Looking for info about getting an Arkansas pharmacy tech license? Following are the important facts you need to know about the requirements for pharmacy technicians in Arkansas.
Fact-checked against the state board, September 2026
Does Arkansas regulate pharmacy techs?
Yes.
Is certification required to practice in Arkansas?
No.
What certification exam(s) is/are approved by the state?
None, specifically.
When is registration required?
You must be registered, and hold a technician permit, before you start working. Arkansas technician permits expire December 31 of the first even-numbered year after they are issued and then renew every two years. If you have not paid the renewal fee by February 1, monthly late penalties apply. After April 1 the registration becomes null and void and must be reinstated.
Is registration required?
Yes. You must obtain your registration certificate BEFORE working in a pharmacy.
What do I have to do to become registered?
- Have a high school diploma or GED.
- Create an account and apply through the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy’s online licensing portal. Paper applications are no longer used.
- Complete a state and federal criminal background check. Arkansas residents are fingerprinted electronically by an Arkansas State Police-authorized vendor using the Board’s CBC Identity Verification Form. Out-of-state applicants use the out-of-state form.
- Pay the registration fee online. Board rules cap the original technician permit fee at $35, and card payments carry a small processing fee.
- If you have a history of drug or alcohol addiction or a controlled-substance violation, the Board must approve your registration in advance.
Is training required?
Arkansas does not require a formal training program or national certification. You must work under the direct supervision of an Arkansas-licensed pharmacist who is physically present. Before you help with reconstitution, bulk compounding or IV (parenteral) preparation, you must complete your pharmacist-in-charge’s written training, skills assessment and test.
Are there Continuing Education (CE) requirements?
No.
How often is renewal required?
Every two years. Technician registrations expire December 31 of even-numbered years and are renewed online through the Board’s licensing portal. Board rules cap renewal at $35 per year. If your registration lapses, reinstatement costs $40 plus current fees and requires a new background check.
What should I do if I change jobs or change my home address?
Notify the Board in writing right away if your mailing address changes. When you leave a pharmacy, your pharmacist-in-charge must tell the Board within 14 days. Before you start at a new or additional pharmacy, you and that pharmacy’s pharmacist-in-charge must both notify the Board, and you may not work there until the Board has the notice. Use the Board’s Change Form (Name, Address, or Employment).
Other good info to know about Arkansas pharm technician requirements
- Your technician permit must be displayed prominently in the pharmacy where you work.
- You must identify yourself as a pharmacy technician in any work-related phone call.
- Technicians may not make any judgment decisions that require a pharmacist.
- Each pharmacist on duty may supervise up to four support staff (technicians, interns or externs). Clerks, cashiers and delivery staff do not count.
- The Board’s rules, statutes and lawbook are posted on the Arkansas Department of Health website under ASBP Licensee Information.
Essential Contact Info for Arkansas Pharmacy Techs
Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy (Arkansas Department of Health) 322 South Main Street, Suite 600, Little Rock, AR 72201 Phone: 501-682-0190 | Fax: 501-682-0195 Email: [email protected] Website: https://healthy.arkansas.gov/boards-commissions/boards/pharmacy-arkansas-state-board/
Professional association: Arkansas Pharmacists Association, https://www.arrx.org/
