Arkansas State Requirements

You must register with the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy (ASBP) before working as a pharmacy technician. You cannot work as a pharmacy technician until the Board has issued your certificate of registration and permit. Arkansas has one standard pharmacy technician registration tier: Registered Pharmacy Technician.

ASBP may issue a non-renewable provisional pharmacy technician registration while the applicant's criminal background check is pending. The provisional registration is valid for up to six months and is subject to revocation if the background check reveals certain disqualifying offenses.

Arkansas does not specify a minimum age requirement for pharmacy technician registration in the current Board requirements. Training programs or employers may set their own age requirements.

You must be a high school graduate or hold a recognized GED.

Arkansas does not require completion of a specific pharmacy technician training program or a specified number of training hours as a condition of initial registration. The Board's current application identifies a high school diploma/GED or equivalent and a state and federal background check as the eligibility requirements.

National certification through PTCB or NHA/ExCPT is not required for standard Arkansas pharmacy technician registration. Arkansas registration and national certification are separate credentials.

A state and federal criminal background check, including fingerprinting, is required. The background-check and fingerprinting costs are separate from the pharmacy technician application fee and are paid as part of the background-check process.

If you have a past record of alcohol or drug addiction or a violation of a law relating to controlled substances, your registration must receive prior approval from the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy.

Applications are submitted to the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy using the Board's pharmacy technician application. The Board currently offers both a Standard 2026 Pharmacy Technician Application and an Expedited 2026 Pharmacy Technician Application for eligible in-state applicants.

The initial pharmacy technician registration fee is $70. An expedited, in-state application route is also available at a cost of $35.

Pharmacy technician registrations are renewed every two years. The registration expires on December 31 of the applicable biennial renewal year. The statutory/Board fee is $35 per year, meaning the fee for a full two-year renewal term is $70.

Under Arkansas Act 407 of 2021, pharmacy technicians can administer vaccines and immunizations to individuals 3 years of age or older when delegated to do so by a supervising pharmacist.