How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Alaska

Checked against Alaska Board of Pharmacy, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development) · Verified 2026-10-14

Exam: Not required
Training: Required
Term: 2 years
State fee: $25 license fee. The regulation sets the application fee for pharmacy technicians at $0 (12 AAC 02.310). Renewal is $25 every two years; the renewal form charges $12.50 for licenses first issued in the second year of the cycle.
Regulated by: Alaska Board of Pharmacy, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development)

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Who can apply

Be at least 18, or at least 16 and enrolled in a supervised high school, college or apprenticeship pharmacy technician training program (12 AAC 52.140).
Have a high school diploma or equivalent, or be enrolled in such a supervised training program.
Certify that you have not been convicted of a felony or other crime that affects your ability to work safely as a technician.
Certify that you can read, write and speak English fluently.

Step by step

Apply online through MyLicense (a myAlaska account is needed), or file the paper application form 08-4353, signed and notarized.
Pay the $25 license fee (payable to the State of Alaska for paper applications).
Do not file both an online and a paper application.
Wait for the license to be issued before working as a technician.
At your new job, complete the training required by the pharmacist-in-charge before doing technician tasks.
Renew every two years by June 30 of even-numbered years with 10 hours of CE (or a first-renewal alternative).

Training and exam

Training: Before performing technician tasks you must complete the training required by the pharmacist-in-charge, and your duties must match that training (12 AAC 52.230). The Board does not set hours or require a formal school program.

Exam: No state exam and no national certification is required for the basic technician license. Earning initial PTCB or NHA certification during a licensing period can be used instead of the 10 CE hours at renewal.

No national exam required here. If you plan to get PTCB certified anyway, practice for the PTCE free →

What it costs in Alaska

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

Pharmacy technician license fee (application fee is $0)$25
Notarization of paper application (only if you file on paper)(optional)$

Estimated total in Alaska$25

Cost details from the state

Notary fee for the paper application (set by the notary; not needed if you apply online)

Help while you start out in Alaska

Starting out on an entry-level wage? Check the SNAP income limits in Alaska by household size.

How long it takes

The Board's renewal form says to plan on 4 to 6 weeks of processing for correct and complete renewal applications. No official processing time is published for first-time applications.

What other sites get wrong about Alaska

Myth: Alaska charges a $120 application fee for a pharmacy technician license.

Fact: The license fee is $25 and the regulation sets the technician application fee at $0. source

Myth: You must be 18 or older to become a pharmacy technician in Alaska.

Fact: Applicants can be licensed at 16 if they are enrolled in a supervised high school, college or apprenticeship pharmacy technician training program. source

Once you're registered

Renewal: All technician licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years (current cycle July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028). Renewal costs $25 ($12.50 if your license was first issued on or after July 1 of the cycle's second year). You must certify 10 contact hours of CE in the period, or that you earned initial PTCB/NHA certification in the period. First-time renewers may instead certify they read the state pharmacy laws and submit a pharmacist-in-charge affidavit of their training. There is no grace period; a license lapsed less than two years can be reinstated with fees and CE, but a technician license lapsed two years or more cannot be reinstated.

Good to know in Alaska

No grace period: The renewal form says there is no grace period: licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years (the current cycle runs July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028), a license not renewed lapses, and it is illegal to work as a technician while lapsed.

Lapsed two years or more: The Board will not reinstate a pharmacy technician license that has been lapsed for two years or more (12 AAC 52.310(e)); you would need to apply as new.

CE audits: The Board audits a percentage of renewals. Keep CE documents for at least four years.

16- and 17-year-olds: Applicants aged 16 or 17 qualify only while enrolled in a supervised high school, college or apprenticeship pharmacy technician training program.

Vaccines: A nationally certified technician who gives vaccines must include 1 hour of ACPE-approved immunization CE within the 10 renewal hours (12 AAC 52.325(e)).

Social Security number and education proof: Alaska requires a U.S. Social Security number on file before any professional license is issued (AS 08.01.060); if you have none, file the Request for Exemption from Social Security Number Requirement form. The application asks your education type (high school diploma, GED or apprenticeship program); apprenticeship applicants must attach program documentation.

License issued near the deadline: Licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years regardless of issue date, except that a license issued within 90 days of that date runs to the next biennial expiration.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Alaska Board of Pharmacy, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development) before you apply.