What Degree or Coursework is Needed to Become a Pharmacy Technician?

Written by Michelle BurtonJuly 20, 2012

According to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) 2012 Survey of Pharmacy Law, more than 80 percent of states license, register, or certify pharmacy technicians. While the remaining states do not have any special requirements for technicians, most employers do. Most employers require licensing, registration, and/or certification for the same reasons most jurisdictions do—to ensure the safety of the patient and minimize liability on the part of the establishment.

Over the years, the industry has seen a significant number of disturbing dispensing cases. For example, according to the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, “SB203 was introduced to the Ohio’s 127th General Assembly in July, 2007 by State Senator Timothy J. Grendell and signed into law in January, 2009 by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. SB203 became known nationally as Emily’s Law, named for the child {2-year-old Emily Jerry} who unfortunately died as a result of an avoidable pharmacist-pharmacy technician compounding and dispensing error.” 

“The law provides strict requirements and regulations for pharmacy technicians. It was drafted with the assistance of the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA), Ohio Pharmacist Association (OPA), and the Ohio Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Subsequently, the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy established three rules that became effective on June 21, 2009 that establish training and certification requirement for pharmacy technicians.”

While Emily’s case is an extreme one, it (and many other cases) has prompted hospitals, pharmacies, retirement facilities, and more to demand a significantly higher standard from potential employees. Besides an extensive background check, drug testing, and even fingerprinting, states may require any (or all) of the following: 

  • Certification (by a Board approved agency)
  • License/Registration
  • Training (by a Board approved entity)
  • Diploma/Degree (from an accredited or Board approved school/program)
  • Continuing Education (in order to maintain or renew certification, licensure, or registration)

In general, all aspiring pharmacy technicians must have a high school diploma, no felony convictions, and no drug or pharmacy related convictions, including misdemeanors. If required, a typical training program should cover the following: 

  • Pharmacy Terminology
  • Basic Drug Information
  • Basic Calculations
  • Quality Control Procedures, AND

State and federal laws, rules, and regulations regarding: 

  • Qualified Pharmacy Technician Duties
  • Pharmacist Duties
  • Pharmacy Intern Duties
  • Prescription or Drug Order Processing Procedures
  • Drug Record Keeping Requirements
  • Patient Confidentiality
  • Security Requirements
  • Storage Requirements

It is important to keep in mind that these are the minimum requirements for most states. A quality degree program is usually more thorough, which is why many employers prefer applicants that have completed a program at an accredited college or university. A top-tier degree program will look something like this: 

PHAR 101 Pharmacy Technician Fundamentals & Ethics (2 credits)
PHAR 102 Pharmacology I (3 credits)
PHAR 103 Top 200 Drugs I  (3)
PHAR 104 Pharmacology II  (4)
PHAR 105 Outpatient Pharmacy Preparations and Record Keeping I (2)
PHAR 106 Outpatient Pharmacy Preparations and Record Keeping II (4)
PHAR 107 IV Admixture Advanced Techniques 3
PHAR 108 Inpatient and Home Healthcare Pharmacy and Preparations and Record Keeping  (4)
PHAR 109 Top 200 Drugs II  (3)
PHAR 130 Medical Terminology/Anatomy and Physiology for Pharmacy Technicians I (3)
PHAR 131 Pharmacy Law and References I (1)
PHAR 132 Chemistry for Pharmacy (3)
PHAR 133 Business Office Machines I (3)
PHAR 134 Business Office Machines II (3)
PHAR 135 Business Office Machines III (3)
PHAR 136 Medical Terminology/Anatomy and Physiology for Technicians II (3)
PHAR 137 Pharmacy Law and References II (2)
PHAR 160 Pharmacy Calculations (6)
PHAR 180 Communications and Customer Service (2)
PHAR 181 Management, Supervision and Human Relations (3)
PHAR 190 Pharmacy Practice - Internship I (8
PHAR 191 Pharmacy Practice - Internship II (7)  - Total 75

