Colorado § 12-280-115.5 - Certification of pharmacy technicians - requirements - provisional certification - criminal history record check - rules.

§ 12-280-115.5. Certification of pharmacy technicians - requirements - provisional certification - criminal history record check - rules.

(1) On or after March 30, 2020, a person shall not engage in the practice as a pharmacy technician unless the person has obtained a certification or provisional certification from the board in accordance with this section.

(2) In addition to any other requirements specified in section 12-280-114 or this article 280, to be certified as a pharmacy technician, an applicant must:

(a) Provide proof satisfactory to the board that the applicant has obtained and maintains in good standing certification as a pharmacy technician from a certifying organization; and

(b) (I) Submit to a criminal history record check in the form and manner as determined by the board by rule; or

(II) Provide proof satisfactory to the board that the applicant submitted to a criminal history record check as a condition of employment at a pharmacy or other outlet, as required by the applicant's current employer, as a condition of participating in a course of study for or with a certifying organization, or in connection with obtaining certification from a certifying organization.

(3) (a) If an applicant for certification as a pharmacy technician has not satisfied the requirements of subsection (2)(a) of this section at the time of application to the board, the board may grant the applicant a provisional certification upon satisfaction of all other requirements for certification specified in this section and section 12-280-114.

(b) (I) Except as provided in subsection (3)(b)(II) of this section, a provisional certification is valid for not more than eighteen months after the date of issuance and is not renewable. If a person who is granted a provisional certification pursuant to this subsection (3) fails to satisfy the requirements of subsection (2)(a) of this section within eighteen months after the date the provisional certification is issued or within an extended period granted by the board pursuant to subsection (3)(b)(II) of this section, the provisional certification expires and the person shall not practice as a pharmacy technician until the person applies for and receives a certification in accordance with subsection (2) of this section.

(II) The board shall adopt rules to establish a process for a provisional certificant to apply for a hardship extension to extend the validity of the provisional certification beyond eighteen months. The board shall establish criteria for qualifying for a hardship extension based on:

(A) The negative effects on access to care in the community served by the provisional certificant or the employer of the provisional certificant;

(B) Financial hardship; or

(C) Health circumstances.

(c) A person whose provisional certification expires is not precluded from applying to the board for certification as a pharmacy technician in accordance with subsection (2) of this section.

Source: L. 2019: Entire section added, (HB 19-1242), ch. 434, p. 3750, § 6, effective October 1.