Pharmacy Technician License vs. Certification: What’s the Difference?

Roughly 49,000 pharmacy technician openings are projected per year, on average, from 2024 to 2034.¹ If you’re interested in filling this type of role, you may have questions about licensing and certification. Maybe you’re wondering about the difference between them, or you’re not sure if either is required to work in a pharmacy technician position.

At Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA), we understand that it’s important to answer questions such as these before deciding whether to pursue pharmacy technician training. In this case, this begins with outlining what it means to be a certified and licensed pharmacy tech.

What Is a Certified Pharmacy Technician?

A Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) is someone who has taken and passed a competency exam designed to test one’s knowledge and skills related to typical pharm tech job duties and functions. This includes understanding those that involve dispensing prescription medications, organizing inventory, and providing customer service.

A passing score on the exam means that you’ve met the certifying agency’s required level of proficiency in these areas, earning you the title of Certified Pharmacy Technician. Two agencies that offer pharmacy technician certification are the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the National Healthcareer Association.

Certification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) has certified more than 842,000 pharmacy technicians.² To be eligible for PTCB certification, you must have completed an approved training program or have at least 500 hours of experience in this role.³ The PTCB also requires applicants to disclose any criminal actions and State Board of Pharmacy violations. If all qualifications are met and the applicant is approved, they can then schedule to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).

You have two options for taking the PTCB’s certification exam: via computer at a Pearson VUE test center or online from home, where you are supervised virtually by a live proctor. This test consists of 90 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete.³

The PTCB’s CPhT exam covers the following topic areas:⁴

• Medications (40% of the exam)
• Federal requirements (12.5% of the exam)
• Patient safety and quality assurance (26.25% of the exam)
• Order entry and processing (21.25% of the exam)

Certification through the National Healthcareer Association

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) also offers certification for pharmacy technicians. To earn this designation, candidates must qualify for and pass the agency’s Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT).

Eligibility requirements for the ExCPT include having a high school diploma or GED. Applicants must also have completed a pharmacy technician training program within the past five years or have a minimum of one year (or the equivalent of at least 1,200 hours) of experience in supervised pharmacy work within the past three years.⁵

The NHA allows applicants to select the date and location for their pharmacy technician certification exam, whether online or in person. The exam consists of 100 scored questions and takes roughly two hours and 10 minutes to complete. It covers:⁶

• Role, responsibilities, and general pharmacy technician duties (15 questions)
• Laws (15 questions)
• Drugs and drug therapy (13 questions)Dispensing process (43 questions)
• Medication and patient safety and quality assurance (14 questions)

Now that you have a better understanding of what it means to be a certified pharmacy technician and the eligibility requirements, let’s talk a bit about pharm tech licensure.

What Is a Licensed Pharmacy Technician?

A licensed pharmacy technician is registered to fill this healthcare role within the state in which they work. Licensing requirements can vary by state and are provided by each state’s governing body. In some states, this governing body is the Board of Pharmacy. In others, the licensing process is handled by the Department of Consumer Protection, Division of Consumer Affairs, or a similar department.

For example, in Florida, licensing is regulated by the Florida Board of Pharmacy. To qualify for a Registered Pharmacy Technician license in Florida, applicants must be at least 17 years old and have completed a board-approved training program. The applicant must also submit required documentation regarding any previous license-related disciplinary actions, health history, and criminal history.⁷

If you want to be licensed in Michigan, however, this is governed by the Bureau of Professional Licensing. To apply, you must have graduated from high school or passed the GED exam. Additional requirements include passing a criminal background check, having good moral character, and completing human trafficking training, among a few others.⁸

Pharmacy Technician License vs. Certification: The Differences

One of the most basic differences between a certification and a license is what each signifies.

• If you have a pharmacy technician certification, it means that you have met a certifying agency's standard of proficiency in relation to pharmacy tech duties and functions.
• If you have a pharmacy technician license, it means that you are registered with your state and allowed to practice as a pharmacy technician based on meeting that state's requirements, which may include not having any disciplinary actions against you in your field, not having a criminal history, and more.

If you’re still confused about the differences between a certified pharmacy tech and a licensed pharmacy tech, it may help to look at an example using a different profession. Imagine that you’re building a house, so you need to find a contractor. If the contractor is certified, it means have passed a test designed to assess the education and skills needed to build a home. If the contractor is licensed, it means they’ve registered with the state and the state has given them the approval to do this type of work.

Another difference is that, while some states may require you to be certified to be licensed, you do not need to be licensed to be certified. Put another way, some licensing agencies require that applicants provide proof that they have completed a training program and passed a certification test. However, neither the PTCB nor the NHA requires applicants to be licensed to take the pharmacy technician certification exam.