General Education Course Requirements for AAS Degree 

AMATH 170 Mathematics for the Health Sciences (5 credits)
CMST & 101 Speech Communication (5 credits)
ENGL 100 Applied Composition or ENGL & 101 English Composition (5)
PSYC & 100 General Psychology (5) - Total 20

General Education Course Requirements for AAS-T Degree 

CMST & 101 Speech Communication (5 credits)
ENGL & 101 English Composition  (5 credits)
MATH 110 College Algebra (5)
PSYC & 100 General Psychology 5 - Total 20

Certification Boards 

Recognized certification exams include the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) (PTCE) and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) (ExCPT), which is now part of the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). The PTCB was established in 1995 by the American Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists, the Michigan Pharmacists Association, and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. It is administered in all 50 states. 

In addition to pharmacy technicians, the PTCB serves career counselors, employers, educators, federal pharmacies, and state associates. For pharmacy technicians, the PTCB “develops, maintains, promotes, and administers a nationally accredited certification and recertification program for pharmacy technicians to enable the most effective support of pharmacists to advance patient safety.”

The Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) is now part of the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). The NHA was established in 1989 and administers the Pharmacy Technician Certification Program. The program (which was established by ICPT), is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). According to the official NAH website, “technicians who pass the (ExCPT) Pharmacy Exam are granted the title of Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). Both exams are approved by State Boards.

State Requirements for Aspiring Pharmacy Technicians 

Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin do not have formal requirements for pharmacy technicians, nor do they have any continuing education requirements. However, no matter which state you reside in, the rules are usually different for pharmacies with a technician-to-pharmacists of more than 2:1. The third technician (and above) must have a board-approved employer’s training and assessment program to his/her credit, or the technician(s) must be certified by a board-approved certification program.

In addition, there are a number of duties a pharmacy technician cannot perform, whether he/she is certified or not. A typical list of prohibited duties may include the following: 

A pharmacy technician cannot: 

  • Take new prescriptions over the phone
  • Interpret data or advise/answer health- and drug-related questions
  • Override warnings on computer
  • Take a changed prescription order
  • Certify dispensing
  • Counsel patients
  • Perform extemporaneous compounding
  • Certify prepackaging
  • Put away stock bottle until checked
  • Remove drugs/supplies involved in the preparing of IV’s until checked by a pharmacist
  • Be dispensed until identity and volume suspensions of diluent are checked by the pharmacist
  • Be distributed until checked by a equipment pharmacist
  • Leave discrepancies unreported
  • Violate appropriate storage drug shipments requirements or leave discrepancies unreported
  • Assess drug therapy or discuss therapy with patients
  • Work without pharmacist supervision
  • Say, "my badge is at home" or "my badge is in my jacket pocket"
  • Work without pharmacist supervision or at a ratio exceeding the laws/rules
  • Discuss patient health information outside of the professional work setting
  • Receive or give out prescription transfers

Because of the complicated and serious nature of prescription drug treatment, the tasks associated with operating as a pharmacy technician should not be taken lightly. As stated, most states have special requirements for becoming a pharmacy technician. However, it’s always best to go above and beyond minimum expectations, especially if you want to remain safe and excel in the field. 

State Requirements for Aspiring Pharmacy Technicians are as Follows: 

Alabama

  • Registration Required. 
  • Pharmacy technicians must: Submit a written pharmacy technician application to the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy requesting a registration as a pharmacy technician, pay appropriate registration fee, and receive registration certification BEFORE working in a pharmacy

Alaska
License Required. To obtain a license the pharmacy technician must:

  1. Be 18 years old.
  2. Able to read, write and speak the English language fluently
  3. Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
  4. Not have been convicted of a felony or another crime that affects the applicant's ability to perform the duties of a pharmacy technician.

Arizona

  • Licensure Required. 
  • Applicant must be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or equivalent of high school, and be a legal U.S. resident.

Arkansas

  • Registration/Permit Required.
  • No person shall work as a pharmacy technician prior to the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy issuing a certificate of registration and a permit for the specific location at which the technician will work.

