How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Oregon

Checked against Oregon Board of Pharmacy · Verified 2026-10-10

Exam: Not required
Training: Not required
Term: 2 years
State fee: $140 biennial license fee for either Pharmacy Technician or Certified Oregon Pharmacy Technician (OAR 855-110-0005)
Regulated by: Oregon Board of Pharmacy

Take the free PTCB practice test →

Who can apply

Be at least 18 years old.
Have completed high school or an equivalent.
Complete a national fingerprint-based criminal background check.
Provide a 2x2 passport-style photo, personal ID, and a moral turpitude statement with records for any 'yes' answers.
For the Certified Oregon Pharmacy Technician (COPT) license, you must also have passed the PTCB or NHA national certification exam.

Step by step

Create an account and apply in the Board's eGov licensing system: apply for a Pharmacy Technician license, or a Certified Oregon Pharmacy Technician license if you already hold PTCB or NHA certification.
Pay the license fee and the $48 national fingerprint background check fee.
Get fingerprint instructions from your eGov 'Documents' section and schedule at a Fieldprint site (extra $12.50).
Upload your photo, ID and any required documents. Processing takes about 4-6 weeks, plus up to 30 days for the State Police to process prints.
Renew by June 30 of each even-numbered year with 20 hours of continuing pharmacy education.

Official application →

Training and exam

Exam: Not required for the Pharmacy Technician license. A passing PTCB or NHA (ExCPT) national certification exam is required for the Certified Oregon Pharmacy Technician license (OAR 855-125-0010). No state exam.

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

What it costs in Oregon

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

National certification exam, only for the Certified Oregon Pharmacy Technician license (PTCB's PTCE; NHA's ExCPT is priced by NHA)(optional)$129
Biennial license fee$140
National fingerprint background check fee$48
Fieldprint fingerprint appointment fee$12.5

Estimated total in Oregon$200.5

Cost details from the state

National fingerprint background check $48
Fieldprint fingerprint processing fee $12.50
Workforce data collection fee $8 at each renewal (temporary rule effective 08/14/2026 to 02/09/2027; was $4)
National certification exam fee (PTCB's PTCE or NHA's ExCPT), paid to the exam provider; amount not recorded here (only for the COPT license)

Help while you start out in Oregon

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

How long it takes

The Board of Pharmacy says applications take about 4 to 6 weeks to process, but some take longer depending on the circumstances.

What other sites get wrong about Oregon

Myth: Oregon pharmacy technician licenses must be renewed every year for $40.

Fact: Oregon technician licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years and renew every two years for $140, with 20 hours of continuing pharmacy education. source

Myth: Oregon requires PTCB or NHA certification to work as a pharmacy technician.

Fact: The basic Pharmacy Technician license needs no national exam; a passing PTCB or NHA exam is required only for the Certified Oregon Pharmacy Technician license. source

Once you're registered

Renewal: Both licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years; the biennial fee is $140, with a $20 late fee. Each cycle needs 20 CPE hours: 2 pharmacy law, 2 patient safety/medication error prevention, 2 cultural competency, and 14 other pharmacy-related hours.

Good to know in Oregon

Two technician licenses: Oregon issues a Pharmacy Technician license (no national exam) and a Certified Oregon Pharmacy Technician license for people who passed the PTCB or NHA exam.

First renewal CPE: If you have been licensed less than one year before July 1 of the renewal period, your first renewal needs only the 2 hours of cultural competency CPE (OAR 855-135-0070(2)).

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Oregon Board of Pharmacy before you apply.