Looking for Rhode Island pharmacy technician license information? Following are the important facts you need to know about the requirements for pharmacy technicians in Rhode Island.
Fact-checked against the state board, September 2026
Does Rhode Island regulate pharmacy technicians?
Yes, they do.
Is certification required to practice in Rhode Island?
No. However, Rhode Island issues different licenses indicating two levels of pharmacy technicians—those who do not have national certification (Tech I) and those who do (Tech II).
What certification exam(s) is/are approved by the state?
To get a Pharmacy Technician II license, you must pass a national certification exam the Board accepts. Accepted exams include the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s PTCE (CPhT) and the National Healthcareer Association’s ExCPT. You don’t need an exam for a Pharmacy Technician I license.
When is registration required?
You must apply for and receive proof of registration before beginning employment.
Is licensure required?
Yes. You need to hold a valid RI pharmacy technician license in order to practice.
What do I have to do to become licensed
- Be 18 years of age or older. High school students in school- or community-sponsored career exploration programs are exempt from licensure.
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent. Tech I applicants may instead be currently enrolled in a high school or vocational program that awards one.
- For Pharmacy Technician I: be enrolled in or have completed a Board-approved training program, such as an employer-based program.
- For Pharmacy Technician II: pass the PTCE or ExCPT national certification exam.
- Obtain an NABP e-Profile number.
- Have no felony convictions involving controlled substances (the Board may grant a waiver).
- Submit the Rhode Island Department of Health pharmacy technician application with the $25 non-refundable fee. Your pharmacist-in-charge must attest that you will receive documented on-the-job training.
Is training required?
Yes, for Pharmacy Technician I. Tech I applicants must be enrolled in or complete a Board-approved training program. Most use an employer-based program that covers pharmacy law, drug names, dosage forms, prescription processing and similar topics, and the pharmacist-in-charge certifies completion. Tech II applicants qualify through national certification. At both levels, the pharmacist-in-charge must provide documented on-the-job training and may assign only tasks you have shown you can do.
Are there Continuing Education (CE) requirements?
Yes, for Pharmacy Technician II. Tech II licensees must complete at least 10 hours (1 CEU) of continuing education from a recognized provider each calendar year (January 1 – December 31) and keep records for at least 2 years. They must also keep their national certification current to renew. Rhode Island sets no separate CE requirement for Tech I.
How often is renewal required?
Every two years. Rhode Island pharmacy technician licenses expire on December 31 and must be renewed every two years. The renewal fee is $25 for either a Tech I or Tech II license. You need an NABP e-Profile number to renew, and Tech II licensees must also show current national certification.
What should I do if I change jobs or change my home address?
Notify the Rhode Island Department of Health. Tech I licensees must report any change of employer, and address changes are filed with the Board of Pharmacy using RIDOH’s change-of-address form. Tech I and Tech II licenses can be transferred between practice locations within Rhode Island.
Other good info to know about Rhode Island pharmacy technician requirements
- Technicians must wear a name tag showing their name and license level (Tech I or Tech II).
- Neither level may perform drug utilization review, clinical conflict resolution, therapy modification, patient counseling or final dispensing validation. Those tasks require a pharmacist’s professional judgment.
- A Tech II may, with the pharmacist’s approval, take new prescriptions and changes from prescribers, handle transfers, give immunizations and perform sterile and non-sterile compounding.
- With the pharmacist-in-charge’s approval, a Tech II may work in the pharmacy without a pharmacist present, but only while it is closed to the public.
- Pharmacies may let technicians do order entry remotely from within the United States.
- The pharmacist-in-charge remains responsible for supervising technicians.
Essential Contact Info for Rhode Island Pharmacy Technicians
Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy Rhode Island Department of Health 3 Capitol Hill Providence, RI 02908 Website: https://health.ri.gov/licensing/pharmacy
Professional Association for Rhode Island Pharmacy Technicians Rhode Island Pharmacists Association: https://www.ripharmacists.org
