Colorado: Summary of Important Pharmacy-Related Rules, Regulations, Statutes, and Practices That Apply to Practice of Pharmacy

I. STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY

The Colorado State Board of Pharmacy (“Board”) is the body responsible for regulating the pharmacy. The Board is authorized to adopt and enforce rules to protect the public related to the practice of pharmacy.¹

1. Composition

   The Board comprises 7 members.

   1. Five of the seven members must be pharmacists. Pharmacists serving on the Board must have had at least five years’ experience as a pharmacist in the state of Colorado and be actively engaged in the practice of pharmacy.

   2. Two members are nonpharmacists who have no financial interest in the practice of pharmacy.

   3. All appointments to the Board are made by the governor, who shall consider what geographic location the appointee’s home is in (i.e., whether urban or rural, and if a particular area is represented by another appointee) and the type of practice of an appointee so that different types of practices are represented.

2. Term

   1. The term of office for each Board member is four years. Board members may serve no more than two consecutive terms.

   2. Not more than four members of the Board shall be members of the same major political party.

II. PHARMACIST QUALIFICATIONS

1. Eligibility. To be eligible for licensure as a pharmacist, applicants must:²

   1. Be able to read and write the English language;

   2. Graduate from a school of pharmacy approved by the Board;

   3. Have successfully completed an internship period;

   4. Pass the pharmacist licensure examination and jurisprudence examination with a minimum score of 75; and

   5. Pay the required application fee.

   6. If an individual pharmacist has their license revoked, they may not reapply for reinstatement of their license for at least two years after the effective date of the revocation.

2. Reciprocal Licensure

   1. Licensees from another state may apply for license transfer provided they have been licensed in that state for a period of one year and their license is active and in good standing.

   2. Applicants must take and pass the Multistate Jurisprudence Exam (MJPE).

3. Exemptions from Licensure³

   1. Persons participating in an approved hospital residency program who are licensed in another state are exempt from licensing requirements as long as their practice is limited to participation in the residency program.

III. RENEWAL OF PHARMACIST LICENSURE

1. A pharmacist license is valid for 2 years.

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

3. Failure to renew by November 1 will result in expiration of the license.

4. Pharmacists must complete twenty-four (24) hours of approved continuing education within the two years preceding license renewal. Any aspect of pharmacy practice may qualify to satisfy this requirement.

5. If a pharmacist obtains a license within one year after pharmacy school graduation, the continuing education requirement is waived for the first renewal period.