Colorado BOARD OF PHARMACY | CE REQUIREMENTS | LIVE CERT

Pharmacy licenses can be verified through the Colorado Board of Pharmacy website:

https://dpo.colorado.gov/Pharmacy

All Pharmacist licenses expire on October 31 of odd-numbered years.

BIENNIAL CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Colorado pharmacists are required to complete 24 hours of State Board of Pharmacy approved continuing pharmacy education each 2-year licensure period.

The State Board accepts educational activities accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) or approved equivalent and up to 6 hours of pharmacy-related continuing medical education accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).

For more information regarding continuing education for Colorado pharmacists, click here: https://dpo.colorado.gov/Pharmacy/CE

CE REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR FIRST BIENNIUM RENEWAL

All licensed Pharmacists must maintain continuing education (CE) in order to renew, reinstate, or reactivate a license in the state of Colorado.

Effective immediately upon licensure, licensed Pharmacists must complete 24 hours of continuing pharmaceutical education before renewing a license with a few exceptions.

For example, the Board may renew the license of the first renewal period following the issuance of the original license without requiring a pharmacist to complete any continuing pharmaceutical education if the pharmacist obtains a license within one year after the completion of the pharmacist’s pharmaceutical education.

SPECIALTY PHARMACY PRACTICE

Colorado doesn’t have specific regulations solely dedicated to specialty pharmacy practice. However, specialty pharmacies are expected to adhere to the general pharmacy regulations, including those related to compounding, dispensing, record-keeping, and patient counseling.

CPE Monitor is an electronic tracking system provided by ACPE and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). It allows pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to easily track their completed continuing pharmacy education (CPE) credits.

Continuing education providers report credits to CPE Monitor after a participant completes their program using the participant’s NABP e-Profile ID and date of birth.

Please note that these statutes are provided in this format for your convenience only. You may always find the most current version of the Colorado Revised Statutes online via the Colorado Statute Manager.

• Articles 1 & 20: General Provisions
• Article 30: Provisions Applicable to Health Care Professions & Occupations
• Pharmacists, Pharmacy Business, and Pharmaceuticals Practice Act
• Uniform Controlled Substances Act of 2013

The State of Colorado requires each pharmacist to complete 24 hours of ACPE-approved continuing education every two years.

A license is necessary to practice pharmacy in the state of Colorado.

Requirements include:

• Must pass the NAPLEX
• Must pass the MPJE
• 1500 internship hours
• Degree from an accredited College of Pharmacy
• No criminal record

Application also requires:

• Fee
• Copy of government issued identification

Foreign graduates and non-US citizen have additional requirements:

• Must pass FPGEE
• Must pass TOEFL

Colorado also allows licensure by reciprocity.

To maintain a pharmacist license in Colorado, pharmacists need 24 CE (continuing education) credits every 2 years.

Finding engaging, affordable online live CE is important for pharmacists in Colorado, but it can be difficult to find what you need to meet your license renewal requirements.  If you are looking for free online live CE that covers topics including medication error and controlled substance CE, you can unlock unlimited access to freeCE’s live calendar with a Gold Membership. For one low price, you can access all the CE you need to renew your license in one place and save valuable time and energy finding multiple options that fit your schedule and professional needs.

Explore freeCE’s packages here.

To help you find the CE you need to renew your license, freeCE has a wide variety of activities. We add new content to our catalog on a regular basis so you can not only meet your requirements each cycle, but you can choose the activities which interest you most. freeCE doesn’t just offer adequate training. We provide training that is educational and interesting. These activities are available in both live and on-demand formats and cover important topics from diverse perspectives.