The rules and guidelines that regulate the profession of pharmacy technician are continuously getting stricter as the function and duties of pharmacy technicians continue to expand. A nationwide standard can be provided for technicians by organizations such as the Pharmacy Technicians Certification Board (PTCB), but in the end, it is up to each state to decide its own minimal standards for working as a pharmacy tech.
You can use the following reference guide to learn how to become licensed as a pharmacy technician in each state if you are a current tech or an aspiring tech who is unaware of the regulations that apply to you in your state.
Simply select a state from the list to read up on the prerequisites for obtaining a license to work as a pharmacy technician there. Alabama The Alabama Board of Pharmacy requires that you register with them. Alaska To get registered with the Alaska Board of Pharmacy, you will need to finish an on-the-job training program that is overseen by a pharmacist-in-charge.
Arizona Either:
Either become nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and then register with the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician, or register with the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician trainee and then pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).
Arkansas Applicants must register with the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy and one of the following:
Either obtain a passing score on a test developed by the board of pharmacy or become nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.
California To register with the California State Board of Pharmacy, you must complete one of the following steps:
Earn an associate’s 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; Graduate from a school of pharmacy that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, or; Complete a pharmacy technician training program provided by a branch of the armed forces, or; Complete a board-approved pharmacy technician training
Colorado In the state of Colorado, there are presently no criteria for obtaining a license to work as a pharmacy technician.
Connecticut In order to register with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, you must complete one of the following steps:
Either complete on-the-job training under the supervision of a pharmacy manager or get nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another certifying institution that is recognized.
Delaware In the state of Delaware, there are presently no criteria for obtaining a license to work as a pharmacy technician.
United States: District of Columbia In the District of Columbia, pharmacy technicians are not needed to have a license at this time; however, there is a possibility that registration could become mandatory in the coming years.
Florida Complete a training program for pharmacy technicians that has been deemed acceptable by the Florida Board of Pharmacy, and then register with the state board. Georgia Please submit an application supplement and register with the Georgia Board of Pharmacy.
- Hawaii In Hawaii at this time, there are no criteria for obtaining a license to work as a pharmacy technician;
- Idaho Either:
Either become nationally certified as a pharmacy technician through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another approved certifying agency and register with the state board as a certified pharmacy technician, or register with the Idaho State Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician in training and pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) or another approved certification exam.
Illinois Participate in a pharmacy technician training program, become nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), and register with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation;
Indiana To register with the Indiana Board of Pharmacy, you must complete one of the following steps:
Either graduate from a pharmacy technician training program that has been recognized by the state board or get nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another certifying entity that has been approved.
State of Iowa Either:
Either become nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another approved certifying agency and register with the State Board as a certified pharmacy technician, or register with the Iowa Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician trainee and pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) or another approved certification exam within a year of registering;
Register with the Kansas Board of Pharmacy and demonstrate competency by taking and passing a test developed by the state board.
Register with the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Louisiana Become nationally certified as a pharmacy technician through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another approved certifying agency.
First, you must register with the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician candidate. After that, you must complete 600 hours of on-the-job training and a board-approved training program. Maine Complete a training program that involves learning on the job, and then register with the Board of Pharmacy in Maine.
In order to qualify for the “advanced” classification, technicians are required to get national certification with the PTCB. Maryland To register with the Maryland Board of Pharmacy, you must complete one of the following steps:
Either complete a pharmacy technician training program that has been recognized by the board and which includes a minimum of 160 hours of on-the-job training, or become nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another approved certifying body.
Massachusetts Before you may register with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy, you must first become nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another certifying organization that has been accepted, and you must also complete one of the following requirements:
Complete a pharmacy technician training course that is recognized by the ASHP, or; Complete a board-approved pharmacy technician training program that includes at least 120 hours of practical instruction and 120 hours of theoretical instruction, or; Complete at least 500 hours of training on the job in a pharmacy.
Michigan To register with the Michigan Board of Pharmacy, you must complete one of the following steps:
Either complete a board-authorized training program for pharmacy technicians that is offered by an employer and culminates in a test, or become nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another recognized certifying organization.
Minnesota To register with the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy, you must complete one of the following steps:
Complete a pharmacy technician training program that has been approved by the Board of Certification and is either: Accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP); Employer-based and board-approved, providing a minimum of 240 combined hours of practical and theoretical instruction.
Complete a training program for pharmacy technicians offered either by a branch of the armed forces or by an educational establishment or college that is accredited and board-approved.
