Looking for information about Colorado pharmacy technician license requirements? Following are the important facts you need to know about the requirements for pharmacy technicians in Colorado.
Fact-checked against the state board, September 2026
Does Colorado regulate pharmacy technicians?
Yes.
Is certification required to practice in Colorado?
Yes, from a nationally recognized certification Board.
What certification exam(s) is/are recognized by the state?
The Colorado State Board of Pharmacy currently approves two national certifying organizations: the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), which gives the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), and the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), which gives the ExCPT exam. You must hold active certification from one of them to get and renew Colorado state certification.
Is licensure required?
Colorado does not issue a pharmacy technician license as such. Instead, the State Board of Pharmacy issues a state pharmacy technician certification (or a one-time provisional certification). Since March 30, 2020, you cannot work as a pharmacy technician in Colorado without one.
Is training required?
Colorado law does not set a specific number of training hours. To get state certification, you need current national certification from PTCB or NHA and a completed criminal history record check. Any training or education requirements come from the certifying organization you choose. If you are not yet nationally certified, the Board can grant a one-time provisional certification of up to 18 months so you can work while you finish.
What do I need to become a pharmacy tech in Colorado?
To become a certified pharmacy technician in Colorado:
- Earn national certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Check each organization’s eligibility requirements, such as education or training.
- Complete a criminal history record check. This can be one done by your employer, by your training program, or as part of your national certification.
- Apply online through the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO) Online Services portal. Choose the Pharmacy Technician application, or the Pharmacy Technician Provisional application if you are not yet nationally certified. You will upload proof of your national certification.
- Pay the application fee shown in the online application.
Applications and forms: https://dpo.colorado.gov/Pharmacy/Applications
Are there Continuing Education (CE) requirements?
Colorado does not set separate CE hours for technicians. To renew your Colorado certification, you must complete the continuing education and renewal requirements of your certifying organization (PTCB or NHA) and keep that certification active. Keep proof of your active certification for at least four years, because the Board audits after each renewal period.
Other good info to know about Colorado pharmacy technician requirements
- Any pharmacy technician on duty in Colorado must hold a state certification or provisional certification.
- Provisional certification is valid for up to 18 months and cannot be renewed. The Board may extend it for documented hardship.
- State certification requires active national certification (PTCB or NHA) and a criminal history record check. A training-program degree or a set number of training hours is not a state requirement.
- Keep your contact and practice information current in DPO Online Services. Healthcare profile information must be updated within 30 days of a change.
Colorado Pharmacy Technician Requirements Have Changed
Update, September 2026:
In 2019 Colorado passed HB19-1242, now codified at C.R.S. 12-280-115.5. Since March 30, 2020, anyone working as a pharmacy technician in Colorado must hold a certification or provisional certification from the State Board of Pharmacy. The Board updates its rules periodically. See the current Pharmacy Board Rules (3 CCR 719-1) and upcoming rulemaking notices on the Board’s homepage at https://dpo.colorado.gov/Pharmacy.
A new state law requires that pharmacy technicians must obtain a certification from the State Board of Pharmacy (Board) by March 30, 2020. This means that you cannot practice on or after March 30, 2020, without a certification or a provisional certification from the Board. The Governor (Jared Polis) signed the bill HB19-1242 – Regulate Pharmacy Technicians on June 3, 2019.
The application is available on the pharmacy technicians webpage. The fee for a pharmacy technician certification or provisional certification is $57.
The Board held a Rulemaking Hearing on October 3, 2019, and the new rules affecting pharmacy technicians went into effect on November 30, 2019. Certification requirements are located in Rule 29, which is found on page 199 of the new Rules. Pharmacy technicians should apply for certification (provisional or non-provisional certificate) as soon as possible to ensure they can continue practicing on or after March 30, 2020. We encourage all pharmacy technicians to review the new Rules as well as the FAQ on the Board’s website.
History of the Changes to Colorado’s Pharmacy Technician Requirements
In 2008, the Board of Pharmacy organized a Pharmacy Technician Taskforce. This group has met several times since 2008. The group consists of technicians and pharmacists, explores issues regarding the possible regulation of pharmacy technicians. The group then reports its findings back to the Board. Regulation could range from licensing, to registering to required certification of pharmacy technicians.
The group reviewed requirements from other states as guidance. They recognized that the regulation of pharmacy technicians in other states is rapidly changing and that the pharmacy field has also changed greatly in recent years. This group recognized that pharmacists need to delegate more tasks to the pharmacy technicians. Among their discussions was an analysis of board-approved pharmacy technician education programs.
Essential Contact Info for Colorado Pharmacy Techs
Colorado State Board of Pharmacy Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA) 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350 Denver, CO 80202 Phone: 303-894-7800 | Fax: 303-894-7692 Program questions: [email protected] Applications and renewals: [email protected] Website: https://dpo.colorado.gov/Pharmacy
Professional association: Colorado Pharmacists Society, 303 E 17th Ave, Suite 400, Denver, CO 80203, https://www.copharm.org/
