Apprenticeships are helping healthcare employers solve a persistent challenge: finding and retaining qualified pharmacy technicians. In this post, we'll explore what goes into a pharmacy technician apprenticeships - covering state requirements, training models, and credentialing - and highlights how employers and intermediaries can use this model to strengthen their talent pipelines. By understanding these structures, organizations can design programs that expand access to healthcare careers while improving workforce stability.

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Apprenticeships are helping healthcare employers solve a persistent challenge: finding and retaining qualified pharmacy technicians.

Several years ago, when my daughter was at university, I suggested she go through the pharmacy technician program at our local community college during her summer off from school. Working as a pharm tech was something she could do part-time on the days she didn’t have classes during the regular school year. Furthermore, this was a viable career she could always fall back on throughout her lifetime. In Missouri, at the time, a pharmacy technician had to be licensed by the state and registered with the Missouri Board of Pharmacy; this holds today. Even if she wasn’t working as a pharmacy technician, she could keep her license current, which she did for several years after graduating from college. 

Although she didn’t go through an apprenticeship, the program requirements included several hours of on-the-job training or experiential learning in a hospital pharmacy, a community pharmacy, and a retail pharmacy, in addition to in-person classroom instruction. At the completion of the program, she was hired at a community pharmacy, earning a living wage. Again, this was several years ago; if memory serves, she was working full-time as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) in 2013. Fast forward to 2025, and there are even more options for training to become a pharmacy technician – including an apprenticeship. Additionally, the job outlook through 2034 is 6% faster than the average occupation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. 

What Employers Need to Know About Pharmacy Technician Certification

I'm sure almost everyone has had a personal encounter with a pharmacy technician. A Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) is a healthcare professional who assists pharmacists in dispensing medication. However, their duties don't stop there. They also manage inventory, process prescriptions, maintain patient profiles, and handle insurance claims. Although some requirements vary by state, employers should understand how certification and licensure affect program design and compliance. 

Certification usually entails obtaining the CPhT credential, while licensure is through a  state's Board of Pharmacy. As of 2025, all states require pharmacy technicians to be licensed except Delaware and Hawaii. This list previously included Pennsylvania, but the state requirement changed in June 2025. Pennsylvania recently updated its requirements to include completion of a board-approved pharmacy technician training program, which is a shift that opens the door for apprenticeship-based models that align training with employer needs. 

In some states, employers have greater flexibility in how they structure training. For example, in North Carolina, while pharmacy technicians must be registered with the NC Board of Pharmacy, they must also complete a training program. However, the program is approved by one's supervising pharmacist-manager as opposed to a board-approved training program.

The supervising pharmacist-manager is responsible for providing a non-certified technician with training. The requirements of the training program may differ depending upon the type of employment, but must include training in pharmacy terminology, pharmacy calculations, dispensing systems and labeling requirements, pharmacy laws and regulations, record keeping and documentation, and the proper handling and storage of medications. The training must be completed within 180 days of the date the technician began employment. A certified technician is deemed to have satisfied these training requirements.

Thus, pharmacy technicians' registration, licensure, and certification requirements vary by state. V-TECS.ORG provides a comprehensive list of state-by-state pharmacy technician requirements. Still, checking directly with a  state's Board of Pharmacy is always a good idea. 

Training Programs: Building the Foundation for Apprenticeships

There are several options for training as a pharmacy technician, many of which integrate seamlessly into employer-led programs. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) provide  standards and guidance for starting and managing  training programs within an organization, including apprenticeship frameworks. 

Employers can reference ASHP's directory of accredited programs, including distance learning and online options, as well as community colleges, which can provide the Related Technical Instruction (RTI) required for apprenticeship programs. These accredited programs prepare participants for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam. Upon passing the PTCB exam, program participants earn the CPhT (Certified Pharmacy Technician) credential. For employers, this is the gold standard credential in the industry for the pharmacy technician profession

Online Programs

According to ASHP’s Technician Directory, PTCB-recognized online training programs include Career Step, Penn Foster, Stepful, and the Department of Veterans Affairs; pharmacy technician programs that meet the industry standard. There are several other online programs listed via PTCB’s online directory. Many of these online options include flexible coursework, but still require practical hands-on learning, usually through an externship in a pharmacy setting. For employers who are starting a new training or apprenticeship program, it would be feasible to collaborate with one of these organizations who can provide the necessary related technical instruction for the program while the employer provides the on-the-job training in the pharmacy setting since both RTI and OJT are required components of an apprenticeship program.

