Do You Need a Pharmacy Technician License to Work in This Healthcare Role?

Pharmacy technicians are regulated in most states.¹ This means you may be required to complete pharmacy technician training and/or pass a certification exam before you can work in this role. But what about a pharmacy technician license — do you need this too? The answer to this question can vary from state to state.

Pharmacy Technician License Requirements

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) offers a pharmacy tech state regulations map to help identify licensing requirements in each state. As of December 31, 2024, only four states and one U.S. territory do not require you to have a pharmacy tech license or registration:²

• Delaware
• Hawaii
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Puerto Rico

All other states require you to be licensed or registered to work as a pharmacy technician. Some even require that you have a license/registration and pharm tech certification to perform the duties typically assigned in this healthcare role.

Pharmacy technician license vs. certification

What’s the difference between a pharmacy technician license and certification?

A license is issued by a state regulatory agency once you’ve met the requirements to work in that role, such as having a certain amount of education and training and/or passing a competency exam. Certification involves passing a competency exam. This shows that you have the knowledge and skills needed to perform pharmacy technician job functions.

Learn more about this position with this short video: What is a Pharmacy Technician?

State-by-State Pharmacy Technician Regulatory Agencies

If your goal is to work as a pharmacy technician, it’s important to know the licensing regulations in your state. While the PTCB’s interactive map is a good place to start, it’s important to verify this information with your state’s regulatory agency since it can sometimes change.

Here’s a list of the regulatory agencies for each state’s pharmacy technician positions with a link to their websites and phone numbers so you can contact them directly:

How to Get Your Pharmacy Technician License

Each state sets its own criteria for being licensed and determines the steps necessary to obtain a pharmacy technician license (if one is required).

For example, to become a pharmacy technician in the state of Florida, the Florida Board of Pharmacy requires that you have a Registered Pharmacy Technician license. To qualify, you must be at least 17 years old and have completed a Board-approved training program.³

Maybe you want to work in Texas instead? The Texas State Board of Pharmacy offers two licensing or registration options:⁴

• Pharmacy Technician registration – for individuals with pharm tech certification
• Pharmacy Technician Trainee registration – for individuals without certification

The Texas State Board of Pharmacy does not require you to complete a formal training program to apply for either registration.⁵ However, completion of a training program may be required as part of the certification process.

One example is the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), where qualified applicants must have completed a PTCB-recognized training program or have at least 500 hours of work experience in this role.⁶

This is why it’s important to check with your state’s Board of Pharmacy or other licensing agency to know the specific requirements in your state.

Learn the Skills Needed to Work as a Pharmacy Technician

Completing an educational program can help prepare you to perform pharmacy technician duties such as dispensing medications, monitoring inventory, and providing customer service. Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) is here to help.

We offer a Pharmacy Technician Associate of Science / Associate of Applied Science degree program that can be completed in 18 months or more.⁷ You learn about pharmacy computer applications, pharmaceutical calculations, drug dosing, interactions, and more. This program includes a 180-hour on-site externship, providing you with hands-on training in a pharmacy setting. It also prepares you to sit for the PTCE exam, if eligible.⁸

Why Choose UMA?

At UMA, we believe care pays back. If we care for you, you can go on to care for others. This helps make the world a better place for us all — for generations to come.

One way we provide this care is through our student services. Need help with your coursework? Academic Services is just a phone call, email or chat away. Have questions about how to enroll or if you qualify for financial aid? We have teams that can assist in these areas, too. We also have a Career Services team ready to help you in your job search, whether you want to practice your interview skills, need help creating your resume, or something else.

Contact us to learn more or to enroll and start your healthcare education journey. We’re here for you every step of the way, and we look forward to walking with you through the process.

FAQs

• What does a pharmacy technician do? Duties in a pharm tech job role can include dispensing prescribed medications (under the supervision of a pharmacist), updating patient records in the computer system, assisting with insurance billing and collections, monitoring inventory, assisting customers, and more.
• How to get a pharmacy tech license? States have varying requirements for pharmacy technician licensing. Check with your state’s Board of Pharmacy or other professional licensing agency to learn what is required in the state you plan to work.
• How long does it take to get a pharmacy tech license? It depends on the state. In Florida, new license applications can take up to 30 days.⁹ Pursue your pharm tech license in Kentucky and it’s generally processed in 3–5 business days.¹⁰ Add in any eligibility requirements, such as needing to complete a training program, and the timeline for becoming a pharm tech can be longer.
• Can I transfer my pharmacy technician license to another state? Each state sets its own process for licensed pharmacy technicians coming from another state. For instance, Florida requires that you apply for registration, but you don’t have to retake a Board-approved pharmacy technician program if you’ve already done so.¹¹ To transfer your license to Ohio, you must have been working in a pharm tech position for at least one year (in the past three years), supply a copy of your current license or registration, and have proof of certification if registering as a Certified Pharmacy Technician.¹² Check with the Board or licensing agency in the state you wish to transfer your license to and ask about their requirements.