Looking for Maine pharmacy tech license information? Following are the important facts you need to know about the requirements for pharmacy technicians in Maine.
Fact-checked against the state board, September 2026
Does Maine regulate pharmacy technicians?
Yes.
Is certification required to practice in Maine?
No. Maine issues one pharmacy technician license and does not require national certification to get it. Licensed technicians who want to give vaccines can apply for a separate Board certification to administer vaccines, which requires six hours of ACPE-approved vaccine training.
What certification exam(s) is/are approved by the state?
None is required. Maine does not require a certification exam for a pharmacy technician license. Many employers still value national certification, such as the PTCB’s PTCE or the NHA’s ExCPT, and it can help you advance.
When is registration required?
You must be registered before beginning work or training in a pharmacy.
Is licensure required?
Yes.
What do I have to do to become licensed?
- Apply online for a pharmacy technician license through the Maine Board of Pharmacy (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation).
- Pay the $20 license fee and the $21 criminal background check fee ($41 total).
- Provide verification of any other professional or occupational license you have held in any state.
- Wait until your license is issued. You may not begin training or working as a technician until then.
Is training required?
Yes. Every pharmacy that employs technicians must have a training program on site. The pharmacist-in-charge or another designated Maine pharmacist trains each technician, including on which tasks only a pharmacist may perform. When you are hired, the pharmacist-in-charge must give you a written description of the tasks you may perform.
Are there Continuing Education (CE) requirements?
No. The Maine Board of Pharmacy does not require continuing education to renew a pharmacy technician license.
How often is renewal required?
Every year. All Maine pharmacy technician licenses expire on December 31, and on-time renewal is free. Renew online using the access code in the reminder email the Board sends at least 30 days before your license expires. If you renew late, you pay a $50 late fee, and you can only renew up to 90 days after expiration. After that, you must reapply as a new applicant.
What should I do if I change jobs or change my home address?
Notify the Board within 10 days if you change work sites, stop working as a pharmacy technician, or change your contact address. Send the notice by letter, fax or email to [email protected]. Your pharmacist-in-charge must also tell the Board within 10 days when you start or leave a job at their pharmacy.
Other good info to know about Maine pharmacy tech requirements
- Carry your wallet-sized license card whenever you are on duty, and show it if a pharmacist or Board agent asks.
- Maine no longer sets a fixed technician-to-pharmacist ratio. Each pharmacy must keep the number of technicians on duty at a level its pharmacists can properly supervise.
- You work under the direct supervision of a pharmacist, who reviews every prescription you prepare and is responsible for your work.
- Technicians may not counsel patients, clinically evaluate patient profiles, make decisions that require a pharmacist’s training, or sign federal controlled substance forms.
Essential Contact Info for Maine Pharmacy Techs
Maine Board of Pharmacy https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/board-pharmacy Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation, 35 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0035 Licensing phone: (207) 624-8620 Email: [email protected]
Professional Association for Maine Pharmacy Techs Maine Society of Health-System Pharmacists: https://msohsp.wildapricot.org/