Leveraging Online and Community College Partnerships

Several community colleges also offer ASHP-accredited programs, which can serve as excellent partners for apprenticeship sponsors:

• Albany Technical College in Georgia
• Austin Community College and Cisco College in Texas
• Baton Rouge Community College in Louisiana
• Central Piedmont College in North Carolina
• Spokane Community College in Washington

In addition to in-person training, community colleges may also offer online programs. PTCB provides an online directory with additional state-specific training providers. Community colleges always appreciate the opportunity to work with industry. If your organization is looking to create a new training or apprenticeship program, I highly encourage you to collaborate with your local community college.

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Community colleges always appreciate the opportunity to work with industry. If your organization is looking to create a new training or apprenticeship program, I highly encourage you to collaborate with your local community college.

Employer-Led Apprenticeship Programs in Action

Several major pharmacy chains offer apprenticeship programs and hire for apprentice positions. Companies like CVS Health and Walgreens offer apprenticeship earn and learn hands-on training. According to Zip Recruiter, several hospital systems, including the Cleveland Clinic, have apprenticeship programs for pharmacy technicians as well. For organizations seeking to launch their own programs, Apprenticeship USA at apprenticeship.gov is an excellent resource.  Workforce boards and associations such as Alabama Works!, Michigan Works!, MI Apprenticeship, and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry can also guide employers who wish  to establish apprenticeship programs in the pharmacy tech trade. 

Designing Career Pathways and Measuring ROI

There are a variety of career pathways for a pharmacy technician and there are a variety of opportunities for companies to implement training programs for this occupation, providing clear and specific career pathways. Where you find a pharmacist, you will likely see a pharmacy technician working alongside them. And although the key responsibilities of processing prescriptions, patient interaction, medication management, care coordination, and administrative tasks are likely to remain, the surroundings can vary. 

According to Stepful, there are a variety of pharmacy career paths for individuals and organizations to explore, including management or specialized roles:

• Clinical research organizations
• Clinical pharmacy
• Community pharmacy
• Compounding pharmacy
• Corporate retail pharmacy
• Educational institutions
• Government agencies
• Hospital pharmacy
• Long-term care facilities
• Mail-order pharmacy
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Veterinary pharmacies

There are generally three tiers or levels in which a pharmacy technician is categorized: Level I, Level II, and Level III; each based on experience, education, and training. The higher the level, the more knowledge and experience. For instance, Level I is an entry-level technician, Level II is a med-level technician with 1-2 years of experience, and Level III is an advanced or senior technician with three (3) or more years of experience. Additionally, technicians can pursue advanced certification, specialization, and management roles. 

When organizations provide career paths for their workforce, employee engagement, retention, and productivity increase, as does return on investment. An apprenticeship can be viewed as a three-legged stool, representing the core components – skill, knowledge, and attitude – needed for a successful transition from trainee to skilled professional. All three legs create a strong, stable foundation.

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When organizations provide career paths for their workforce, employee engagement, retention, and productivity increase, as does return on investment.

A New Path Forward for Healthcare Talent

An apprenticeship approach to the pharmacy technician career is a wide-open opportunity that organizations should embrace. It is a powerful workforce strategy for healthcare organizations seeking to address staffing shortages, improve retention, and expand access to clinical roles.  Many successful youth apprenticeship programs are being implemented in high schools nationwide, from UW Health Northern Illinois High School Internship to Wisconsin’s YAWisconsin.org and North Carolina’s NCCL (North Carolina Career Launch) and beyond, creating another pipeline of talent for healthcare organizations.

Despite several misconceptions about apprenticeship programs, apprenticeships aren’t just for welders anymore. Apprenticeships bridge the workforce gap, provide transparent career pathways with long-term employment, and provide stability and personal growth not only in blue-collar jobs and traditional skilled trades, but in both white collar jobs and white coat jobs. For healthcare organizations, pharmacy technician apprenticeships represent an investment in both workforce development and patient care.

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Apprenticeships bridge the workforce gap, provide transparent career pathways with long-term employment, and provide stability and personal growth not only in blue-collar jobs and traditional skilled trades, but in both white collar jobs and white coat jobs.