Rhode Island State Requirements

You must hold a license in Rhode Island before working as a pharmacy technician. Submitting an application does not authorize you to begin working as a pharmacy technician.

Rhode Island has two license tiers: Pharmacy Technician I and Pharmacy Technician II. Technician I is the entry-level pathway, while Technician II requires national certification and permits additional duties.

For either license you must be at least 18 years old. An exception applies to high school students participating in a school- or community-sponsored pharmacy career-exploration program.

Pharmacy Technician I applicants must have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent or be enrolled in a high school or vocational program leading to one. Pharmacy Technician II applicants must already have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Technician I applicants must be enrolled in or have completed a Board-approved training program. Accepted options include an employer-based program providing theoretical and practical instruction or another program approved by the Board.

The pharmacist-in-charge must attest that the Technician I applicant will receive documented on-the-job training and will only be assigned duties for which competency has been demonstrated. Note that the pharmacist-in-charge must certify completion and retain the training documentation at the pharmacy.

National certification is not required for Technician I licensure. Technician II applicants must pass a nationally recognized certification examination. Both PTCB and NHA certification satisfies this requirement.

A Pharmacy Technician II must keep their national certification active to renew their license.

Both Technician I and Technician II applicants must obtain an NABP e-Profile number. An e-Profile number is also required for license renewal.

Technician I licensees cannot receive new prescriptions, conduct prescription transfers, perform drug-utilization review, resolve clinical conflicts, counsel patients, modify therapy, or complete final dispensing validation.

With the pharmacist’s approval and within state and federal law, a Technician II may receive or transfer prescription information, receive prescription changes, clarify medication orders, perform sterile and nonsterile compounding, and administer vaccines after completing the required training.

You generally cannot have a felony conviction involving controlled substances. It's possible that the board of pharmacy may waive this restriction if satisfactory evidence shows that the conviction does not impair your ability to perform pharmacy technician duties safely.

Initial applications for Technician I and Technician II licensure are submitted on the Rhode Island Department of Health pharmacy technician application. A Technician I applicant must identify their employer and report a later change of employer to the Department.

The initial license fee is $25 (for either Pharmacy Technician I or Pharmacy Technician II)

Pharmacy technician licenses are renewed every two years and expire on December 31 of even-numbered years. Rhode Island’s transition licenses are currently valid through December 31, 2026.

The biennial renewal fee is $25 for either license tier.

Only a Pharmacy Technician II is authorized to administer vaccines. You must complete a recognized certificate course covering appropriate vaccine-administration technique, maintain current basic CPR certification, and work under the direct supervision and authorization of an immunizing pharmacist who remains on the premises for post-vaccination monitoring.