Minnesota Pharmacy Technician Training Programs

In the state of Minnesota, all pharmacy technicians are required to register with the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy. This requirement has been in place since January 30, 1999. In order to register with the Board, technicians must:

Present the board with evidence of high school graduation or possession of a general educational development certificate equivalent. An individual who is not a high school graduate or who does not possess a general educational development certificate equivalent who was registered by the board prior to January 1, 2013, may renew the individual's registration provided that all other requirements for renewal are met and provided the individual maintains a pharmacy technician registration on an uninterrupted basis. Any individual whose registration lapses for a period of more than one year must meet the registration requirements in effect at the time the individual applies for reinstatement of registration.

Beginning January 1, 2013, the following applies to renewal of registration:

The Board shall not renew the registration of a pharmacy technician who was initially registered after January 1, 2012, or who was initially registered prior to that date but did not maintain continuous registration, unless the individual provides the board with evidence of completion of one of the following:

(1) a pharmacy technician training program offered by a board-approved, accredited vocational/technical institution or college;

(2) a pharmacy technician training program accredited by a board-approved, national organization that accredits pharmacy technician training programs;

(3) a pharmacy technician training program provided by a branch of the United States armed forces or Public Health Service; or

(4) an employer-based pharmacy technician training program that includes a minimum total of 240 hours on a one-year period to include both theoretical and practical instruction. An employer utilizing such a program must develop and regularly update a technician training manual that must be available for board inspection upon request. The employer must also supply a technician who completes the training program with written evidence of completion. The employer-based pharmacy technician training program must include written guidelines, policies, and procedures that define the specific tasks the technician will be expected to perform. A pharmacy technician who has not completed this training, but is otherwise eligible for renewal of his or her registration, may apply for renewal provided that: less than six months has elapsed between the date of initial registration as a pharmacy technician and the date of the pharmacy technician's first renewal of registration; or the pharmacy technician shows satisfactory evidence of being enrolled in a pharmacy technician training program offered by a board-approved, accredited vocational/technical institution or college, when the program is longer than six months in length.

Fortunately, the state of Minnesota is home to several schools that offer board-approved  pharmacy technician training programs. Satisfying renewal requirements is only one benefit of these training programs. Most employers prefer candidates with a certificate or degree. Next, a certificate or degree can help you qualify for better pay raises and advancement opportunities. Continue reading to find out which pharmacy technician training programs are the most popular choices in the state of Minnesota. 

Minnesota Schools with Pharmacy Technician Training Programs:

Pharmacy Technician Programs - Major Minnesota Colleges and Universities

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities - Minneapolis

Pharmacy Technician Programs – Other Minnesota Colleges

Century Community and technical College – White Bear Lake

Hibbing Community College - Hibbing

Minnesota State Community and Technical College – Fergus Falls

Northland Community and technical College – Thief River Falls

Riverland Community College - Austin