California
License required. To be licensed as a pharmacy technician in California, you must be a high school graduate or possess a general educational development (GED) certificate AND qualify under A, B, or C as listed below:
(A) Associate Degree in Pharmacy Technology or Any other course that provides a minimum of 240 hours of instruction as specified in Title 16 California Code of Regulation section 1793.6(c) or A training course accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), or Graduation from a school of pharmacy accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
(B) If you are certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), you must submit a certified true copy of your PTCB certificate or the original certificate with your application. (A certified true copy is a copy that has been certified or notarized as a true copy.)
(C) If you are qualifying by training provided by a branch of the federal armed services, you must submit a copy of your DD214 with your application.

Colorado
No Formal Requirements.

Connecticut

  • Board Registration/Certification Required. Training Required. 
  • Pharmacy technicians must register or become certified with the State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commission of Pharmacy, and complete on-the-job training.

Delaware

  • Training Required. 
  • Pharmacy technicians must complete a training program within 90 days of the first day of employment with a pharmacy.

District of Columbia
No Formal Requirements.

Florida

  • Registration and Training Program Required. 
  • Applicant must submit proof of completion of a board-approved pharmacy technician training program in order to register with the Board of Pharmacy.

Georgia
Registration Required. To register you must:

  1. Attest that applicant is currently enrolled in high school, has a high school diploma, or has a GED.
  2. Obtain a criminal history background check through the Cogent Systems/GAPS at a GAPS location.
  3. If currently employed in a pharmacy, submit the license number of the pharmacy where the applicant is employed.
  4. If certified, submit a copy of applicant’s Pharmacy Technician Certification Board certificate.

Hawaii
No Formal Requirements.

Idaho
Registration Required. To register you must:

  1. Be at least eighteen (18) years of age unless a waiver is granted by the Board’s (Idaho State Board of Pharmacy) executive director.
  2. Be a high school graduate or the recipient of a high school equivalency diploma unless a waiver is granted by the Board’s executive director.
  3. Be of good moral character and temperate habits.
  4. Have obtained and maintained certified pharmacy technician (CPhT) status through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), the Institute for Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT), or their successors unless qualified for a continuous employment exemption.

Illinois
Certification and Training Program Required. To apply for a Certified Pharmacy Technician license in Illinois, you must present:

  • Application for Certified Pharmacy Technician Licensure.
  • Proof of presently attending or having graduated from high school or a GED (General Education Development) program. Proof must be in the form of a diploma, certificate, transcript, or statement on school letterhead (copies are acceptable).
  • Proof of graduation from a pharmacy technician training program approved by a nationally recognized accrediting body or documentation from the Pharmacist-in-Charge of the pharmacy where you are employed verifying training as outlined in Section 1330.210(a) of the Rules for the Administration of the Illinois Pharmacy Practice Act.
  • Proof of successful passage of an examination accredited by the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA). [Examinations administered by Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Technician Certification Board are accredited by NOCA]

Indiana

  • Pharmacy Permit and Training Required. 
  • According to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA), to be eligible to perform the functions and duties of a pharmacy technician, an individual must possess the following qualifications:

1. The individual has not been convicted of a crime that has a direct bearing on the individual's ability to work with legend drugs or controlled substances.
2. The individual must be age 18 and a high school graduate or have successfully completed a General Education Development program or have been judged to be competent by the qualifying pharmacist.
3. The individual must have successfully completed or be enrolled in and successfully complete within twelve (12) months of being hired as a technician one (1) of the following board-approved programs:
a. A comprehensive curricular-based education and training program conducted by a pharmacy or educational organization.
b. A technician training program utilized by the employer that includes specific training in the duties required to assist the pharmacist in the technical functions associated with the practice of pharmacy.

Iowa

  • Registration and National Certification Required. 
  • All pharmacy technicians and all individuals training to work as pharmacy techs are required to register with the Board by completing and submitting a new application for registration within 30 days of accepting employment as a certified pharmacy technician or technician trainee in an Iowa pharmacy. An individual who fails to register as a pharmacy technician may be subject to disciplinary sanctions. 
  • Effective July 1, 2010, and except as provided below, all pharmacy technicians working in Iowa pharmacies must be nationally certified by an accredited technician certification board. Currently accredited boards are the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB ) and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT).

