How to Become a Pharmacy Technician
To become a pharmacy technician, finish high school, complete a training program, pass a certification exam and get your state's license or registration. Arizona charges $72 for the license and lets you work as a registered trainee for up to 36 months while you train. Washington requires 800 hours of school training or 520 hours on the job, 8 hours of pharmacy law study and an exam, for a $140 credential. Texas registers you as a trainee for up to 2 years ($55), then as a pharmacy technician ($84) once you pass a Board-approved certification exam. California has no trainee registration and no state exam: qualify through a Board-specified course (such as one of at least 240 hours), a pharmacy technology degree, pharmacy school or PTCB or NHA certification, then pay $120 for the license. Each state below is summarized from its own rule text.
Updated October 2026 · Sources: state pharmacy rules (linked per state), IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
- Colleges with pharmacy tech programs
- 334IPEDS 2023–24
- Certificates of 12 weeks to 1 year
- 133colleges awarding them
- Median college price
- $17,40082 colleges reporting
- U.S. median pay
- $45,750$22.00/hr · BLS May 2025
What are the pharmacy technician requirements by state?
| State | Credential | Training | While training | State fee | CE / 2 yrs | Colleges | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Pharmacy technician license | Board-prescribed program | Trainee registration, 36 months | $72 | 20 hrs | 13 | $47,640 |
| California | Pharmacy technician license | 240-hr course, ASHP or military program, degree, pharmacy school or certification | No registration; externship up to 6 months | $120 | 1-hr cultural competency course | 64 | $55,110 |
| Texas | Pharmacy technician registration | Pharmacist-in-charge training manual | Trainee registration, 2 years | $84 | 20 hrs | 38 | $45,900 |
| Washington | Pharmacy technician certification | 800 hrs (school) or 520 hrs (on the job) | Pharmacy assistant + endorsement, 2 years | $140 | 20 hrs | 10 | $58,900 |
Each row comes from that state's pharmacy rules, read in full in October 2026 (citations on each state page). Colleges: schools reporting pharmacy technician programs to IPEDS 2023–24. Pay: BLS May 2025 median for pharmacy technicians. We add a state once we have read its rules; for the rest, see pharmacy technician programs by state.
What steps do the states share?
- Meet the minimums. Arizona and Washington set a minimum age of 18 and require a high school diploma or the equivalent. Texas accepts a high school diploma or the equivalent, or an applicant working toward one for up to two years. California requires a high school diploma or GED plus one qualifying route (training course, degree, pharmacy school or certification), and 18 for any practical training.
- Register before you train in a pharmacy (not in California). Arizona registers you as a pharmacy technician trainee ($25, 36 months, not renewable). Washington registers you as a pharmacy assistant ($70) with a technician-in-training endorsement, and you have 2 years to finish. Texas registers you as a pharmacy technician trainee ($55, 2 years, once only). California has no trainee registration; an externship within your training program runs 120 to 140 hours under a pharmacist's direct supervision.
- Finish training. Arizona leaves the content to Board rules and the pharmacy's own trainee program; Washington sets minimum hours and approves programs; Texas has the pharmacist-in-charge set out the training in a written training manual; California accepts ASHP-accredited and military programs or a course of at least 240 hours.
- Pass a certification exam the state board or commission approves (Arizona, Washington, Texas). California sets no state exam.
- Apply, then renew every 2 years in all four states. Arizona, Washington and Texas require 20 hours of continuing education; California requires a one-hour cultural competency course.
Which training programs are approved?
Washington's rule treats a program as approved if one of these bodies accredits, approves or administers it (WAC 246-945-215 (training programs)):
- American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
- Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
- Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
- United States Armed Forces
Other Washington programs must meet minimum hours. The three routes:
- A vocational or technical program: 800 hours, including 160 hours of supervised practice
- A formal academic program: two quarters of 30 credit hours each, including 160 hours of supervised practice
- On-the-job training: at least 520 hours, with 12 hours of instruction
California accepts any one of these as a Board-specified course of training (16 CCR §1793.6 (training courses)):
- A pharmacy technician training program accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
- A pharmacy technician training program run by a branch of the U.S. armed services, if you hold its certificate of completion
- Any other course with at least 240 hours of instruction covering the Board's seven subject areas (practice settings; duties, ethics and law; terminology; dosage calculations; drug identification; dispensing; and packaging and labeling), ending with a final examination
California's certification route accepts these certifying organizations, approved through June 30, 2027: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and National Healthcareer Association.
Arizona's rules do not list programs; a pharmacy's trainee program must prepare you for a Board-approved national certification exam. Texas's rules do not list programs either: training follows the pharmacy's own training manual.
How long is pharmacy technician training?
| Award length (IPEDS) | Colleges |
|---|---|
| Certificate (under 12 weeks) | 9 |
| Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 133 |
| Certificate (1-2 years) | 207 |
| Associate degree | 78 |
Colleges that graduated pharmacy technician students at each award level in IPEDS 2023–24; one college can appear in several rows. Pharmacies, hospitals and private schools that are not in federal student-aid data also train pharmacy technicians.
Becoming a pharmacy technician: FAQ
How long does it take to become a pharmacy technician?
It depends on the program. In IPEDS 2023–24, 133 of 334 colleges with pharmacy technician programs graduated students from a certificate of 12 weeks to a year, 207 from a certificate of one to two years and 78 from an associate degree; one college can offer several. Washington sets a floor: a school program of 800 hours (160 of them supervised practice) or 520 hours of on-the-job training.
Do you need a license to be a pharmacy technician?
In the states we have read, yes. Arizona requires a pharmacy technician license from the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy, Washington a pharmacy technician certification from the Washington Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission, Texas a pharmacy technician registration from the Texas State Board of Pharmacy and California a pharmacy technician license from the California State Board of Pharmacy. Arizona, Washington and Texas also require you to register before you train in a pharmacy; California does not.
Do you have to pass a certification exam?
Arizona, Washington and Texas require it; California does not. Arizona: "pass a board-approved pharmacy technician examination". Washington: pass a national certification exam the commission approves within one year of finishing training. Texas: pass a Board-approved certification exam and keep the certification current, unless the Board grants an exemption. California: no state exam, but a Board-specified 240-hour course ends with a final examination, and the certification route needs PTCB or NHA certification.
How much does pharmacy technician school cost?
82 colleges report a price for their pharmacy technician program: median $17,400 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24). Exam and state fees are extra: $72 in Arizona, $140 in Washington, $84 in Texas, $120 in California.
How much do pharmacy technicians make?
The U.S. median for pharmacy technicians was $45,750 a year ($22.00 an hour) in BLS May 2025 data, across 471,680 jobs.