Professions / Healthcare

Occupational licensing · Healthcare · 51 state boards

Pharmacy Technician Licensing Requirements by State

Pharmacy Technician licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Pharmacy Technician across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

By ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated
51
Require an exam
100%
View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Pharmacy Technician: 51 boards · exam on 100% · background check on 100%. Same-lane boards: Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

Assists pharmacists in dispensing medications and managing inventory.

Pharmacy Technician: 51/51 boards require an exam (100%); unusually uniform for healthcare. Athletic Trainer is the usual same-lane contrast.

Board thresholds for Pharmacy Technician drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Athletic Trainer and Certified Nurse-Midwife in healthcare. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Pharmacy Technician states

51

Below median

Board gates for Pharmacy Technician: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , most boards skip mandated CE hours . Stack that against Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife before calling this license soft or hard.

Other licenses near Pharmacy Technician's board count

Coverage band

Pharmacy Technician boards vs Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife - state table

51 states
State Edu. Hours Exam Init. Fee Renewal Cycle CE Hrs Same-board peer
Alabama 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Armed Security Guard · Casino/Gaming Dealer
Alaska 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Arborist / Tree Surgeon · Body Piercer
Arizona 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Court Reporter / Stenographer · Elementary School Teacher
Arkansas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Body Piercer · Cosmetologist
California 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) · Glazier
Colorado 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Interior Designer · Marriage and Family Therapist
Connecticut 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Professional Counselor · Mortgage Loan Originator
Delaware 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Marriage and Family Therapist · Notary Public
District of Columbia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Professional Counselor · Mortgage Loan Originator
Florida 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Surgical Technologist · Water Well Driller
Georgia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Veterinary Technician · Athletic Trainer
Hawaii 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Electrologist · Food Handler / Food Safety Certification
Idaho 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Hearing Aid Specialist · Landscape Architect
Illinois 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
Indiana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Professional Counselor · Mortgage Loan Originator
Iowa 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also General Contractor · Insurance Agent
Kansas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Septic System Installer · Taxi/Ride-Share Driver
Kentucky 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Tax Preparer · Animal Breeder
Louisiana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Security Alarm Installer · Tax Preparer
Maine 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Bartender / Alcohol Server · Commercial Truck Driver (CDL)
Maryland 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Barber · Childcare Center Director
Massachusetts 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Athletic Agent · Certified Nurse-Midwife
Michigan 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Dental Assistant
Minnesota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Court Reporter / Stenographer · Elementary School Teacher
Mississippi 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Electrician · Fire Sprinkler Installer
Missouri 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Debt Collector · Elevator Installer
Montana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Electrologist · Food Handler / Food Safety Certification
Nebraska 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Elevator Installer · General Contractor
Nevada 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Landscape Architect · Medical Assistant
New Hampshire 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Farrier / Horseshoer · Hearing Aid Specialist
New Jersey 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Food Handler / Food Safety Certification · Home Inspector
New Mexico 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Glazier · Interior Designer
New York 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Professional Counselor · Mortgage Loan Originator
North Carolina 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Electrologist · Food Handler / Food Safety Certification
North Dakota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Elementary School Teacher · Funeral Director / Embalmer
Ohio 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Professional Counselor · Mortgage Loan Originator
Oklahoma 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
Oregon 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Occupational Therapist · Pharmacist
Pennsylvania 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Occupational Therapist · Pharmacist
Rhode Island 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Animal Breeder · Bartender / Alcohol Server
South Carolina 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Dental Assistant
South Dakota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Chauffeur / Limousine Driver · Dental Hygienist
Tennessee 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Interior Designer · Marriage and Family Therapist
Texas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Medical Lab Technician · Optometrist
Utah 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Phlebotomist · Professional Geologist
Vermont 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also School Counselor · Substitute Teacher
Virginia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pesticide Applicator (Commercial) · Process Server
Washington 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Roofer · Sign Language Interpreter
West Virginia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Armed Security Guard · Casino/Gaming Dealer
Wisconsin 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Speech-Language Pathologist · Veterinarian
Wyoming 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Auctioneer · Chauffeur / Limousine Driver

What to do with this

Pharmacy Technician is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

  • Compare Pharmacy Technician's requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
  • #64 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
  • Check whether your license transfers under an interstate compact before assuming you need to start over. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Related

Athletic Trainer →Reciprocity guide →Strictest states →Compare states →

Data sourced from NCSL, Institute for Justice, and state licensing board websites. See our methodology for details.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not professional licensing advice. Verify current requirements with your state board before making career decisions.

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Pharmacy Technician requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.