Mississippi Become nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another certifying organization that is accepted, and register with the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy.
Register with the Missouri Board of Pharmacy in the state of Missouri. Montana Obtain your national certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or from another certifying organization that is recognized, and then register with the Montana Board of Pharmacy.
Nebraska If you live in Nebraska, you are required to register with the state’s Department of Health and Human Services. Nevada Register with the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy by fulfilling one of the following requirements:
Perform 1500 hours of on-the-job training as a pharmacy technician-in-training, or become nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (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 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and perform 350 hours of on-the-job training as a pharmacy technician-in-training, or complete a
Technicians who have been registered in one jurisdiction but wish to work in Nevada may transfer their registration to the Silver State provided the conditions for licensure in their home state are comparable to those of Nevada.
- Register with the New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy in the state of New Hampshire;
- The state of New Jersey Obtain a registration number from the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs;
- NM (New Mexico) Register with the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy as a non-certified technician, finish an on-the-job training program directed by a pharmacist-in-charge, become nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another approved certifying agency, and apply for certified technician designation with the State Board;
The Big Apple In the state of New York, there are presently no prerequisites for obtaining a license to work as a pharmacy technician. North Carolina (US state) To register with the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy, you must complete one of the following steps:
Complete an employer-based on-the-job training program within the first 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 Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another approved certifying agency.
State of North Dakota Before you may register with the North Dakota State Board of Pharmacy, you need to get a national certification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and complete one of the following requirements:
Complete either an on-the-job training program overseen by a pharmacist-in-charge or a pharmacy technician training program that has been approved by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).
Ohio In the state of New York, there are presently no prerequisites for obtaining a license to work as a pharmacy technician.
On the other hand, as a result of the adoption of Emily’s Law, anybody who wants to work in the field of technology in the state of Ohio must either:
Either successfully complete an employer-based on-the-job training program that culminates in a board-approved exam or earn your national certification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another approved certifying agency.
Oklahoma Completing an on-the-job training program that is employer-based and is administered by a licensed pharmacist, as well as registering with the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy, are also requirements.
Oregon Either:
Register with the Oregon Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician, successfully complete an on-the-job training program directed by a pharmacist-in-charge, and pass the PTCE; Become nationally certified as a pharmacy technician through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another approved certifying agency, and then register with the state board as a certified pharmacy technician.
Pennsylvania In the state of Pennsylvania, there are presently no criteria for obtaining a license to work as a pharmacy technician.
However, if a measure that is now in the legislative process is passed and signed into law, pharmacy technicians in the state of Pennsylvania will be required to finish a training program that has been authorized by the Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy and to register with the state board.
Rhode Island To register with the Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy, you must complete one of the following steps:
Complete a pharmacy technician training program that is accredited by the ASHP, complete a pharmacy technician training program that is provided by a military branch, or complete a pharmacy technician training program that is provided by an accredited, Board-approved institution or college, or become nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another approved certifying agency.
South Carolina The South Carolina Board of Pharmacy requires that you register with them.
- State of South Dakota Either:
Register with the South Dakota Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician-in-training, successfully complete a board-approved pharmacy technician training program, and pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE); Become nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another approved certifying agency, and then register with the state board as a certified pharmacy technician.
Register with the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy in the state of Tennessee;
Register with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician trainee, finish a board-approved on-the-job training program, become nationally certified through the PTCB, and then apply for registered pharmacy technician designation with the state board.
These are the requirements to become a registered pharmacy technician in Texas. Utah Become nationally certified as a pharmacy technician through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another approved certifying agency, complete an approved pharmacy technician training program that includes at least 180 hours of on-the-job training, complete an approved pharmacy technician training program, and apply for pharmacy technician designation with the Department of Commerce.
Register with the Vermont Board of Pharmacy in the state of Vermont. Virginia To register with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, you must complete one of the following steps:
Either graduate from a training school for pharmacy technicians that has been recognized by the board, or get nationally certified through the PTCB.
Washington Complete a training program for pharmacy technicians that is recognized, get nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or another recognized certifying organization, then register with the Department of Health in Washington state.
West Virginia Either:
You can either register with the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician trainee and complete an on-the-job training program that culminates in a test approved by the state board, or you can do one of the following: Get nationally certified as a pharmacy technician through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), complete 20 hours of on-the-job training, and register with the state board to work in the field.
