued compliance. This isn't a one-time approval—it's ongoing accountability.
Incident Reporting: Licensed facilities are required to report critical incidents to DHS, creating an additional layer of transparency and accountability.
Why Aren't Most ABA Clinics in Colorado Licensed?
The simple answer: because they don't have to be.
Colorado is one of only a handful of states that does not explicitly require professional licensure for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), and there is no state mandate requiring licensure of ABA clinic facilities. The state is currently evaluating whether to implement mandatory facility licensure for ABA centers, with the Department of Human Services expressing interest in overseeing it, but it remains voluntary for now.
For many ABA providers, especially large corporate chains operating dozens of locations, pursuing licensure represents significant time, cost, and administrative effort. It requires meeting facility standards, maintaining extensive staff documentation, undergoing regular inspections, and submitting to ongoing state oversight.
Some providers may view this as unnecessary overhead. At CBLG, we view it as essential accountability.
Why Colorado Behavior and Learning Group is Licensed
We believe that families deserve to know their child is receiving care in a facility that meets the highest standards—not just because a provider says so, but because an independent state agency has verified it.
Many of the children we serve at CBLG have profound autism and significant behavioral needs. Some are non-speaking. Some require intensive support. For these families especially, transparency and accountability aren't optional—they're essential.
Being licensed means:
Our facilities have been inspected and approved by fire, health, and human services agencies.
Every staff member has passed comprehensive background checks that go beyond industry minimums.
Our clinics are subject to unannounced inspections by state licensing specialists.
If a parent ever has a concern about the care their child is receiving, they have an independent agency, DHS, that can investigate.
We operate with the kind of transparency that we believe every ABA provider should embrace.
How to Check If an ABA Clinic Is Licensed
If you're evaluating ABA providers in Colorado, here are questions to ask:
1. Is your clinic licensed by the Colorado Department of Human Services?
2. What type of license do you hold? (Look for Day Treatment Center licensure.)
3. Are all of your locations licensed, or just some?
4. Can you provide your license number so I can verify it with the state?
5. What happens if I have a concern about my child's care? Is there an independent agency I can contact?
You can verify a facility's licensure status through the Colorado Department of Human Services or the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, which now oversees child care licensing. Don't be afraid to ask—reputable providers will be happy to share this information.
What If an ABA Clinic Isn't Licensed?
To be clear: an unlicensed ABA clinic is not necessarily providing poor care. Many employ skilled, certified therapists who are dedicated to their clients. The issue is accountability.
Without facility licensure:
There is no independent state agency verifying that the facility meets safety standards.
Staff background check requirements may be limited to what insurance requires, not what the state mandates for licensed facilities.
If you have concerns about your child's care, your only recourse may be to contact the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, which oversees individual practitioners, not facilities.
There are no required incident reporting protocols to a state oversight agency.
For parents—especially those whose children have significant needs and may not be able to communicate what happens during therapy—this lack of oversight can feel like a significant gap.
What If I Have Concerns About an ABA Provider?
If your child receives services at a licensed facility like CBLG, you can contact the Colorado Department of Human Services to report concerns or request an investigation. Licensed facilities are required to cooperate with DHS inquiries, and the state has the authority to conduct inspections, review records, and take action if standards aren't being met.
At CBLG, we welcome this oversight. In fact, we believe it strengthens trust between families and providers. We would rather operate under state scrutiny and demonstrate that we're meeting the highest standards than ask families to simply take our word for it.
If you have concerns about an unlicensed ABA provider, you can still file a complaint with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) regarding individual practitioners as well as the Colorado Department of Human Services. However, the BACB does not have jurisdiction over facilities themselves and has no obligation to follow the same standards as a licensed facility.
Why Licensure Matters—Especially for Children with Profound Needs
ABA therapy often involves working with children who have significant behavioral challenges. Some children may engage in self-injurious behavior. Some may require physical intervention (commonly called "holds") to keep themselves or others safe. Some are non-speaking and cannot tell their parents what happened during their therapy session.
For these children and families, the stakes are higher. The need for transparency, accountability, and independent oversight is greater.
At CBLG, we specialize in serving children with profound autism—children who are often turned away by other providers because of the intensity of their needs. We believe these families deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing their child's clinic has been vetted and is continuously monitored by the state.
That's why we pursued licensure. That's why we maintain it. And that's why we encourage every parent to ask about licensure when evaluating ABA providers.
Choosing an ABA Provider: Questions That Matter
When you're choosing an ABA provider for your child, licensure is just one factor to consider—but it's an important one. Here's a quick checklist of questions to ask:
☐ Is the clinic licensed by the Colorado Department of Human Services?
☐ Are all locations licensed, or just some?
☐ What training do staff members receive beyond BACB requirements?
☐ How are background checks conducted, and how often?
☐ What happens if I have a concern about my child's care?
☐ Does the clinic serve children with profound autism and significant behavioral needs?
☐ Can I tour the facility before my child begins services?
At Colorado Behavior and Learning Group, we're proud to answer yes to every question on this list. We believe transparency builds trust, and trust is the foundation of effective therapy.
Ready to Learn More?
If you're looking for a licensed ABA therapy provider in Colorado Springs, Parker, Douglas County, or the greater Denver area, we'd love to speak with you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and tour one of our licensed facilities.