How to become a pharmacy technician
Most states want pharmacy technicians to hold a state license or registration, and some also want national certification (PTCB or ExCPT). Many employers hire trainees and help with the rest. Here is what the rules say and what employers ask for in real job posts.
1. Check your state's rules
5 states license pharmacy technicians: Alaska, California, Maine, Oregon, Rhode Island.
20 states ask technicians to register with the board of pharmacy: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
14 states also require national certification: Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming.
1 state has no state credential we could find: Delaware.
Each state page lists only what we could confirm on the state's official site, with links. We have not confirmed the rules yet for Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Vermont, Virginia: ask that state's board of pharmacy.
2. See what employers ask for
From the 4,621 pharmacy technician jobs on this site on Oct 21, 2026:
3. Apply
Every job here links to the employer's own application. There is no sign-up on this site.
See technician trainee jobs See technician jobs that need no experience