Pharmacy Technician License Requirements by State

As pharmacy technicians take on increasingly important roles and responsibilities, the regulations governing the profession continue to strengthen.

Organizations such as the Pharmacy Technicians Certification Board (PTCB) are able to provide a national standard for technicians, but in the end, each state determines its own minimum requirements for working as a pharmacy tech.

Current and aspiring techs unsure of their state’s laws can consult the following reference guide that explains how to become licensed as a pharmacy technician in each state.

Click on a state to learn about its pharmacy technician license requirements.

Alabama

Register with the Alabama Board of Pharmacy.

Alaska

Complete an on-the-job training program directed by a pharmacist-in-charge and register with the Alaska Board of Pharmacy.

Arizona

Either:

• Register with the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician trainee and pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB and register with the State Board as a pharmacy technician.

Arkansas

Register with the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy and either:

• Pass a test designed by the pharmacy board, or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB

California

Do one of the following and register with the California State Board of Pharmacy:

• Earn an associate degree in pharmacy technology, or;
• Complete a pharmacy technician training program accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), or;
• Complete a board-approved pharmacy technician training program that provides a minimum of 240 hours of training, or;
• Complete a pharmacy technician training program provided by a military branch, or;
• Graduate from a school of pharmacy accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB.

Colorado

There are currently no licensure requirements for pharmacy technicians in Colorado.

Connecticut

Do one of the following and register with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection:

• Complete on-the-job training under a pharmacy manager, or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency.

Delaware

There are currently no licensure requirements for pharmacy technicians in Delaware.

District of Columbia

There are currently no licensure requirements for pharmacy technicians in Washington, DC, although registration may be required within the next several years.

Florida

Complete a pharmacy technician training program approved by the Florida Board of Pharmacy and register with the state board.

Georgia

Register with the Georgia Board of Pharmacy and submit an application supplement.

Hawaii

There are currently no licensure requirements for pharmacy technicians in Hawaii.

Idaho

Either:

• Register with the Idaho State Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician in training and pass the PTCE or another approved certification exam, or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency and register with the state board as a certified pharmacy technician.

Illinois

Become nationally certified through the PTCB, complete a pharmacy technician training program, and register with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Indiana

Do one of the following and register with the Indiana Board of Pharmacy:

• Complete a pharmacy technician training program approved by the state board, or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency.

Iowa

Either:

• Register with the Iowa Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician trainee and pass the PTCE or another approved certification exam within a year of registration, or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency and register with the State Board as a certified pharmacy technician.

Kansas

Register with the Kansas Board of Pharmacy and pass a test designed by the state board.

Kentucky

Register with the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy.

Louisiana

Register with the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician candidate, complete both 600 hours of on-the-job training and a board-approved training program, and become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency.

Maine

Complete an on-the-job training program and register with the Maine Board of Pharmacy. Technicians seeking “advanced” designation must also become nationally certified through the PTCB.

Maryland

Do one of the following and register with the Maryland Board of Pharmacy:

• Complete a board-approved pharmacy technician training program that includes at least 160 hours of on-the-job training, or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency.

Massachusetts

Become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency and do one of the following before registering with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy:

• Complete a pharmacy technician training course accredited by the ASHP, or;
• Complete a board-approved pharmacy technician training program with at least 120 hours of practical instruction and 120 hours of theoretical instruction, or;
• Complete at least 500 hours of on-the-job training.

Michigan

Do one of the following and register with the Michigan Board of Pharmacy:

• Complete an employer-based pharmacy technician training program that cumulates in a board-approved exam, or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency.

Minnesota

Do one of the following and register with the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy:

• Complete a pharmacy technician training program accredited by the ASHP, or;
• Complete a board-approved, employer-based pharmacy technician training program that provides a minimum of 240 combined hours of practical and theoretical instruction
• Complete a pharmacy technician training program provided by a military branch or by an accredited, board-approved institution or college.

Mississippi

Register with the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy and become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency.

