How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Indiana

Who can apply

• Be at least 18. If you are younger, include a letter of support from the managing pharmacist where you work.
• Have a high school diploma or GED before the license is issued. A trainee permit can be issued without one if you are in an approved training program and actively working toward a diploma or GED.
• Complete a criminal background check.
• Either complete an Indiana Board-approved training program or pass the PTCB or ExCPT exam.

Step by step

1. Apply online for a Pharmacy Technician license through MyLicense One and pay the $25 fee.
2. If you have not finished approved training or passed PTCB/ExCPT, answer 'YES' to the Tech-in-Training Permit question and enter your approved Indiana training program's name and license number.
3. Complete the criminal background check.
4. Finish the approved training program within the 1-year permit, then upload your Affidavit or Certificate of Completion to your permit in MyLicense One. Do not submit a new application.
5. Or, if you passed PTCB or ExCPT, upload your exam pass notice instead.
6. Renew by June 30 of each even-numbered year.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: You need either an Indiana Board-approved training and education program or a passing PTCB/ExCPT exam. Without either one, you work on a 1-year Technician-in-Training permit while completing an approved program. Board-approved training programs must include at least 160 hours of experiential training.

Exam: Not required if you complete a Board-approved training program. Passing PTCB's PTCE or NHA's ExCPT is an alternative way to qualify. No state exam.

What it costs in Indiana

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

How long it takes

Indiana's Professional Licensing Agency says fingerprint background check results usually come back within 72 to 96 hours (about 7 to 10 days for out-of-state applicants), and staff then review the record in the order it is received.

What other sites get wrong about Indiana

Once you're registered

Renewal: Technician licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years; the renewal fee is $25. The page lists no technician CE requirement (the 30-hour CE rule there applies to pharmacists).

Good to know in Indiana

Technician-in-Training permit: Permit numbers start with '99'. The permit is valid for one year, cannot be renewed, and can be extended only if your supervising pharmacist submits an extension request in MyLicense One about a week before it expires. If it expires, you must reapply and pay again.

Reinstatement after 3+ years: A license expired more than 3 years costs $50 to reinstate. You need current PTCB/ExCPT certification, an employer statement that you will be enrolled in its approved training program, or proof of recent technician work in another state.

Licensed in another state: Technicians licensed elsewhere may qualify by reciprocity if they meet IC 25-1-21-5; submit an Official Verification of Licensure. The Board may require more to confirm substantial equivalency.

Sources

• Indiana PLA - Pharmacy licensing information
• PTCB - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) and PTCE fee
• Indiana PLA - Criminal Background Checks