Colorado Pharmacy Technician Requirements and Training Programs

Traditionally, a pharmacist’s primary role involved the preparation and dispensing of the medication. However, the increasing availability of new medication and changes in health care reform affect the role of the modern pharmacist. As they strive to keep up with the effects of new drugs, including OTC drugs and natural products, and new standards of treatment, pharmacists will rely heavily on their pharmacy technicians to take on added responsibility.

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Pharmacy technicians in Colorado and other states across the nation are taking on tasks, which were at one time reserved solely for the pharmacist. Trained technicians take prescription orders over the phone, prepare and dispense medication, and focus heavily on reducing errors. Their diligence gives pharmacists more time to keep abreast of new medications and counsel patients. Therefore, pharmacy technicians are more than just basic assistants. They’re critical elements in the effective functioning of community and hospital pharmacies. Proper training and education will prepare pharmacy technicians to shoulder more responsibility. In 2019, Colorado State implemented new practice requirements for pharmacy technicians as outlined in HB19-1242. The new state law requires pharmacy technicians to obtain certification or provisional certification from the State Board of Pharmacy.

Pharmacy Technician Schools in CO

Colorado Pharmacy Technician Requirements

License Requirement

Pharmacy technicians practicing in Colorado must obtain a certification or provisional certification from the State Board of Pharmacy. Provisional certification is available for applicants who do not hold certification in good standing from a certifying organization. Under the provisional certification, the candidate will be eligible to practice while he or she pursues certification. The provisional certification is valid for no more than 18 months unless extended by the Board due to hardship.

All applicants for certification must pass a criminal record check, must be able to read and write English, and must have current certification from a national certifying organization.

Any person who practices or offers or attempts to practice as a pharmacy technician without an active certification commits a class 2 misdemeanor for a first offense and a class 6 felony for the second or any subsequent offense. The Board of Pharmacy may issue a Cease and Desist Order to any pharmacy technician practicing in state without Board certification.

Age Requirement

Pharmacy technicians must be at least 18 years old to begin working at pharmacies in Colorado.

Education Requirement

A high school education with an emphasis on maths, biology and chemistry, will give you a jumpstart on the courses needed to excel as a pharmacy technician. New state certification requirements increase the educational requirements for pharmacy technicians in Colorado. The need for national certification from organizations such as the PTCB or NHA directly influences the educational requirements for prospective pharmacy technicians. The PTCB, for example, requires candidates for certification to complete a program accredited by the ASHP as a criterion for certification. Therefore, the state indirectly requires pharmacy technicians to complete a formal program for practice. Pharmacy technician programs are offered at vocational schools, community colleges, and other traditional academia.

Other Requirements

Applicants for certification must provide information regarding an employer-based criminal history check. They will need to answer general and criminal history screening questions and upload support documentation during the application for state certification. Laws governing the operation of state pharmacies prohibit the employment of persons with criminal convictions, especially those related to controlled dangerous substances.

It’s natural to be concerned about youthful indiscretions, but they may not necessarily exclude you from becoming a pharmacy technician if you’re honest from the onset. Respond to the questions about previous crime, felony or misdemeanor truthfully and provide a detailed description of the events that lead to the conviction.

The pre-employment/ pre-certification criminal background check will authorize the employer to review documents from Colorado and other states.

The Pharmacy Technician Program

Content

Comprehensive training programs prepare students to work as a pharmacy technician in community and hospital pharmacies as well as clinics and assisted living facilities. Training programs involve classroom instruction, hands-on work in simulated labs and a clinical rotation in a hospital or retail pharmacy. They will include extensive preparation for the PTCB or NHA exam. The course content covers:

  • Pharmaceutical maths
  • Anatomical systems
  • Insurance billing procedures
  • Pharmacy law and ethics
  • Various pharmacy operations, including practices in hospital and retail pharmacies
  • Inventory practices
  • Pharmacy medical terminology
  • The role of pharmacy technicians
  • I.V. flow rates and sterile compounding
  • The top 200 drugs
  • Generic and brand name drugs
  • Total parental nutrition
  • Dispensing prescription drugs

The clinical externship is a critical part of the training program, which involves spending 4-8 weeks in a local pharmacy putting your skills to work. In preparation for the off-site externship, the training provider will require students to consent to a criminal background check as a security measure. Students may also need to pass a drug and TB test and obtain up-to-date immunization.

If you’re comparing pharmacy technician programs, you should choose one that is accredited by the ASHP. Accredited training providers not only conform to the stringent requirements of the ASHP, but also equip students with portable skills they can take from one pharmacy setting to another. Graduates from these programs have a distinct advantage over graduates of non-accredited programs: employers know they can work in almost any setting and have experience in IV preparation, sterile products, vaccines and stress management.

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Duration and Cost

Certificate programs at community colleges, vocational schools and continuing education programs at universities use either credit hours or course hours to measure the program. Pharmacy technician programs cover 30+ credit hours that may be transferable to degree programs. Programs accredited by the ASHP provide at least 600 course hours. Full-time students can complete a program in 4 to 12 months.

