Texas requires that all individuals practicing as a pharmacy technician must be licensed with the Texas Board of Pharmacy. The state recognizes two designations of the pharmacy technician role: pharmacy technician, and pharmacy technician-in-training. The pharmacy technician-in-training designation is a "trainee-type" designation and will have to be upgraded to pharmacy technician.
All individuals looking to practice as a pharmacy technician in Texas must obtain a pharmacy technician license from the state. Applicants must:
Submit an online application and licensing fee. The application can be found here. For 2024, the registration fee is $84.
Submit to a criminal background check and pay the associated fee. Information regarding the background check process can be found here. The background check fee is less than $50.
The requirements for obtaining a pharmacy technician trainee license are similar to those of pharmacy technician, with the notable difference being that technicians-in-training do not need to provide a copy of a PTCB certificate to the Texas Board of Pharmacy. A pharmacy technician-in-training license is granted for a period of up to two-years and cannot be renewed. To continue working in a pharmacy you will need to become PTCB certified and upgrade your license to "pharmacy technician". Steps to upgrading your license can be found here. Complete this step AFTER getting you PTCB certification.
Official requirements for registering as a pharmacy technician can be found in Chapter 297.3 of Texas Administrative Rules.
There are additional benefits to certification and it is recommended that all individuals become certified as soon as possible. These benefits include:
Employers know that you will need less training, and could be trusted with more responsibility. This translates to a significantly higher salary.
Certified technicians have a proven commitment to pharmacy. This sends a big signal to employers that you are dedicated and dependable.
Pharmacies that prioritize employee wellbeing and good work environments are more discerning when it comes to hiring. Certification opens doors to more attractive job opportunities.