New York

Currently, New York does not regulate pharmacy technicians. However, at present there is continued debate as to whether technicians should be licensed in the state.

Therefore, certification of pharmacy technicians is not yet required. That said, there are a number of major pharmacies that do expect technicians to undertake PTCB or ExCPT exams to practice in their chains.

Technicians must be registered with the State Board of Pharmacy. See below for the process that technicians must follow.

Alternatively, technicians who have practiced / obtained their license in another state may register any practice as a pharmacy technician in New York.

Training is required – and this is typically carried out by pharmacies who request that new technicians undergo supervised training. Pharmacies may also pay for their staff to take either the PTCB or ExCPT examinations.

It may be challenging to enter as a trainee in a New York pharmacy unless you have completed either of these two national exams. Competition for technician roles in New York is currently high and only those who have completed these approved exams are likeliest to be employed by the pharmacy – particularly in larger chains which have mandated these standards for their own businesses.

New York State Requirements

To register as a pharmacy technician in New York, the State Board has issued their own requirements for candidates to meet. These include:

• Candidates must apply as a trainee pharmacy technician in either a retail pharmacy or a hospital pharmacy.
• Each pharmacy chain or small business will have their own standards and expectations. Some will require experience and/or training from the PTCB or ExCPT exams. Other pharmacies may require no experience and offer on-the-job experience under the supervision of a qualified pharmacist. Please consult individual job requirements as stated in the job description of each position.
• Most pharmacy chains and small businesses will require candidates to be at least 18-years old and who have completed high school level education. Any other experience in the pharmacy or healthcare setting will prove to be an advantage.
• Whilst training is required, this is done by the pharmacy itself and not under the auspices of the State Board of Pharmacy.
• Annual renewal of licenses is not required. However, continuous education under the PTCB license does apply (see below).

Requirements for PTCB Continuous Education

To maintain the pharmacy tech license in New York, candidates must complete CE – or continuous education.

PTCB requires:

• Candidates must have completed at least 20-hours of CE in a 2-year cycle.
• Candidates must have completed at least 1-hour of this training in pharmacy law and regulations, and an additional hour in patient safety.
• PTCB requires that CE must be related to the professional work and practice of a pharmacy technician.
• Candidates must pay the requisite fee of $40.00, which must be paid every 2-years.