Pharmacy Technician in Illinois
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for IL. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, Illinois.
Jobs (IL)
10-yr job growth
Licensing fees
Time to complete
route How to become a pharmacy technician in Illinois
To become a Pharmacy Technician in Illinois, you must register with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). While you can initially register as a 'Registered Pharmacy Technician' at age 16 with a high school diploma or GED, those licensed after December 31, 2007, must obtain a 'Certified Pharmacy Technician' designation by their second renewal. This requires passing a national certification exam (PTCB's PTCE or NHA's ExCPT) and either completing an approved training program or documenting 500 hours of supervised work experience. Certified Pharmacy Technicians must complete 10 hours of continuing education annually, including specific topics like pharmacy law and patient safety.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Illinois. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist Illinois requirements
| Licensing body | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation |
| State license | Required |
| Education | High school diploma or GED. National certification (PTCB or NHA) is required for Certified Pharmacy Technician designation, which must be obtained by the second renewal if initially licensed after December 31, 2007. To become a Certified Pharmacy Technician, one must either graduate from an approved training program or document 500 hours of supervised work experience. |
| Experience | 500.0 hours |
| Exam | PTCB (PTCE) or NHA (ExCPT) ($129) |
| Application fee | $50 |
| Renewal | Every 1.0 year |
| Continuing education | 10.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | Minimum age for Registered Pharmacy Technician is 16. Minimum age for Certified Pharmacy Technician is 18. A criminal background check is required. Illinois does not require CE for state registration renewal for Registered Pharmacy Technicians, but Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT/049) need 10 hours of CE annually, including 1 hour in pharmacy law, 1 hour in patient safety, 1 hour in sexual harassment prevention, and 1 hour in implicit bias awareness. Beginning January 1, 2025, a one-hour course in cultural competency is required every six years. Applicants can work for up to 60 days with a submitted application while awaiting licensure. National certification (PTCB or NHA) is required for Certified Pharmacy Technician designation. |
Source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
workspace_premium Illinois license tiers
Illinois offers multiple tiers of pharmacy technician licensing:
| Tier | Hours required |
|---|---|
| Registered Pharmacy Technician | N/A |
| Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) | N/A |
work_outline Job outlook
AI & tech impact
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
balance Is it worth it?
- check_circleIllinois license required — clearer credential signal to employers
- check_circleStrong 10-year job growth (+6.4%)
- check_circleLow AI disruption risk