Michigan
Pharmacy Technician License Info

Does Michigan regulate pharmacy technicians?

Yes! Michigan is now regulating pharmacy technicians.

Is certification required to practice in Michigan?

You do not need to keep an active national certification, but you must pass an approved exam to get a full Michigan pharmacy technician license. Accepted exams are the PTCB’s Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), the National Healthcareer Association’s ExCPT, another Board-approved national exam, or a Board-approved employer-based training program exam. If you meet every other requirement, you can get a one-year, nonrenewable temporary license while you prepare for the exam.

When is registration required?

Michigan licenses pharmacy technicians rather than registering them. You need a license (or a temporary license) before you perform any pharmacy technician duties. Students enrolled in a Board-approved pharmacy technician program are exempt while they are enrolled.

Is licensure required?

Yes, all pharmacy technicians must be licensed in order to practice since 2015.

What do I have to do to become a pharmacy technician in Michigan?

• Graduate from high school or pass the GED or another equivalency exam.
• Pass the PTCB exam, the NHA ExCPT, or a Board-approved employer-based training exam.
• Complete the one-time training in identifying victims of human trafficking.
• Complete at least 2 hours of implicit bias training within the 5 years before your license is issued.
• Obtain an NABP e-Profile ID and meet the English proficiency requirement.
• Apply online through MiPLUS (www.michigan.gov/miplus), pay the fee, and complete the criminal background check.

Employers may add their own requirements, such as drug screens.

Is training required?

Michigan does not require a specific school program, but you must pass an approved exam. Many technicians qualify through a Board-approved employer-based training program and its exam. Others complete an ASHP/ACPE-accredited program and take the PTCB or NHA exam.

Which employer based training programs are approved by Michigan’s Board of Pharmacy?

The Board keeps a master list of approved pharmacy technician training programs and exams, and approvals now expire after five years. As of mid-2026, approved employer programs include Meijer, Omnicare, CVS, Kroger, Walgreens, Walmart and Sam’s Club, SpartanNash pharmacies (D&W and Family Fare), Harding’s Pharmacy and Campbell’s Pharmacy, plus many independent and health-system pharmacies. Check the current list on the Michigan Board of Pharmacy website before you enroll.

Are there Continuing Education (CE) requirements?

Yes. To renew, you need 20 hours of Board-approved CE in each 2-year cycle. That must include at least 1 hour in pharmacy ethics and jurisprudence, 1 hour in pain and symptom management, and 1 hour in patient safety. At least 5 hours must come from live (in-person or real-time virtual) programs, and you can earn no more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period. You also need 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of the license cycle, and you must have completed the one-time human trafficking training. Passing a proficiency exam no longer replaces CE. Michigan uses CE Broker to track credits.

How often is renewal required?

Every 2 years, online through MiPLUS. LARA’s most recent published guide listed the renewal fee at $61.20.

What should I do if I change jobs or change my home address?

Michigan law requires you to report any change in your name, mailing address or email address to LARA within 30 days. You can update it online in MiPLUS.

Other good info to know about Michigan pharmacy tech requirements

• The Michigan Career and Technical Institute helps those with disabilities gain career skills. Qualified students may spend up to three semesters training for a career as a pharmacy technician.
• A technician may only perform pharmacy functions that do not require professional judgment.
• The supervising pharmacist is responsible for all actions of the pharmacy technician.

We recommend joining the Michigan Pharmacists’ Association (MPA). The advantages and benefits they offer members are impressive. Their mission is to provide support, advocacy, and resources to improve patient care, safety, health, and the practice of pharmacy. One of their strategic issues in the legislative arena is to ensure that all pharmacy technicians have the knowledge, skills, and abilities (that is, they are competent) to practice in the state of Michigan. Listing your membership in MPA on your resume will also be appealing to any potential employers. It shows that you are committed to excelling in your profession.

Essential Contact Info for Michigan Pharmacy Technicians

Michigan Board of Pharmacy LARA, Bureau of Professional Licensing PO Box 30670 Lansing, MI 48909 Phone: 517-241-0199 (press 2 for Pharmacy) Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bpl/health/hp-lic-health-prof/pharmacy

Professional Association: Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA), https://www.michiganpharmacists.org/