How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Washington

Who can apply

• Be 18 or older.
• Have a high school diploma or GED.
• Complete a Commission-approved pharmacy technician training program.
• Complete eight hours of guided Washington and federal pharmacy law study, overseen by a Washington-licensed pharmacist.
• Pass an NCCA-accredited national certification exam.

Step by step

1. Register as a pharmacy assistant and file the Pharmacy Technician-in-Training Enrollment Form before you start an approved training program.
2. Complete the Commission-approved technician training program (on-the-job, academic or military).
3. Complete eight hours of pharmacy law study and have the supervising pharmacist sign the affidavit.
4. Pass a national certification exam (NCCA-accredited) within one year of finishing training and applying.
5. Apply online or by paper for the Pharmacy Technician credential and pay $140; have schools send official transcripts directly to DOH.
6. Renew every two years on or before your birthday with 20 hours of CE.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Complete a Commission-approved pharmacy technician training program, plus eight hours of guided pharmacy law study (WAC 246-945-205). Foreign pharmacy or medical school graduates instead need 525 hours of supervised experience (the DOH page says 520) and the TOEFL iBT if English is not their primary language.

Exam: Pass a Commission-approved national certification exam from an NCCA-accredited program (such as PTCB's PTCE or NHA's ExCPT) within one year of completing training and applying, unless the Commission authorizes otherwise. No state exam.

What it costs in Washington

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 Washington

Once you're registered

Renewal: Renew every two years on or before your birthday; the renewal fee is $140, with a $70 late penalty. Technicians need 20 hours of CE each cycle, including health equity CE; all CE except health equity must come from an ACPE-accredited provider.

Good to know in Washington

Technician-in-training: Trainees work as credentialed pharmacy assistants ($70 application) and must file the Pharmacy Technician-in-Training Enrollment Form before training begins.

CE tracking: Pharmacy technicians must register with the CE tracking program the Commission designates.

Sources

• WA DOH - Pharmacy Professions licensing information
• WA DOH - Pharmacy Professions continuing education
• WAC 246-945-205 Pharmacy technician certification
• Pharmacy Technician-in-Training Enrollment Form
• PTCB - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) and PTCE fee