Colorado Pharmacy Technician Regulation Bill: Update

There are currently about 8,000 pharmacy technicians practicing in Colorado.

House Bill 19-1242 (HB 1242), as discussed previously on the Baer Law Blog, requires pharmacy technicians practicing in Colorado on or after June 15, 2020, to obtain certification from the Colorado State Board of Pharmacy (Board) in the Department of Regulatory Agencies. If HB 1242 is successful, each pharmacy technician applicant must provide (1) proof of certification by either a board-approved, nationally recognized organization that certifies pharmacy technicians and either (2) submit to a criminal history record check or provide evidence of a prior check.

The Board can grant a provisional certification to a pharmacy technician applicant, which would be valid for 18 months, but if the pharmacy technician applicant does not satisfy all the requirements in 18 months, the pharmacy technician applicant will not be allowed to practice as a a pharmacy technician until he or she receives certification from the Board. Persons who practice as a pharmacy technicians without an active certification would be committing a class 2 misdemeanor for a first offense and a class 6 offense for any subsequent offenses.

Earlier in the week HB 1242 passed in the House Committee by a vote of 9-2. HB 1243 takes effect October 1, 2019, if no referendum petition is filed.