How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Rhode Island

Who can apply

• Be 18 or older (high school students in school- or community-sponsored career exploration programs are exempt from licensing).
• Be a high school graduate or equivalent; a Technician I applicant may instead be currently enrolled in a high school or vocational program that awards a diploma or certificate.
• Have no felony conviction for controlled-substance violations, unless the Board grants a waiver.
• Technician I: be enrolled in or have completed a Board-approved training program, such as your employer's program.
• Technician II: have passed the PTCE (PTCB) or ExCPT (NHA) national certification exam.
• Get an NABP e-Profile ID before applying.

Step by step

1. Create an NABP e-Profile at nabp.pharmacy and note your e-Profile ID.
2. Choose Technician I (no national exam) or Technician II (PTCB or ExCPT certified).
3. For Technician I, have your pharmacist-in-charge complete the affidavit section; for Technician II, attach your PTCB or ExCPT certificate.
4. Mail the application with a copy of your driver's license and a $25 check or money order payable to the RI General Treasurer.
5. Wait for your license; you may not practice until it is issued.
6. Renew every two years by December 31.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Technician I applicants must be enrolled in or have completed a Board-approved training program. An employer-based program counts if it has written guidelines, policies and procedures for the tasks the technician will do and states how competency is assessed. The pharmacist-in-charge certifies completion and keeps the documentation at the pharmacy. The regulation does not set required hours. Technician II applicants qualify through national certification instead.

Exam: No exam is required for a Technician I license. A Technician II license requires passing the PTCE (PTCB) or NHA's ExCPT and keeping that certification current to renew. There is no separate state exam.

What it costs in Rhode Island

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

What other sites get wrong about Rhode Island

Once you're registered

Renewal: Licenses are renewed every two years and expire on December 31. A license issued in an even-numbered year before November 1 must be renewed by December 31 of that same year. You need an NABP e-Profile ID to renew. Technician II holders must keep their national certification and complete at least 10 hours of CE from a recognized provider between January 1 and December 31 of each year, and keep records for 2 years. The regulation lists no CE requirement for Technician I.

Good to know in Rhode Island

Technician I vs. Technician II: A Technician II may also take new prescription information and changes from prescribers (with the pharmacist's approval), transfer prescriptions, give immunizations (with training and CPR), and do sterile and non-sterile compounding. A Technician I may not receive new prescription orders or do transfers.

Application expires after a year: An application is valid for 1 year from the day RIDOH receives it. If you are not licensed within that year, you must submit a new application.

Already a pharmacy intern?: Do not apply for a technician license if you already hold a Rhode Island pharmacy intern license.

Licensed in another state: A technician in good standing in another state may be licensed if that state's requirements are equivalent. You must have each state where you were licensed send a verification directly to the Board.

Military applicants: Active-duty members, reservists, honorably discharged veterans and military spouses can request expedited processing with documents such as an LES, orders or a DD-214.

Technician I: name your employer: Each Technician I applicant must name their employer on the application and notify the Department when they change employers. Technician II applicants must be 18 and already high-school graduates (no enrollment exception).

Sources

• RIDOH Board of Pharmacy - Application for Licensure as a Pharmacy Technician (rev. 05/26/2026)
• 216-RICR-40-15-1 - Pharmacists, Pharmacies, and Manufacturers (section 1.13 Pharmacy Technicians)
• 216-RICR-10-05-2 - RIDOH Fee Structure for Licensing
• PTCB - Certified Pharmacy Technician (PTCE fee)