Do Pharmacy Technicians Need Certification?
Posted by FergusPharmacy Technician Certification
After graduating from a formal pharmacy technician training program, pharmacy techs may wish to pursue certification. Certification is a way of demonstrating that you meet a national standard for pharmacy technician knowledge.
Pharmacy technician certification is voluntary in some states, but most require it for employment. Whether or not it is required in your state, certification is a good step to ensure the highest level of employability.
Two organizations handle pharmacy technician certification in the US:
- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) offers the designation of Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) to techs who meet certain background requirements and who pass the PTCE exam.
- The Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) offers certification through the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT). To be eligible, candidates must be 18 or older with a high school degree or GED, and must not be guilty of a felony.
To become certified, a pharmacy technician simply contacts one of the certification boards via the links above, and requests to take the certification exam. The exam is offered four times per year in most states, and consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. The exam may be taken as many times as necessary in order to pass.
Once certified, you will be given the designation of CPhT, and your certification must be renewed every two years. Renewal for both certification boards requires 20 hours of continuing education, and the ICPT requires that one of the hours be in pharmacy law.
Does Your State Require Certification?
Below is a list of the 50 US states and whether or not they require certification from either the PTCB or ICPT.
|
PTCB |
State |
ICPT |
| yes |
AL
|
no
|
| yes |
AK
|
no
|
| yes |
AZ
|
yes
|
| yes |
AR
|
no
|
| yes |
CA
|
no
|
| no |
CO
|
no
|
| yes |
CT
|
yes
|
| no |
DE
|
no
|
| yes |
FL
|
no
|
| no |
GA
|
no
|
| no |
HI
|
no
|
| yes |
ID
|
no
|
| yes |
IL
|
no
|
| yes |
IN
|
no
|
| yes |
IA
|
no
|
| yes |
KS
|
no
|
| yes |
KY
|
no
|
| yes |
LA
|
no
|
| yes |
ME
|
no
|
| yes |
MD
|
yes
|
| yes |
MA
|
yes
|
| no |
MI
|
no
|
| yes |
MN
|
yes
|
| yes |
MS
|
no
|
| yes |
MO
|
no
|
| yes |
MT
|
yes
|
| yes |
NE
|
no
|
| yes |
NV
|
no
|
| yes |
NH
|
no
|
| yes |
NJ
|
yes
|
| yes |
NM
|
yes
|
| no |
NY
|
no
|
| yes |
NC
|
no
|
| yes |
ND
|
no
|
| no |
OH
|
no
|
| yes |
OK
|
no
|
| yes |
OR
|
yes
|
| no |
PA
|
no
|
| yes |
RI
|
yes
|
| yes |
SC
|
no
|
| yes |
SD
|
no
|
| yes |
TN
|
no
|
| yes |
TX
|
no
|
| yes |
UT
|
yes
|
| yes |
VT
|
no
|
| yes |
VA
|
yes
|
| yes |
WA
|
yes
|
| yes |
WV
|
no
|
| no |
WI
|
no
|
| yes |
WY
|
no
|
This table is informational only. Here you can find more information on state requirements regarding PTCB and ICPT.

Posted by certified pharmacy technician on 17/1/10
Thanks for sharing draft of PTCB and ICPT state requirements.
Posted by pharmacist on 23/1/10
I found your site on Google and read a few of your other entires. Nice Stuff.
I’m looking forward to reading more from you.