Pharmacy Tech Training & Certification

Pharmacy Technician Certification

Jump to certification requirements by state

After graduating from a formal pharmacy technician training program (see: Pharmacy Tech Training), pharmacy techs may wish to become certified. 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 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.

Click to see a list of schools that can prepare you for pharmacy tech certification.

State

PTCB

ICPT
Alabama Required Not Required
Alaska Required Not Required
Arizona Required Required
Akansas Required Not Required
California Required Not Required
Colorado Not Required Not Required
Connecticut Required Required
Delaware Not Required Not Required
Florida Required Not Required
Georgia Not Required Not Required
Hawaii Not Required Not Required
Idaho Required Not Required
Illinois Required Not Required
Indiana Required Not Required
Iowa Required Not Required
Kansas Required Not Required
Kentucky Required Not Required
Louisiana Required Not Required
Maine Required Not Required
Maryland Required Required
Massachusetts Required Required
Michigan Not Required Not Required
Minnesota Required Required
Mississippi Required Not Required
Missouri Required Not Required
Montana Required Required
Nebraska Required Not Required
Nevada Required Not Required
New Hampshire Required Not Required
New Jersey Required Required
New Mexico Required Required
New York Not Required Not Required
North Carolina Required Not Required
North Dakota Required Not Required
Ohio Not Required Not Required
Oklahoma Required Not Required
Oregon Required Required
Pennsylvania Not Required Not Required
Rhode Island Required Required
South Carolina Required Not Required
South Dakota Required Not Required
Tennessee Required Not Required
Texas Required Not Required
Utah Required Required
Vermont Required Not Required
Virginia Required Required
Washington Required Required
West Virginia Required Not Required
Wisconsin Not Required Not Required
Wyoming Required Not Required

 

This table is informational only. You can find more complete information on state certification requirements by visiting the PTCB and ICPT Web sites.

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