How to become a pharmacy technician in California

California licenses pharmacy technicians. The credential is the Pharmacy technician license, issued by the California State Board of Pharmacy.

BoardCalifornia State Board of Pharmacy official source
State credentialPharmacy technician license official source
Trainee credentialNo board-issued trainee credential. A pharmacy technician trainee is a person enrolled in a qualifying training program (California public college, BPPE-approved private vocational school, or accredited employer-based program), who may do a supervised pharmacy externship of 120 to 140 hours (up to 340 hours if rotating between community and hospital pharmacy), lasting no more than 6 consecutive months in a community pharmacy or 12 months in total with rotation (B&P Code 4038, 4115.5). official source
National certification (PTCB or ExCPT)Not required. Certification by PTCB or NHA is one of four alternative routes to the license; the Board's approval of both programs is valid through 30 June 2027 (16 CCR 1793.65). official source
EducationHigh school graduate or GED, plus one qualifying route: associate degree in pharmacy technology, a Board-specified training course, graduation from a recognized school of pharmacy, or PTCB or NHA certification (B&P Code 4202). official source
TrainingOne qualifying route is a training course: any ASHP-accredited technician program, a US armed services technician training program, or another course of at least 240 hours of instruction covering the topics in 16 CCR 1793.6, with a final exam. Students must be at least 18 before practical training placement. official source
State examNo state technician exam. A national certification exam (PTCB or NHA) is one optional route to qualify. official source
Background checkRequired: criminal background check with fingerprints, plus a sealed original NPDB Self-Query dated within 60 days of submitting the application (16 CCR 1793.5). official source
State feeUSD 120 application fee (effective 1 Jan 2025); fingerprint processing costs are separate. official source
RenewalEvery 2 years; renewal fee USD 150. Renewal requires proof of at least 1 hour of cultural competency training in the prior 2 years (B&P Code 4202(d)). official source
Pharmacist licensePharmacists need a California license: pass the NAPLEX and the California Practice Standards and Jurisprudence Examination (CPJE). official source

Checked against official California sources on Oct 20, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the board of pharmacy before you apply. This page lists only facts we could confirm on an official page.

Open pharmacy technician jobs in California

474 listings right now: see all pharmacy jobs.