Looking for information about Hawaii pharmacy technician license requirements? Following are the important facts you need to know about the requirements for pharmacy technicians in Hawaii.
Fact-checked against the state board, September 2026
Does Hawaii regulate pharmacy technicians?
Yes. Since January 1, 2026, Hawaii law (Act 93 of 2025) requires anyone working as a pharmacy technician to hold a pharmacy technician registration from the Hawaii Board of Pharmacy. Pharmacies may only employ registered technicians to perform technician duties.
Is certification required to practice in Hawaii?
No. You do not need national certification to register as a pharmacy technician in Hawaii. However, if you want to administer vaccines, you must hold a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential from PTCB or NHA and complete an ACPE-approved practical immunization training program. Certification can also improve your job prospects.
What certification exam(s) is/are approved by the state?
No exam is required for basic registration. For vaccine administration, Hawaii accepts certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB, the PTCE exam) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA, the ExCPT exam).
When is registration required?
Before you begin working as a pharmacy technician. Registration has been mandatory since January 1, 2026. Registrations are valid through December 31 of each odd-numbered year, so all current registrations expire December 31, 2027 and must be renewed.
Is licensure required?
Hawaii issues a registration rather than a license, but it is required. To apply, you must be at least 16 years old and be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or authorized to work in the U.S., and you must provide your Social Security Number. Applications are paper only: mail them to the Board of Pharmacy or drop them off in person. They cannot be submitted through the online portal. The fee is $130 if your registration takes effect in an even-numbered year ($20 non-refundable application fee, $10 registration fee, and $100 Compliance Resolution Fund) or $80 in an odd-numbered year. Download the current application from the Board’s Applications and Publications page.
Is training required?
No formal training program is required for registration. You must work under the supervision of a Hawaii-registered pharmacist, who is responsible for your actions. Technicians who want to give vaccines must also complete an ACPE-approved practical training program that includes hands-on injection technique.
Are there Continuing Education (CE) requirements?
Hawaii’s 2025 law does not set a general CE requirement for registered pharmacy technicians. Technicians approved to give vaccines must meet immunization-related education requirements, and certified technicians must complete CE to keep their PTCB or NHA credential. Check with the Board when you renew in case rules change.
Essential Contact Info for the Hawaii Pharmacy Tech
Update, September 2026:
Hawaii Board of Pharmacy, DCCA Professional & Vocational Licensing Division. Website: https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/pharmacy/. Mail: Board of Pharmacy, DCCA PVL Licensing Branch, P.O. Box 3469, Honolulu, HI 96801. In person: 335 Merchant St., Room 301, Honolulu, HI 96813. Phone: (844) 808-DCCA (3222).
Hawaii State Board of Pharmacy
https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/pharmacy/
Mail: PO Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801
Phone: 808-586-2694
Fax: 808-586-2874
Professional Association for Hawaii Pharmacy Techs
Hawaii Pharmacists Association
www.hipharm.org
We recommend joining the Hawaii Pharmacists Association (link provided above). The board is comprised of pharmacists in various practice settings (retail, hospital, industry), plus pharmacy students, pharmacy technicians, and those involved in the education of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. The association also offers an award for Pharmacy Technician of the Year, but you must be a member of the association. If you are seeking a better job, imagine the good exposure this award would give you among all the pharmacists in the association!
Among other benefits of joining the association is their legislative updates. Their Government Affairs Committee provides state and national-level input into issues that affect the pharmacy profession. They also act as liaison between the association and the regulatory bodies in the State such as the Department of Human Services, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Board of Pharmacy, Department of Health, and Department of Public Safety. The pharmacy field is changing fast, and with these changes are significant effects on the roles and responsibilities of pharmacy technicians.
Part of being a member in any association is attending annual meetings. In addition to networking opportunities (with opportunities to find better-paying job leads, as well), there is a great deal of important information discussed in the meetings. For example, in their most recent meeting, those in attendance discussed such important topics as drug-induced disease and specific steps that pharmacists and technicians can address this issue.
