Looking for Minnesota pharmacy technician license information? Following are the important facts you need to know about the requirements for pharmacy technicians in Minnesota.
Updated in 2022!
Does Minnesota regulate pharmacy technicians?
Yes.
Is certification required to practice in Minnesota?
No.
What certification exam(s) is/are approved by the state?
PTCB (PTCE) and ICPT (ExCPT).
When is registration required?
Before beginning employment.
Is licensure required?
Yes.
What do I have to do to become licensed?
- Be 18 years old or older.
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Have knowledge and understanding of Minnesota’s pharmacy laws and rules that govern what pharmacy technicians can and cannot do on the job.
- Submit a written pharmacy technician application to the Minnesota State Board of Pharmacy requesting registration as a pharmacy technician. You may also apply online. Information on both is here).
- Include the nonrefundable application fee of $50.
Is training required for a Minnesota pharmacy technician?
At this time, training is provided by the supervising pharmacist where you are employed. When renewing, you must demonstrate training by one of the board approved methods: accredited vocational/technical institution or college; PTCB or ICPT; employer-based program consisting of 480 or more hours of training; U.S. military or Public Health Service training. Training must be completed within 12 months from the date you receive your technician registration number, not from the date you became employed. Prior work experience as a pharmacy technician does not waive or substitute for this requirement.
Are there Continuing Education (CE) requirements?
Pharmacy technicians will need to complete a minimum of 20 hours of approved technician continuing education (CE) every two years. Click here for more information. Report your completed CEs by July 31 of each odd-numbered year.
How often is renewal required?
Annually, on or before January 1 of each year. The renewal fee is $20. A renewal form is available online and will also be mailed to you by the Board.
What should I do if I change jobs or change my home address?
Report the change to the Board within 10 days.
Other good info to know about Minnesota pharmacy technician requirements
- A technician must wear a name tag identifying him- or herself as a pharmacy technician at all times while working and display his or her certification in the pharmacy.
- A technician must identify him- or herself as a pharmacy technician in any electronic or telephone communication and never represent him- or herself as a pharmacist.
- Written procedures outlining the duties of pharmacy technicians in a pharmacy shall be prepared by the pharmacist-in-charge. A copy of the procedures must be given to each technician and a copy kept on file in the pharmacy.
- A technician may only perform pharmacy functions that do not require professional judgment.
- The supervising pharmacist (or pharmacist-in-charge) is responsible for all actions of the pharmacy technician.
- The supervising pharmacist may supervise a limit of two pharmacy technicians in the pharmacy; if there is a nationally certified pharmacy technician on duty, the ratio rises to one pharmacist to three technicians.
Vital Info for Minnesota Pharmacy Technicians
Minnesota Board of Pharmacy
https://mn.gov/boards/pharmacy/
Office: 335 Randolph Avenue, Suite 230
St. Paul, MN 55102
Phone: (651) 201-2825
Fax number: 651-215-0951
Email: [email protected]
Professional Association for Minnesota Pharmacy Technicians
Minnesota Pharmacists Association (MPhA)
www.mpha.org
Minnesota Q & A
Questions I need to know for a project from Minnesota
- Duration of a prescription, this is the time of state law allows to dispense a prescription from the date that the doctor prescribes it.
- Time of validity of prescriptions controlled narcotics and controlled non-narcotics.
- Does the state permit the prescriptions by telephone?
- Time required by law to archive prescriptions.
- If there is the requirement to include the number of the lot and expiration date in every one of the prescriptions?
- Number of hours of practice required to practice as a pharmacist and a pharmacist assistant?
- Amount of continuing education required to renew licenses and how often?
- Specific subjects of continuing education?
- The existence of a local agency of controlled substances and if it is a requirement of law, belong to a professional association.
Response from PharmacyTechPros: Thanks for contacting us with your project! The Minnesota Board of Pharmacy can answer all of these questions for you – their contact information is included above.
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