Missouri

Register with the Missouri Board of Pharmacy.

Montana

Become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency and register with the Montana Board of Pharmacy.

Nebraska

Register with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Nevada

Do one of the following and register with the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy:

• Perform 1500 hours of on-the-job training as a pharmacy technician-in-training, or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency and perform 500 hours of on-the-job training as a pharmacy technician-in-training, or;
• Complete a pharmacy technician training program accredited by the ASHP and perform 350 hours of on-the-job training as a pharmacy technician-in-training, or;
• Complete a pharmacy technician training program conducted by the Indian Health Service or a branch of the military and become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency.

Technicians who have been licensed in another state can transfer their registration if the requirements for licensure in that state are equivalent to Nevada’s requirements.

New Hampshire

Register with the New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy.

New Jersey

Register with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

New Mexico

Register as a non-certified technician with the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy, complete an on-the-job training program directed by a pharmacist-in-charge, become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency, and apply for certified technician designation with the State Board.

New York

There are currently no licensure requirements for pharmacy technicians in New York.

North Carolina

Do one of the following and register with the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy:

• Complete an employer-based on-the-job training program within 180 days of beginning employment in a pharmacy, or;
• Complete a board-approved pharmacy technician training program conducted by an accredited institution or college, or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency.

North Dakota

Become nationally certified through the PTCB and do one of the following before registering with the North Dakota State Board of Pharmacy:

• Complete a pharmacy technician training program accredited by the ASHP, or;
• Complete an on-the-job training program directed by a pharmacist-in-charge.

Ohio

There are currently no licensure requirements for pharmacy technicians in New York. However, following the passage of Emily's Law, all those looking to work as a technicians in Ohio must either:

• Complete an employer-based on-the-job training program that cumulates in a board-approved exam, or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency.

Oklahoma

Complete an employer-based on-the-job training program directed by a licensed pharmacist and register with the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy.

Oregon

Either:

• Register with the Oregon Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician, complete an on-the-job training program directed by a pharmacist-in-charge, and pass the PTCE, or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency and register with the state board as a certified pharmacy technician.

Pennsylvania

There are currently no licensure requirements for pharmacy technicians in Pennsylvania. However, if a proposed bill becomes law, then Pennsylvania technicians would be required to complete a training program approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy and register with the state board.

Rhode Island

Do one of the following and register with the Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy:

• Complete a pharmacy technician training program accredited by the ASHP, or;
• Complete a pharmacy technician training program provided by a military branch or by an accredited, Board-approved institution or college, or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency.

South Carolina

Register with the South Carolina Board of Pharmacy.

South Dakota

Either:

• Register with the South Dakota Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician-in-training, complete a board-approved pharmacy technician training program, and pass the PTCE, or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency and register with the state board as a certified pharmacy technician.

Tennessee

Register with the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy.

Texas

Register with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician trainee, complete a board-approved on-the-job training program, become nationally certified through the PTCB, and apply for registered pharmacy technician designation with the state board.

Utah

Register with the Utah Department of Commerce as a pharmacy technician trainee, complete an approved pharmacy technician training program that includes at least 180 hours of on-the-job training, become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency, and apply for pharmacy technician designation with the Department of Commerce.

Vermont

Register with the Vermont Board of Pharmacy.

Virginia

Do one of the following and register with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy:

• Complete a board-approved pharmacy technician training program, or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB

Washington

Complete an approved pharmacy technician training program, become nationally certified through the PTCB or another approved certifying agency, and register with the Washington State Department of Health.

West Virginia

Either:

• Register with the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician trainee and complete an on-the-job training program that cumulates in a test designed by the state board, or;
• Become nationally certified through the PTCB, complete 20 hours of on-the-job training, and register with the state board as a pharmacy technician.

Wisconsin

There are currently no licensure requirements for pharmacy technicians in Wisconsin.

Wyoming

Become nationally certified through the PTCB and register with the Wyoming State Board of Pharmacy.