Wisconsin In the state of Wisconsin, there are presently no criteria for obtaining a license to work as a pharmacy technician.
Wyoming Obtain your national certification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), and then register with the Wyoming State Board of Pharmacy.
What are the requirements to be a pharmacy technician in Texas?
Pharmacy Technician Schools in the State of Texas:
- Programs for Pharmacy Technicians in Alvin, Texas
- San Marcos, Texas Pharmacy Technician Training Programs
- Programs for Pharmacy Technicians in Keller, Texas
- Programs for Pharmacy Technicians in Lubbock, Texas
- Farmer’s Branch, Texas’s Pharmacy Technician Training Programs
- Pharmacy Technician Programs Pasadena, TX
- Programs for Pharmacy Technicians in Alvin, Texas
- Corpus Christi’s Training Programs for Pharmacy Technicians
- Pharr, Texas Pharmacy Technician Training Programs
- Amarillo, Texas’s Pharmacy Technician Training Programs
- El Paso, Texas Pharmacy Technician Training Programs
- Brownsville, Texas’s Pharmacy Technician Training Programs
- Programs for Pharmacy Technicians in Arlington, Texas
- Programs for Pharmacy Technicians in Garland, Texas
- Fort Worth, Texas Pharmacy Technician Training Programs
- Classes for Pharmacy Technicians in Dallas and Texas
- Schools for Pharmacy Technicians in San Antonio, Texas
- Austin, Texas’s Pharmacy Technician Training Programs
- Classes in Pharmacy Technology Available in Houston, Texas
Prerequisites to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Texas License Requirement In licensed facilities, pharmacy-related services can only be provided by pharmacy technicians who are registered with their respective boards or pharmacy technician trainees. After receiving confirmation of their active status from the Texas Board of Pharmacy, the candidate is the only one who can start working (TBSP). Every employer of people working in pharmacies is required to give first on-the-job training for technicians and trainees to any new employees they hire.
The training needs to focus on a limited number of very specific topics, as specified by the Board. The only type of training that is required by the Board is the in-house training that takes place on the job.
Because of this, pharmacy technicians in Texas are not obliged to complete the formal training that is necessary in certain other jurisdictions. Even though the Board does not mandate that prospective pharmacy technicians complete formal training, it recognizes that there are training programs available throughout the state and recommends that individuals interested in working in the field attend a training program that has been approved by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).
- Students that participate in training programs are prepared for national certification, including the PTCB test, which is recognized by the TSBP;
- PTCB-certified pharmacy technicians have better employment possibilities, and as long as they keep their registration current, they are exempt from the continuing pharmacy education (CPE) requirements that are mandated by the Board of Pharmacy;
Age Requirement To be eligible for registration as a pharmacy technician in the state of Texas, applicants must be at least 18 years old. Education Requirement In the state of Texas, presenting your PTCB license number is required in order to become registered as a pharmacy technician.
If you do not already have PTCB certification, you are required to submit an application for registration as a pharmacy technician trainee. This registration is only good for a period of two years. In order to take the PTCB test, you do not need any prior formal training; however, in order to take the PTCE exam and earn the CPhT designation, you need to have either a high school diploma or the equivalent of a GED.
Additional Prerequisites Each individual who submits an application for registration must have their fingerprints taken so that a background check may be conducted. If you respond “yes” to criminal questions connected to moral turpitude, the Board will either refuse your license or grant it with disciplinary proceedings in line with the Texas Pharmacy Act.
If you answer “no” to these questions, your license will be granted without any disciplinary actions. Every other felony and every other misdemeanor will be evaluated, and a decision will be taken on an individual basis for each one.
If you have any hits on your criminal record, the registration process might be put off for several months. The Material Covered in the Pharmacy Technician Program Graduates of pharmacy technician programs are prepared for work in both community and hospital pharmacies by receiving practical and hands-on training in addition to classroom instruction in the form of lectures.
The Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) recommends that students enroll in programs that have been granted accreditation by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). These programs guarantee that students will receive adequate training for the complex roles they will play in assisting Accredited programs offered by universities and vocational institutions educate graduates for a range of professional prospects in community and hospital pharmacy by providing students with a combination of classroom instruction, on-campus laboratory work, and clinical rotations in real-world settings.
Inventory packing, sterile and non-sterile compounding, pharmacy mathematics, medical abbreviations, prescription distribution, and patient profiling are some of the topics that will be covered in this course. Time and money invested The cost of attendance at a recognized training provider can be as high as $15,200 for a program that lasts 900 hours.