Kansas
Registration Required. To register, you must fill out an application and take an exam administered by the Kansas Board of Pharmacy. You must pass the exam with a minimum score of 75 percent.

Kentucky

  • Registration Required. 
  • All pharmacy technicians must be registered with the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy pursuant to KRS 315.135.

Louisiana
Registration Required. 
To register, the technician must:
1. Be enrolled in a Board-approved Pharmacy Technician Training Program or currently possess a certificate from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
2. Earn at least 600 hours in a Louisiana-permitted pharmacy that is not on probation, with at least 200 of those hours earned during the structured training program.
3. Pass the examination administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

Maine

  • Registration and Training Required. 
  • The Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation requires registration for all pharmacy technicians. In addition, all technicians new to the field (never been licensed) must complete a training program managed by his or her potential employer (this applies to pharmacies), The National Pharmacy Technician Training Program, or by an accredited college.

Maryland

  • Registration and Training or Certification Required. 
  • Aspiring pharmacy technicians must register with the Maryland Board of Pharmacy and complete a Board approved training program or a national pharmacy technician certification program. Board approved training programs must be a maximum of six months long and include 160 hours of work experience.

Massachusetts

Registration Required. To register as a pharmacy technician in the state of Massachusetts, the applicant must: 

  1. Complete a training program OR a minimum of 500 hours of employment as a pharmacy technician trainee. 
  2. Pass a State Board approved exam OR a national certification exam.

Michigan
No Formal Requirements.

Minnesota

  • Registration Required. 
  • A high school diploma or GED (General Education Development) is required to register.

Mississippi
Registration Required. According to the Mississippi State Board of Pharmacy, applicants must:

  1. Have attained eighteen (18) years of age.
  2. Be a high school graduate or hold GED equivalent and furnish copy of such certificate to the Board.
  3. Be of good moral character as evidenced by having undergone and successfully passed a criminal background check conducted by the Board.

Missouri
Registration Required. Applicants must submit a completed, signed, and notarized application to the Missouri Division of Professional Regulation, Missouri Board of Pharmacy.

Montana
Registration and Certification Required. To register, the applicant must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age. 
  • Be Pharmacy Technician certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), or Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) or other board approved certifying entity.

Nebraska
Registration Required. To register as a pharmacy technician, an individual must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Be a high school graduate or be officially recognized by the State Department of Education as possessing the equivalent degree of education.
  • Have never been convicted of any non-alcohol, drug-related misdemeanor or felony.

Nevada
Registration Required. In order to resister with the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy, applicants must:

  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • Be a high school graduate or the equivalent
  • Not have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor that involves moral turpitude, dishonesty or the unlawful possession, sale or use of drugs;
  • Have no history of drug abuse 

-AND-
Have complied with one of the following requirements:

  1. Is licensed or registered as a pharmaceutical technician in a state that licenses or registers pharmaceutical technicians; 
  2. Completed 1,500 hours in Nevada as a registered pharmaceutical technician-in-training; 
  3. Graduated from a school accredited by the American Society of Healthsystem Pharmacists (ASHP) and have completed 350 hours in Nevada as a registered pharmaceutical technician-in-training; or 
  4. Graduated from a school in another state that is not accredited by ASHP and have passed the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s (PTCB) national examination.

New Hampshire
Registration and Training Required. To register, the applicant:

  1. Must be at least 18 years of age or have a high school or equivalent diploma, or be working to achieve a high school or equivalent diploma. 
  2. Must be of good moral character.
  3. Shall not have been convicted of a drug-related felony or admitted to sufficient facts to warrant such findings. 
  4. Shall have training or experience as determined by the pharmacist-in-charge.

