Looking for trustworthy information about getting a pharmacy tech Texas license? Following are the important facts you need to know about the requirements to become a Texas pharmacy technician.
Updated in 2022!
Does Texas regulate pharmacy technicians?
Yes, they do.
Is certification required to practice in Texas?
Certification is required in order to become a Registered Pharmacy Technician (Ph.T.R.).
It is NOT required to become a Pharmacy Technician Trainee.
Note, also, that there are exemptions allowed.
An example exemption is having been continuously employed as a pharmacy technician for at least 10 years.
Another example exemption is working in rural counties with a population of 50,000 or less IF certain eligibility requirements are met.
More information on certification exemptions can be found at the Texas Examining Board adopted rules. Search specifically for “pharmacy technician” and you’ll find all the info you need.
What certification exam(s) is/are approved by the state?
PTCB.
When is registration required?
Before practicing as a pharmacy technician OR a pharmacy technician trainee.
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 your PTCB certificate in hand (for Registered Pharmacy Technicians only, not for Pharmacy Technician Trainees).
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Pass a criminal record check, including submitting fingerprint information.
- Submit a written pharmacy technician application to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy requesting registration as a pharmacy technician (download application here).
- Include the non-refundable application fee of $41 (for trainee applicants) or $64 (for registered pharmacy tech Texas applicants).
Is training required?
Yes, the employing pharmacy is required to provide training. The technician may also obtain training through formal education. No specific training programs are approved through the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, but they do recommend obtaining education through ASHP-accredited programs.
Are there Continuing Education (CE) requirements?
Yes. For Registered Pharmacy Technicians, 20 contact hours per renewal period. However, this requirement is waived if the technician maintains certification through the PTCB. Trainees are not required to obtain CE hours.
How often is renewal required?
For Registered Pharmacy Technicians, renewal is required every 2 years. Note that any registration that has been expired for more than 1 year, the applicant must submit an initial application. Renewals for registered pharmacy technicians cost $80 and can be done online here. Trainee registrations are valid for 2 years only and may NOT be renewed.
Note that all renewals require that you have your fingerprints on file at the TX Board of Pharmacy for the renewal to go through.
What should I do if I change jobs or change my home address?
A change of address form may be obtained from the division’s website here.
Other good info to know about being a pharmacy technician in Texas
- If you do pursue formal education and get an externship experience as part of the program, you must still become registered with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy in order to function in the externship program.
- It takes 2-3 weeks to process the application for those with no criminal history. For those with a criminal history, the process can take a minimum of 4-6 months.
Essential Contact Info for Pharmacy Tech Texas
Texas Board of Pharmacy
www.tsbp.state.tx.us
Texas State Board of Pharmacy
333 Guadalupe St.
Tower 3, Suite 600
AUstin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 305-8000
Fax: (512) 305-8082
Professional Association for Texas pharmacy technicians:
The Texas Pharmacy Association www.texaspharmacy.org
Texas Q & A
Registration
I will no longer be working as a pharmacy technician in the state of Texas and was wondering if I can still register every 2 years as a pharmacy technician? I will not be working in a retail or hospital pharmacy, but still want to keep up with my PTCB and TSBP license just in case the new “non CphT” job does not work out.
PharmacyTechPros Response: You should probably contact the Texas Board of Pharmacy with your question, but perhaps one of the site visitors can add their two cents, too.
Expired license?
by Brenda
(Dallas, TX)
How do I renew an expired license?
PharmacyTechPros Response: Brenda, for Registered Pharmacy Technicians in Texas, you must renew your registration every 2 years. If your registration has been expired for more than 1 year, you must submit an initial application. Renewals cost $80 and you can do them online here.
Note that if you have a trainee registration, that is only valid for 2 years. You can NOT renew this type of registration.
Also note that there are continuing education (CE) requirements. If you are a Registered Pharmacy Technician, you must do 20 contact hours per renewal period. The state of Texas waives this requirement if the you maintain certification through the PTCB. If you are a trainee, you are not required to obtain CE hours.
We have more information on requirements in Texas above.
Good luck!
Unknowingly worked on expired license for 2 weeks
by A.K.
(Dallas, TX)
I am not offering tips here but, I am kindly seeking advice/tips from the Pharmacy tech pros. Hoping to receive advice/tips that can help us in this situation.
My teenage daughter has been working as a Pharmacy Tech for a couple of years at a local Pharmacy (National Retail Chain), while going to school. She was very much liked by the staff and her supervisor and was getting to do more and more responsible work. She really enjoyed her work.
At the beginning of this summer her license expired. She was busy with school and did not have time to renew it. She stopped working, and I took her on a couple weeks trip as the school had just ended and I had not spent time with her lately. When she came back from the trip, she applied for the renewal and completed all the formalities, and was waiting for the renewal and still not working, while in touch with her work place. According to her, her supervisor looked up in the state database and saw her name as active license (I am not in that field, so I am not really sure how it all works). They assumed her renewal went through and she started working again.
Well, she was working again for sometime (perhaps for 4 weeks) and one day last week, she was told that she worked for 2 weeks on expired license and she was fired. She is totally devastated. She says she would not be able to work for that chain ever again and she is studying to be Pharmacist. It is very difficult for me to see her in this situation.
I am not sure if it is entirely her fault? Employers (like a big national chain) should have some processes in place to make sure such a thing does not happen (at least when they are recruiting easy-going teenagers, who are not experienced with the gotchhas of life). I am not here to put blame on anyone. I am trying to get some advice/tips.
Is there anyway to reverse this, such as community service or even monetary fine? Appeal with the employer? I guess the appeal with the employer has to be at a higher level and not at the level that made the decision to fire her? Appeal with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy? (I know the Texas Real Estate Board has an appeal process for slips up on part of Realtors. But I do not know anything about the Pharmacy field).
Help, help, please help.
Response from PharmacyTechPros:
I am so sorry to hear of this, and applaud you for seeking help for your daughter. Yes, definitely appeal with the Texas Board of Pharmacy. They should be able to offer advice, and maybe even be a liaison with the employer. Wishing you and your daughter all the best!
Renewing expired tx pharm tech license
by Bobbie Henderson
(Houston,texas)
is it possible to renew my Texas certified pharmacy technician license that has been expired for three or more years and what are the steps to do so?
Response from PharmacyTechPros.com:
Bobbie, you must contact the Texas Board of Pharmacy. Follow this link to find their contact information:
http://www.tsbp.state.tx.us/
Wishing you all the best.
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