How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Arizona
To become a pharmacy technician in Arizona, be at least 18 with a high school diploma or the equivalent, register with the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy as a trainee ($25, valid 36 months), finish a training program and pass a Board-approved exam, then apply for your license ($72, plus $10 for the wall license). Every rule below is taken from the statute and regulations themselves (A.R.S. §32-1923.01; A.A.C. R4-23-205, R4-23-1102, R4-23-1103, R4-23-1105).
Updated October 2026 · Rules checked October 2026 · Sources: A.R.S. §32-1923.01; A.A.C. R4-23-205, R4-23-1102, R4-23-1103, R4-23-1105, IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
- Minimum training
- By programno fixed hours in the rules
- State license fee
- $72renewal $72 every 2 years
- Colleges with pharmacy tech programs
- 13IPEDS 2023–24
- Arizona median pay
- $47,640$22.90/hr · BLS May 2025
What are the Arizona pharmacy technician requirements?
| Credential | Pharmacy technician license |
|---|---|
| Issued by | Arizona State Board of Pharmacy |
| Who qualifies | At least 18 years old, with a high school diploma or the equivalent |
| Before training | Register with the Board online as a pharmacy technician trainee (age 18 or older) before you work in a pharmacy; the registration lasts 36 months and cannot be renewed |
| Training | Complete a training program prescribed by Board rules; a pharmacy's trainee program must be designed to prepare you to pass a Board-approved national certification exam |
| Exam | Pass a Board-approved pharmacy technician examination |
| State fee | $72 initial licensure fee plus a $10 wall license fee |
| Renewal | Every two years: the $72 biennial renewal fee and 20 hours of continuing education from an approved provider (not required before your first renewal). If the fee is not paid by November 1 of the renewal year, the license is suspended |
From A.R.S. §32-1923.01 (qualifications), A.A.C. R4-23-1102 (technician licensure), A.A.C. R4-23-1103 (trainee registration), A.A.C. R4-23-1105 (trainee training program) and A.A.C. R4-23-205 (fees), read in October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy before you apply.
Step 1: Check that you qualify
At least 18 years old, with a high school diploma or the equivalent.
Step 2: Register before you train in a pharmacy
Register with the Board online as a pharmacy technician trainee (age 18 or older) before you work in a pharmacy; the registration lasts 36 months and cannot be renewed. Fee: $25. Plan your training and exam to fit inside the 36 months.
Step 3: Finish a pharmacy technician training program
Complete a training program prescribed by Board rules; a pharmacy's trainee program must be designed to prepare you to pass a Board-approved national certification exam.
13 colleges in Arizona report pharmacy technician programs to the U.S. Department of Education; see them with costs and graduates. Pharmacies, hospitals and private schools outside that federal data also train pharmacy technicians, so check a program's approval before you pay.
What do college pharmacy technician programs charge in Arizona?
2 colleges report a price: $5,855 to $17,019, median $11,437 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24). More: how much pharmacy technician programs cost by state.
| College (lowest prices) | City | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Western Maricopa Education Center | Glendale | $5,855 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Mesa | Mesa | $17,019 |
Price = tuition plus books and supplies, self-reported by colleges for 2023–24; it covers the college's largest pharmacy technician program. Exam and state fees are extra.
Pharmacy technician programs in Arizona's biggest metro areas
Step 4: Pass an approved certification exam
Pass a Board-approved pharmacy technician examination. Check that your exam is on the approved list before you register for it.
Step 5: Apply to the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy
Send your application with proof of training and your exam result. Fee: $72 initial licensure fee plus a $10 wall license fee.
Keep it current. Every two years: the $72 biennial renewal fee and 20 hours of continuing education from an approved provider (not required before your first renewal). If the fee is not paid by November 1 of the renewal year, the license is suspended.
12,970 pharmacy technicians work in Arizona. The median earns $47,640 a year; the top 10% earn $60,820 or more (BLS May 2025). Arizona pharmacy technician pay by metro area.
How do other states compare?
| State | Training | While training | Fee | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Board-prescribed program | Trainee registration, 36 months | $72 | 13 |
| California | 240-hr course, ASHP or military program, degree, pharmacy school or certification | No registration; externship up to 6 months | $120 | 64 |
| Texas | Pharmacist-in-charge training manual | Trainee registration, 2 years | $84 | 38 |
| Washington | 800 hrs (school) or 520 hrs (on the job) | Pharmacy assistant + endorsement, 2 years | $140 | 10 |
Only states whose pharmacy technician rules we have read in full are listed. How to become a pharmacy technician: all states compared.
Becoming a pharmacy technician in Arizona: FAQ
Do you need a license to be a pharmacy technician in Arizona?
Yes: a pharmacy technician license, issued by the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy. Its requirements are in A.R.S. §32-1923.01; A.A.C. R4-23-205, R4-23-1102, R4-23-1103, R4-23-1105, summarized on this page.
Can you work in a pharmacy while you train in Arizona?
Register with the Board online as a pharmacy technician trainee (age 18 or older) before you work in a pharmacy; the registration lasts 36 months and cannot be renewed. The fee is $25.
How many hours of training does Arizona require?
The Arizona rules we read set no fixed number of hours. Your pharmacy's trainee training program is based on its own needs and must prepare you to pass a Board-approved national certification exam.
Do you need to pass an exam in Arizona?
Yes. Pass a Board-approved pharmacy technician examination.
How much does it cost to become a pharmacy technician in Arizona?
State fees: $25 to register for training, then $72 initial licensure fee plus a $10 wall license fee. 2 Arizona colleges report a program price: $5,855 to $17,019, median $11,437 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24). The exam fee is extra.
How much do pharmacy technicians make in Arizona?
The median Arizona pharmacy technician earned $47,640 a year ($22.90 an hour) in BLS May 2025 data, above the U.S. median of $45,750. The middle half earned $45,890 to $54,060.