The duration of employer-sponsored programs depends on the employer’s curriculum and students’ former education and training. The pharmacist-in-charge will develop the curriculum based on the pharmacy technician’s responsibilities in the workplace. In general, you can expect to spend at least 3 months covering the didactic and experiential components of the program. Employer-based programs are not standardized, so training provided by one employer may not meet the requirements of another employer. The training also may not meet the requirements of licensing authorities in other states, so weigh your options carefully. One benefit of training on the job is the absence of costly tuition and other expenses.

The cost of tuition at colleges, vocational schools and other institutions is approximately $2,949 plus extra for books, uniform, and national certification.

National Exams

The PTCB, as well as the NHA, are the two recognized certifying bodies. National certification is a requirement for state certification. Pharmacy technicians who have not completed the requirements for certification through the PTCB or NHA may apply for provisional certification but must complete the requirements for national certification within 18 months of the provisional certification. Taking the step towards certification will demonstrate your commitment to excellence to prospective employers.

The PTCE, offered by the PTCB, is a multiple-choice exam available at Pearson VUE testing centers across the nation, including several centers in Colorado. In order to qualify for CPhT certification, you must successfully pass the exam and meet other requirements:

  • Be at least 18 years
  • Pass a criminal background check
  • Possess a high school diploma
  • Complete an accredited pharmacy technician program

Once certified, you must complete at least 20 hours of continuing pharmacy education in order to renew your certification. The cost of PTCB certification is $129.

The NHA’s ExCPT assessment is gaining ground in formerly PTCB-dominated territory. Employers, once partial to the PTCB certification, now concede to the ExCPT’s benefits. With wider acceptance of both authorities, it’s left to the candidate to choose a certifying body. The ExCPT exam is a multiple-choice exam administered at PSI/LaserGrade centers 310 days a year. Applicants must be 18 years or older, have a high school diploma, and complete formal pharmacy training before applying for certification. The cost for certification is $115.

Applying for Pharmacy Technician Certification Colorado:

An applicant for certification must:

  • Submit payment of the application fee of $57. All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
  • Upload name change documentation, if applicable.
  • Provide information regarding other pharmacy technician licenses you may have held, if applicable.
  • Provide information regarding an employer-based criminal history check.
  • Upload documentation of your current certification by an approved national certification board.
  • Answer general and criminal history screening questions and upload supporting documentation.

Applications expire one year from the date of submission. Your application will expire and you must submit a new application and fee if you do not provide all required documentation within the timeframe.

An applicant for provisional certification must:

  • Submit payment of the application fee of $57. All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
  • Upload name change documentation, if applicable.
  • Provide information regarding other pharmacy technician licenses you may have held, if applicable.
  • Provide information regarding an employer-based criminal history check.
  • Answer general and criminal history screening questions and upload supporting documentation.

A pharmacy technician certification that expires may be reactivated or reinstated by submitting and application and applicable fee.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Renewal:

In order to renew a pharmacy technician certification, a pharmacy technician must present evidence of maintaining active certification with a certifying organization. This includes completing the certifying organization’s continuing education requirements.

Contact the Board of Pharmacy:

Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
Board of Pharmacy

Address: 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350,
Denver, CO 80202

Phone: (303) 894-7800
Fax: (303) 894-7693
Email: dora_registrations@state.co.us

Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Colorado

Aurora, CO Pharmacy Technician Training Programs:
Pickens Technical College
500 Airport Boulevard
Aurora CO 80011
303-344-4910

Colorado Springs, CO Pharmacy Technician Training Programs:
Pikes Peak Community College
5675 S. Academy Blvd., CC13
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
(719) 502-3344

National American University
1915 Jamboree Dr,
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
(719) 590-8300

PIMA Medical Institute
5725 Mark Dabling Blvd., Suite 150
Colorado Springs CO 80919
800-477-7462

University of Colorado Colorado Springs
1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy,
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
(719) 255-8227

Denver, CO Pharmacy Technician Training Programs:
Emily Griffith Technical College
1860 Lincoln St,
Denver, CO 80203
(720) 423-4900

Pima Medical Institute – Denver
7475 Dakin St #100,
Denver, CO 80221
(800) 477-7462

Durango, CO Pharmacy Technician Training Programs:
Southwest Colorado Community College
701 Camino Del Rio # 201,
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-2929

Greeley, CO Pharmacy Technician Training Programs:
Institute of Business & Medical Careers
2863 35th Ave,
Greeley, CO 80634
(970) 356-4733

Littleton, CO Pharmacy Technician Training Programs:
Arapahoe Community College
5900 South Santa Fe Drive
Littleton, CO 80160-9002
(303) 797-5944

Sterling, CO Pharmacy Technician Training Programs:
Northeastern Junior College
100 College Ave,
Sterling, CO 80751
(970) 521-6600

Westminster, CO Pharmacy Technician Training Programs:
Front Range Community College
3645 West 112th Avenue
Westminster, CO 80030
(303) 404-5152

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Get information on Pharmacy Technician programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

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