How to become a pharmacy technician in Illinois

Illinois requires pharmacy technicians to hold a state credential and national certification. The state credential is the Pharmacy technician license, first issued as a Registered Pharmacy Technician, then with a Certified designation, issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, advised by the Illinois State Board of Pharmacy.

BoardIllinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), advised by the Illinois State Board of Pharmacy official source
State credentialPharmacy technician license (049), first issued as a Registered Pharmacy Technician, then with a Certified (or Student) designation official source
Trainee credentialNo separate trainee credential. Once you submit a complete application and fee, you may assist a pharmacist for up to 60 days before IDFPR issues the license. You start as a Registered Pharmacy Technician and must add the Certified designation (or Student, for pharmacy students) by your second renewal. official source
National certification (PTCB or ExCPT)Required by your second renewal: technicians licensed after 1 January 2008 must add the Certified designation (or the Student designation, only for pharmacy students) when licensed or by the second license renewal (225 ILCS 85/9). Certified means passing the PTCB exam (PTCE) or the NHA exam (ExCPT), plus proof of education (an approved technician program certificate or a training statement from your pharmacist-in-charge). official source
Minimum age16 for the Registered Pharmacy Technician license (18 for the Certified or Student designation) official source
EducationAttest that you are attending or have graduated from high school or a GED program. official source
TrainingNo training before the license. Within 6 months of starting work (or a change in duties), the pharmacy and its pharmacist-in-charge must train you, or get proof of prior training, in duties, technical tasks and procedures, compounding and packaging, terminology, recordkeeping and calculations. official source
State examNo exam for the initial Registered Pharmacy Technician license. To keep working past your second renewal you must pass the PTCB (PTCE) or NHA (ExCPT) exam for the Certified designation, unless you hold the Student designation. official source
Background checkNo fingerprint check is listed on the application checklist. You must disclose criminal convictions on the application; IDFPR says no conviction is an automatic bar. official source
State feeUSD 50 application fee for a new pharmacy technician license (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1330.20(a)(1), applied to new applications from 1 April 2026). Fees are not refundable. official source
RenewalEvery year: technician licenses expire on 31 March, whatever the issue date. official source
Pharmacist licensePharmacists need an Illinois license: pass the NAPLEX plus either the MPJE or Illinois's ILPRO pharmacy law program. official source

Checked against official Illinois 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.

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