New Jersey
Registration Required. To register with the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy, the applicant must:

  1. Be at least 18 years of age;
  2. Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent 
  3. Be proficient in written or spoken English

New Mexico

  • Registration Required. 
  • In addition, according to the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy, the pharmacy technician must complete training through his or her employer (pharmacist-in-charge) and obtain board-approved certification within one year or registering. Training must consist of 220 hours of on-the-job training or Board approved training. Board-approved certification exams include Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) (PTCE) and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) (ExCPT).

New York
No Formal Requirements.

North Carolina
Registration Required IF the technician is not enrolled in a school of pharmacy approved by the Board. “Pre-pharmacy” students who are not actually enrolled in a school of pharmacy must register if employed by the pharmacy to perform technician duties. Students who are enrolled in a school of pharmacy and plan to work in a pharmacy during holiday or semester breaks do not have to register as a technician if they plan to return to school for the next session.

North Dakota
Registration Required. According to the official North Dakota Board of Pharmacy, in order to register with the Board, the applicant must have completed one of the following requirements:

  1. Successful completion of an academic program approved by the board of pharmacy;
  2. An on-the-job training program that is directed by the pharmacist-in-charge and approved by the board of pharmacy; or
  3. Employment in a pharmacy as clerical personnel or pharmacy technician for at least one year. This provision will expire one year after the approval of this rule and will require a request in writing by a pharmacist-in-charge of a North Dakota pharmacy.

Ohio
There is no legal requirement to be licensed, registered, or certified as a Pharmacy Technician in the state of Ohio. Instead, the technician must be “qualified” under state law. So they must:

  1. Be eighteen years of age or older.
  2. Possess a high school diploma, possess a certificate of high school equivalence, or was employed prior to the effective date of this section (4/8/09) as a pharmacy technician without a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalence.
  3. Pass an examination approved by the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy.
  4. Submit to a criminal records check and the results must not show that the person previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any felony in this state, any other state, or the United States.

Oklahoma

  • Pharmacy Technician Permit Required. 
  • Completion of a Pharmacy Technician Training Program and On-The Job Training Required.

Oregon
Licensure Required. To obtain a license, the technician must be 18 years of age and hold or will hold a high school diploma or GED at the time the Board issues the license.

Pennsylvania
No Formal Requirements.

Rhode Island
Licensure and Training Required.
There are two (2) levels of licensure: Technician I and Technician II.
An applicant for licensure as a Pharmacy Technician I must:

  • Have satisfied the Board that he or she is of good moral and professional character.
  • Be eighteen (18) years of age or older with the exception of those high school students working in pharmacies as part of school or community sponsored career exploration programs.
  • Be a high-school graduate or the equivalent, or currently enrolled in a high school or vocational training program that awards such degree or certificate.
  • Be currently enrolled in or successfully completed a Board-approved Pharmacy Technician I training program.

Pharmacy Technician II
An applicant for licensure as a Pharmacy Technician II must:

  • Have satisfied the Board that he or she is of good moral and professional character.
  • Be eighteen (18) years of age or older.
  • Be a high-school graduate or the equivalent.
  • Effective 1 January 2012, have successfully passed a nationally-recognized certification examination acceptable to the Board, including, but not limited to, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE) or the Institute for Certification of Pharmacy Technicians “ExCPT” examination.

South Carolina
Registration and Certification Required. State certification requirements are as follows:

  • Current Pharmacy Technician Registration.
  • Submit a copy of high school diploma or GED. 
  • Complete a formal academic training program.
  • Pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam. 
  • Complete an Affidavit of Experience certifying completion of 1,000 hours of practice (in additional to the experiential training component of education) under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.

South Dakota

  • Registration Required. 
  • A pharmacy technician is required to register with the South Dakota Board of Pharmacy by completing and submitting an application for registration within 30 days of accepting employment as a pharmacy technician in a South Dakota pharmacy.

Tennessee

  • Registration Required. 
  • Any person acting as a pharmacy technician shall register with the Tennessee State Board of Pharmacy by submitting an application on a form prescribed by the Board.