Where Pharm Tech Licenses and Certifications Meet

Though pharmacy technician licensing and certification represent two different things, they do share some common ground. For instance, both can help show that you’re serious about the pharm tech role.

If you take the time to earn your certification, it tells potential employers that you have the training and/or experience needed to fill a pharmacy technician position. If you obtain your license, it shows that you’ve submitted the necessary paperwork and met the requirements of your state to provide pharm tech services.

A pharmacy tech license and certification can also complement each other. While the certification represents a certain level of knowledge and skills, a license signifies that the state’s governing agency has given you its nod of approval. Each on its own can place you in better standing with a potential employer, but when combined, they can make you an even stronger job candidate.

Do You Need a License or Certification to Work As a Pharmacy Tech?

It depends on the state in which you plan to work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, while most states do regulate pharmacy technician positions in some way, certification and licensing may or may not be required.⁹ Check with your state to learn what is required to work in a pharm tech role in your local area.

Even if it isn’t a mandated requirement, having the designation of a certified pharmacy technician or licensed pharmacy technician can offer benefits. For example, it tells potential employers you’ve achieved a level of proficiency in the skills needed to fulfill pharm tech duties and functions and/or you’ve fulfilled your state’s licensing requirements. This could provide a competitive advantage over other job candidates who lack these qualifications.

Ready to Pursue an Entry-Level Pharmacy Technician Role?

If you’re interested in pursuing a pharmacy technician position, UMA’s Health Sciences – Pharmacy Technician Associate of Science / Associate of Applied Science Degree program can prepare you for this role. This program includes instruction on the skills needed to perform pharm tech job functions and covers topics such as pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy tech computer applications, drug interactions, pharmacy ethics, and more.

It also includes an externship, which provides you with the opportunity to practice what you’ve learned in a pharmaceutical setting. Additionally, all UMA grads have access to our Career Services team, which can help you prepare your resume, sharpen your interview skills, and provide tips when conducting your job search. Contact us to learn more or to enroll.

FAQs

• What does it mean to be a certified pharmacy tech? A certified pharmacy technician is someone who has passed a competency exam, indicating they have a level of proficiency in pharmacy tech functions. Two certifying agencies that administer this exam are the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
• What does it mean to be a licensed pharm tech? A licensed pharmacy technician is someone who has registered with their state's regulatory agency and been given approval (or is licensed) to provide pharmacy tech services.
• What's the difference between a pharmacy tech license and a pharmacy tech certification? Pharmacy technician certification means you've passed a proficiency exam, while a pharmacy tech license means that the state has authorized you to perform pharm tech duties.
• Do I have to be certified to work as a pharmacy technician? Certification may or may not be required to work as a pharmacy technician in your state. It's important to check your regulatory agency's requirements, as well as to check with prospective employers to learn whether they require certification to work for their healthcare facilities.
• Do I have to be licensed to work as a pharmacy tech? Some states require pharmacy technicians to be licensed, while others do not. Check with your state's Board of Pharmacy or other governing agency to learn more about the requirements in your state.
• What is the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE)? The PTCE is the certification exam administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). It assesses your knowledge in areas related to medications, federal requirements, patient safety, quality assurance, and order entry and processing.4 Visit the PTCB's website to learn more.

Where national data regarding earnings or employability within a particular field are cited, individual readers should take note that national averages may not accurately reflect the earnings of workers in their particular part of the country and may include earners at all stages of their career, not just entry-level wages for recent graduates.

¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Pharmacy Technicians. Job Outlook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm#tab-6

² PTCB. https://www.ptcb.org/

³ PTCB. Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). Eligibility Requirements. https://www.ptcb.org/credentials/certified-pharmacy-technician

⁴ PTCB. Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE) Content Outline. https://www.ptcb.org/guidebook/ptce-content-outline

⁵ NHA. Your path to ExCPT pharmacy technician certification. ExCPT exam eligibility. https://www.nhanow.com/certification/nha-certifications/certified-pharmacy-technician-(cpht)

⁶ NHA. NHA Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) Test Plan for the ExCPT Exam. https://info.nhanow.com/hubfs/Test%20Plans/2023%20ExCPT%20Test%20Plan.pdf

⁷ Florida Board of Pharmacy. Registered Pharmacy Technician. Apply for a License: Requirements. https://floridaspharmacy.gov/licensing/registered-pharmacy-technician/

⁸ LARA Bureau of Professional Licensing. Michigan Pharmacy Technician Licensing Guide. https://www.michigan.gov/lara/-/media/Project/Websites/lara/bpl/Pharmacy/Licensing-Info-and-Forms/Info/Pharmacy-Technician-Licensing-Guide.pdf

⁹ Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Pharmacy Technicians. How to Become a Pharmacy Technician. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm#tab-4