- In addition to the cost of tuition, students will have to pay for other things, such as textbooks, other materials related to the courses they are taking, uniforms, medical equipment, test fees, registration fees, and transportation to and from their clinical rotations;
The length of time spent participating in the training program might range anywhere from 6 to 45 weeks. The National Examinations Certification is required for all pharmacy technicians working in the state of Texas. Technicians who have not yet earned their certification are referred to as “technicians in training.” The applicant must have a passing score on the PTCB certification exam and submit an application to upgrade their registration with the Board of Pharmacy within a year of passing the exam in order to upgrade their status to pharmacy technician.
You may avoid unnecessary wait times by applying at an on-demand testing location, where you will also be able to select the day that works best for you. The PTCB test comprises of nine knowledge areas that are each covered by a different set of 90 multiple-choice questions.
In order to gain certification, you need to receive a score of at least 650 points on the test and fulfill all of the other requirements, such as having a high school certificate and a clean criminal history. The cost to take the PTCB test is $129 per candidate.
- How to Obtain an Application for Your State License You have the option of submitting an application to register with the pharmacy as either a pharmacy technician or a pharmacy technician trainee;
- A pharmacy technician is a person who has been registered by the Board and given permission to conduct technical services that do not need the professional judgment of a pharmacist, as stated by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP);
An individual who has been granted permission to engage in a training program for pharmacy technicians is referred to as a pharmacy technician trainee. In order to sign up for either of these positions, you need to:
- You can submit your application using the online portal by going to the website of the TSBP.
- Create a safe account to use when you shop online.
- Submit your application for your new license as either an Initial Technician or an Initial Technician Trainee.
- Please provide the address at which you would want the United States Postal Service to deliver your mail.
- Use the credit card that you have on file to pay the application fee. The charge for trainee technicians is $41, while the fee for registered technicians is $61.
After you have finished filling out the online application, the Board will send you three different emails with the following attachments: a copy of the application itself, a receipt for your payment, and a fingerprint form. In order to speed up the processing of your application, you are going to need to fill out the fingerprint form and get your fingerprints taken. After the fingerprinting session is over, the application will be processed by the Board within a period of three weeks.
- Renewal In order to keep working as a pharmacy technician once you have been given approval for the position, you will need to renew your registration every two years;
- You can make use of the online renewal service up until sixty days before your license is set to expire;
If you do not remember to renew your application by the final day of the month in which it is set to expire, your registration will be placed in a delinquent status, which will result in an additional penalty on top of the cost to renew the registration. The process of online renewal is quick and easy:
- To submit your renewal, you will need to go to the online portal provided by the Board of Pharmacy. If it’s more than sixty days past the expiration date, the submission will fail with an error message.
- If you do not already have an account, you will need to register for one.
- Put in your license information for the vehicle. According to the data kept by the Board, you will be required to supply your Social Security number, date of birth, and current address.
- To renew your subscription, go to the page labeled “Renew,” enter your credit card information, and then click “Submit.”
- The Board will ask you for information on your employment relationships, including the license number of the pharmacy where you work.
- Please provide details on your continuing pharmacy education hours
- the required minimum is twenty hours spread out over a period of two years. PTCB-certified pharmacy technicians are exempt from the continuing pharmacy education (CPE) requirements.
The request for the renewal will be processed by the Board within three to four business days. Within ten days of the Board’s receipt of legal papers verifying a change in their name or address, pharmacy technicians are required to provide the Board with an updated name and address. The cost of updating the records and obtaining a new registration card or pocket card is twenty dollars.
There is a two-year time limit on the registration of pharmacy technician trainees, and it cannot be renewed after that point. Transfers It is not possible to transfer pharmacy technician licenses to Texas for those who hold licenses in another state.
A pharmacy technician from another state is required to submit an application for certification to the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). The individual will be able to register with the Texas Board of Pharmacy once they have achieved certification by passing the PTCE test as well as all other prerequisites for certification.
How are pharmacy technicians required to continue training after graduation?
Prerequisites for Ongoing Training and Education
| Continuing education requirements for PTCB | |
|---|---|
| 1) | Must complete 20 hours of continuing education every 2 years |
| 2) | Must include at least one hour of pharmacy law |
| 3) | Max 15 hours of relevant college courses will be accepted |
| 4) | Max 10 hours in-service continuing education allowed |
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