Pharmacy Technician Requirements in Rhode Island
To work as a pharmacy technician in the state of Rhode Island, a license as a Pharmacy Technician is required with the Rhode Island State Board of Pharmacy. Two levels of licenses are available: Pharmacy Technician I, Pharmacy Technician II. Those who 
should apply at the II level must have passed the national examination by the PTCB or the NHA. In addition, you can also apply for licensure by Endorsement.
To apply for licensure in the state, you must fully complete and submit the Application for License as a Pharmacy Technician I or Pharmacy Technician II, together with the required fee of $40. Renewal of your license is due annually by June 30th. The renewal fee is $40.
Basic Pharmacy Technician Requirements in Rhode Island
The following are the minimum requirements for application at the Pharmacy Technician I level:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent OR is currently enrolled in high school or a vocational program that awards a degree
- Must be of good moral character
- Must not have been convicted of a felony violation involving controlled substances
- Must be currently enrolled in a pharmacy tech training program that is Board-approved
The following are the minimum requirements for application at the Pharmacy Technician II level:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent OR is currently enrolled in high school or a vocational program that awards a degree
- Must be of good moral character
- Must not have been convicted of a felony violation involving controlled substances
- Successfully completed pharmacy technician training that is approved by the Board
Training Requirements
The Board approves training programs that meet one of the following criteria:
- Pharmacy technician program is are accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
- Pharmacy technician program is provided by one of the branches of the United States military or US Public Health Service
- Pharmacy technician program is offered by the a Board-approved secondary educational school
- Pharmacy technician program issues a degree or certificate by a university or college that is accredited by a regional accreditation association.
As a requirement for annual license renewal, continuing education must be satisfactorily completed as follows:
- Complete a minimum of 10 hours that is sponsored by a recognized education provider
- At least 3 of the 10 hours of continuing education must be live hours
- Documentation of continuing education completed must be maintained for at least 2 years.
Certification Requirements
The state of Rhode Island recognizes national certification from both the NHA and PTCB for pharmacy technicians.
Please consult Rhode Island’s Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Pharmacists, Pharmacies and Manufacturers, Wholesalers and Distributors for more information regarding requirements for pharmacy technicians.
Pharmacy Tech Training in Rhode Island
Below lists schools available for training:
The Community College of Rhode Island offers a comprehensive Pharmacy Technician Program geared towards the Pharmacy Tech II level that can be completed in 3 months with 105 hours of coursework. The program also includes a valuable 60 hour externship at a local pharmacy. The program is approved and accredited by the Board.
For more information, contact the College at 401-455-6070
Lincoln Technical Institute offers hands-on Pharmacy Technician training at their Lincoln, Somerville and Lowell campuses where you can complete training in 720 instructional hours. The school provides training during day and evening hours – lasting between 28 and 50 weeks in total.
For more information, contact the school at one of the following campus locations:
- Lincoln – 401-334-2430
- Somerville – 617-776-3500
- Lowell – 978-458-4800