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Pharmacy Technician
Total cost: $169+
Governing Authority
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Board of Pharmacy
Official website →Some details on this page are not yet confirmed against an official source. See sources below or contact the licensing board to verify.
Registered
Credential Type
Yes
National Cert Required
Yes
Formal Program Required
$169+
Total Initial Fees
20 hrs
CE Hours
Annual (expires March 31)
Renewal Period
Get the Illinois Pharmacy Technician Roadmap — every step, fee, and deadline mapped out. — every step mapped out.
Get the Roadmap — $20You must be at least 16 years old and have a high school diploma or ged plus completion of acpe/ashp-accredited pharmacy technician program.
Complete an approved pharmacy technician training program. Program should be ACPE/ASHP-accredited program required since January 1, 2024.
Pass a national pharmacy technician certification exam. Illinois accepts: PTCE or ExCPT. Must obtain PTCE or ExCPT certification and add Certified designation by second renewal. Exam fee: $129.
Complete criminal background check and fingerprinting. Background check fee: Varies.
Submit your application to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Board of Pharmacy. Application fee: $40. Total initial fees: $169+.
Renew your registration every Annual (expires March 31). 20 CE hours required per renewal cycle. Renewal fee: $25.
Regulation Status
VerifiedCredential Type
Registered
Official Title
Registered Pharmacy Technician (RPT) and Registered Certified Pharmacy Technician (RCPT)
State-Regulated Profession
Regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Board of Pharmacy
Minimum Age
Education Level
Background Check
Fingerprinting
Drug Screening
Immunization Requirements
Pharmacist supervision required
YesTechnician-to-Pharmacist Ratio
Not sure if you need a pharmacy technician license? Check whether your state requires one.
National Certification Required
Accepted Certification Exams
PTCE
from PTCB · $129
ExCPT
from NHA
Certification Deadline
Must obtain PTCE or ExCPT certification and add Certified designation by second renewal
On-the-Job Training Alternative
Formal program or certification required
Formal Training Program
Program Accreditation
ACPE/ASHP-accredited program required since January 1, 2024
Topics Covered
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PTCE (Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam)
Questions
90 questions
Time Limit
2 hours
Format
Computer-based, multiple choice
How long should you study? Most candidates study 2–4 weeks before taking the PTCE (Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam).
Study Materials & Exam Prep — ExCPT Pharmacy Technician Exam
Prepare for your ExCPT Pharmacy Technician Exam with Mometrix study guides, flashcards, online courses, and practice tests.
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| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee Application fee paid to IDFPR | $40 |
Exam Fee (PTCE/ExCPT) PTCE exam fee paid to PTCB; ExCPT exam fee is $125 (paid to NHA) | $129 |
Background Check Fee Fingerprint-based background check fee paid to vendor | Varies |
Total Initial Fees $40 application + $129 PTCE exam + fingerprinting fee | $169+ |
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Scope of Practice
VerifiedAllowed Duties
Restricted Duties (Pharmacist Only)
Can Administer Immunizations
Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified20
State CE Hours
20
PTCB Recert Hours
Annual (expires March 31)
Renewal Period
Continuing Education Required
Renewal Fee
$25
Annual renewal fee
Regulatory Board
PTCB recertification requires 20 CE hours per 2-year cycle, including 1 hour of pharmacy law and 1 hour of patient safety. State CE requirements may overlap with PTCB requirements.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
PTCB Certification Transfers
Additional Requirements for Transfer
Most states require pharmacy technicians to apply for a new credential in the destination state, even if they hold national certification. Requirements vary by state.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Illinois with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Illinois requires completion of an ACPE/ASHP-accredited program since January 1, 2024. Renewal is annual (not biennial). Mandatory CE includes sexual harassment prevention and implicit bias hours in addition to standard pharmacy law and patient safety. Two tiers exist: RPT (age 16+) and RCPT (age 18+).
ACPE/ASHP-accredited pharmacy technician program has been required since January 1, 2024
Two-tier system: Registered Pharmacy Technician (RPT) minimum age 16, Registered Certified Pharmacy Technician (RCPT) minimum age 18
Renewal is annual (not biennial) with 20 CE hours required per 24-month period
Mandatory CE includes 1 hour law, 1 hour patient safety, 1 hour sexual harassment prevention, and 1 hour implicit bias
Technicians may administer immunizations to persons age 7 and older with ACPE-accredited training
No state-mandated technician-to-pharmacist ratio
Technician Checking Technician (TCT) role available with technology-assisted verification
Pharmacy Technician requirements in nearby states
Other professional licenses in Illinois
See how Illinois compares: Pharmacy Technician License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
Related Guides
Compare pharmacy technician requirements across all states →
Pharmacy Technician licensing requirements nationwide →
Not sure pharmacy technician is right for you? Find careers that match your situation →
How does Illinois compare to other states for pharmacy technician? See the full comparison →
Calculate the return on investment for your pharmacy technician license →
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Illinois.
Pharmacy Technician Schools in Illinois
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Study guides for the PTCE and ExCPT certification exams.
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Official Sources
Pharmacy Technician requirements in Illinois verified against Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Board of Pharmacy, March 2026.
Moving to Illinois? Use our free Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Pharmacy Technician license to Illinois →
Transfer your Pharmacy Technician license from Illinois to: Indiana → | Iowa → | Kentucky → | Missouri → | Wisconsin →
Illinois requires national certification (PTCE or ExCPT) to become a Registered Pharmacy Technician (RPT) and Registered Certified Pharmacy Technician (RCPT). All licensing is managed through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Board of Pharmacy.
Requirements vary by state. Always verify current requirements with your state Board of Pharmacy.