Pharmacy Technician Schools Currently Accepting Applicants in Colorado
Pharmacy Technician Schools and Programs in Colorado
There's a huge demand for pharmacy technicians in the state of Colorado and the job outlook for pharmacy technicians unquestionably looks good. The average annual wages of a pharmacy technician in Colorado is $40,550. Colorado offers 11 schools which provide training to would-be Pharmacy Technicians. For you to start your pharmacy technician education with the best we have ranked the 5 best pharmacy technician schools in Colorado. Our ranking is based on a methodology which has taken into account various factors such as quality of education, affordability and graduation rate.
5 Best ASHP Accredited Pharmacy Technician Schools in Colorado for 2024
(Following is a list of schools offering the best pharmacy technician programs in Colorado)
#1. Front Range Community College - Westminster, Colorado
Description
Front Range Community College is a community college located in Westminster, Longmont, Fort Collins and Brighton and the Westminster campus has made it to our top ranking list. The college is the largest community college in Colorado. The college offers a short certificate program of 30 weeks. The program will prepare you for the needs of the community it serves. After you complete the program you can even go on to transfer credits to get into a school of pharmacy. The program also prepares its pharmacy technician students for the PTCB exam.
Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length: 30 weeks for the Certificate program.
#2. Emily Griffith Technical College - Denver
Description
Emily Griffith Technical, Colorado is a public technical college located in Denver. With this college you can graduate debt free as the tuition costs are one of the most affordable in the states. The college offers a Certificate program of 3 months. On graduating you will have a host of employment opportunities in retail chain pharmacies, educational and training programs, home health care agencies, independent retail pharmacies, local hospitals, long term care facilities, mail order drug companies, managed health care facilities and military.
Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length: 3 months for Certificate
#3. Pikes Peak Community College - Colorado Springs, Colorado
Description
Pikes Peak Community College is a community college located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It has three full service campuses, three military satellite locations and an extensive distance education program. The education is one of the most affordable in the state. The college offers an Associate and a Certificate program for pharmacy technician aspirants. If you opt for these two programs, you will benefit from the college's excellent clinical facilities and staff, state of art labs and experienced and accessible faculty. The program is designed in a way to help you take the PTCB exam successfully.
Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length: 9 months for the Certificate and 2 years for the Associate Degree
#4. Pima Medical Institute - Denver
Description
Pima Medical Institute has been serving Denver community since 1988. The pharmacy technician training program offered by the college is a 840 hours program which includes a passing certification course in IV sterile products through the NPTA. You can choose from the day or evening classes which can be convenient if you have other commitments. The course is short but extensive and lets you gain the knowledge and skills relevant to your career.
Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length: 9 months for the Certificate program
#5. Pima Medical Institute - Colorado Springs
Description
Pima Medical Institute has been serving Colorado Springs since 2002. Many of its students are military members. This campus offers healthcare programs that are popular in the area. The pharmacy technician program offered by the college will help you gain the knowledge and skills for you to start with your pharmacy technician career. You will be at an advantage by learning and gaining experience with IV compounding which is most often used in hospitals. On completion of the program you can take up leadership roles with our Health Care Administration degree.
Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length: 9 months for the Certificate program
Arapahoe Community College - Littleton
Description
Arapahoe Community College is a community college located in Littleton, Colorado. The college provides a perfect environment for students to excel, with its small class sizes, dedicated faculty, library services and career center. The college offers a 2 semester Certificate which is offered in an online/hybrid format with mandatory face to face classes. You will be taught courses such as Orientation to Pharmacy, Pharmacy law, Pharmacy Calculations, Pharmacology, Institutional Pharmacy, Communication for Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacology and a clinical externship to give you a real-time pharmacy experience.
Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length: 2 semesters for the Certificate
What are the Requirements to Work as a Pharmacy Technician in Colorado?
Pharmacy techs in Colorado are not regulated; nor is there a license requirement in the state.
Registration/Licensure | No |
Training | No |
Certification | No |
Technician to Pharmacist ratio | 6 to 1 |
Continuing Education | No |
Technician on Board of Pharmacy | No |
Certification Maintenance | No |
(source: ptcb.org) |
Education: Training is not compulsory in the state of Colorado. Your pharmacist will provide you within-the-job training to help you become familiar with the job. Then again, getting formally educated at college has its own benefits. When you decide on a pharmacy technician school in Colorado for formal education, enroll at one that is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists(ASHP). In addition, decide whether you want to do a certificate course (9 months) or an associated degree program (2 years). Colorado has 10 schools which provide certificate courses and 2 schools which provide the associated degree course. You could also be entitled to financial aid, hence, make sure that you fill in the FAFSA.
Certification: Certification too, is not mandatory; however, despite this fact, getting certified will significantly perk up your chances of finding a well-paying job quickly. Currently both the PTCB as well as the certificates are approved by the state board in Colorado.
Licensure: In Colorado pharmacy technicians do not need a license to work as a pharmacy technician.
Employment Opportunities
Denver Health, Clear Spring Pharmacy, SGS, Medix, Rx Relief, TerraScripts, Walmart, Walgreens, and Apex Systemsk supply a multitude of employment opportunities in Colorado.
Average Salary of a Pharmacy Technician in Colorado
The Bureau of Labor Statistics approximates a 20.76% job growth between the years 2020 - 2030 and that the job prospects look fabulous. The annual salary of a pharmacy technician in Colorado is $40,550.
Pharmacy Technicians Currently Working in CO | 10 Year Job Growth | Annual Vacancies | Average Starting Salary | Average Annual Salary | ||
2020 | 2030 | % Growth | ||||
6,130 | 5,540 | 6,690 | 20.76% | 570 | $29,310 | $40,550 |
More Pharmacy Technician Programs
School Name | Location | Type | Visit Website |
Arapahoe Community College | Littleton | Public | Visit |
Emily Griffith Technical College | Denver | Public | Visit |
Everest College-Thornton | Thornton | Private not-for-profit | Visit |
Front Range Community College | Westminster | Public | Visit |
IBMC College | Fort Collins | Private for-profit | Visit |
Intellitec College-Grand Junction | Grand Junction | Private for-profit | Visit |
Pickens Technical College | Aurora | Public | Visit |
Pikes Peak Community College | Colorado Springs | Public | Visit |
Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | Private for-profit | Visit |
Pima Medical Institute-Denver | Denver | Private for-profit | Visit |
Pueblo Community College | Pueblo | Public | Visit |
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