Texas
Registration Required. To register with the Texas Board of Pharmacy, applicants must:

  • Have a high school or equivalent diploma (e.g., GED), or be working to achieve a high school or equivalent diploma. For the purpose of this clause, an applicant for registration may be working to achieve a high school or equivalent diploma for no more than two years; and either have: 
  • Taken and passed the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board's National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination or other examination approved by the Board and have a current certification certificate OR been granted an exemption from certification by the Board.

Utah

  • National Certification, Education, and Licensing Required. 
  • National Certification: All applicants must have passed the examination for certification of pharmacy technician with the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the Examination for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) and must submit a copy of a current national certification.
  • To be eligible for licensure, you must complete a Utah Board approved curriculum of education that includes a minimum of 180 hours of practical experience in a pharmacy supervised by a licensed pharmacist.
  • Your education and training must have been completed in either an approved licensed Utah pharmacy under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist OR in an approved, formal educational setting OR by working 1,000 hours in the past year as a licensed pharmacy technician in another state that requires licensure for pharmacy technicians.

Vermont
Registration with the Vermont Board of Pharmacy Required.

Virginia
Registration Required. There are two methods for obtaining registration as a pharmacy technician through the Virginia Board of Pharmacy:

  • If an individual holds current certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), then he may submit the online Application for Registration as a Pharmacy Technician to the Board for review, OR
  • An individual must satisfactorily complete a Virginia Board of Pharmacy approved training program, pass a Board of Pharmacy approved examination, and then submit the online Application for The two Board approved examinations are the Virginia Pharmacy Technician Exam or the ExCPT exam.

Washington
Certification and Training Required. You must pass a national certification exam and complete a board-approved training program. Applicants must obtain education and training from either a :

  • Formal academic pharmacy technician training program approved by the Washington Board of Pharmacy Board OR on-the-job pharmacy technician training program approved by the Board.
  1. The minimum educational prerequisite for entering a training program shall be high school graduation or GED
  2. Applicants must pass a board-approved national standardized pharmacy technician certification examination.
  • To become certified as a pharmacy technician, an individual must apply to the board for certification. The application must include:
  1. A statement signed by the program director verifying the applicant has successfully completed the board-approved pharmacy technician training program.
  2. Proof of passing a board-approved national standardized pharmacy technician certification examination.

West Virginia

  • Registration Required.
  • If you worked in a pharmacy before June 1, 1997, you will have to work under the direction of a pharmacist-in-charge (P-I-C) for an additional twenty (20) hours in order to become a registered pharmacy technician in West Virginia. The PIC has to be able to verify your previous hours with your previous employer. You would have to had worked two thousand and eighty (2,080) hours before June 1, 1997. Anyone that has worked the 2,080 hours before June 1, 1997 would qualify for Grandfathering. 
  • If you started employment after June 1, 1997, you must first register with the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy as a trainee. After you work 2,080 hours in a two (2) year period, you are then eligible to apply to take the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy Technician Examination. 
  • You may work as a trainee under the age of 18, however, to become registered in West Virginia you must be 18 years old. 
  • While you do not have to be a high school graduate to work as a pharmacy technician trainee, before you can become a pharmacy technician registered in West Virginia, you must be a high school graduate or you must have a General Education Development Diploma (GED) issued by the Board of Education.

Wisconsin
No Formal Requirements.

Wyoming
Registration Required. In order to register, the applicant must:

  1. Be at least 18 years of age.
  2. Have no felony or gross misdemeanor conviction relating to controlled substances within thirty-six (36) months of the date of application.
  3. Have no history of drug abuse or provide satisfactory evidence of rehabilitation.
  4. Hold a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Note: With the exception of a few states, such as Alabama, Georgia, and Kentucky, you must be at least 18 years of age to become a pharmacy technician.

Sources

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, www.nabp.net
National Healthcareer Association, www.nhanow.com
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, www.ptcb.org
Renton Technical College, Renton, Washington, www.rtc.edu

Category: 
Pharmacy Tech Career Info Requirements