How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Alabama (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Alabama employs about 8,510 pharmacy technicians earning a median $39,030 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Pharmacy Technician here means completing a short pharmacy technician program or board-allowed employer training, a national exam (PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT), and board of pharmacy registration where required, then applying through Alabama Board of Pharmacy.

Compare Pharmacy Technician Schools in Alabama

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
157.6Contact school for pricing$40,43787%—148 mi
257.2Contact school for pricing$31,05663%—150 mi
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354.3$3,516 in-state / $6,084 out-of-state$47,00958%Yes*148 mi
453.6$3,300 in-state / $5,868 out-of-state$44,49043%Yes*135 mi
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551.0$3,410 in-state / $5,978 out-of-state$43,83535%Yes*111 mi
647.9$3,382 in-state / $5,950 out-of-state$40,96449%Yes*151 mi
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747.2$4,052 in-state / $7,262 out-of-state$43,81827%Yes*110 mi
841.9$5,454 in-state / $9,324 out-of-state$53,92959%—93 mi
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939.3Contact school for pricing$34,96541%—158 mi
1038.3Contact school for pricing$33,93861%—136 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Alabama employs approximately 8,510 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $39,030 1. The state’s concentration of pharmacy technician jobs is 1.33x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, pharmacy technician employment is projected to grow 6.4% from 2024 to 2034, with about 49,000 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Pharmacy Technician in Alabama, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: pharmacy technician program or board-allowed employer training (find programs)
  • Typical timeline: a short pharmacy technician program or board-allowed employer training, a national exam (PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT), and board of pharmacy registration where required
  • Licensing authority: Alabama Board of Pharmacy
  • Exam: PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT
  • Median wage (Alabama): $39,030 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Alabama

How to become a Pharmacy Technician in Alabama? Complete a short pharmacy technician program or board-allowed employer training, a national exam (PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT), and board of pharmacy registration where required. Apply through Alabama Board of Pharmacy.

How long does it take? Most people finish a short pharmacy technician program or board-allowed employer training, a national exam (PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT), and board of pharmacy registration where required. Confirm current hour totals with the program and Alabama Board of Pharmacy.

Do I need a license in Alabama? Yes. Alabama credentials this role through Alabama Board of Pharmacy 3. See the licensing section below.

What do pharmacy technicians earn in Alabama? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Alabama is $39,030 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,620 and experienced professionals can earn $49,760 or more 1.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Alabama

  1. Meet basic requirements. Most Alabama pharmacy technician programs expect a high school diploma or GED. Confirm current age, background-check, and work-authorization rules with Alabama Board of Pharmacy.
  2. Complete a pharmacy technician program or board-allowed employer training. Finish a certificate or associate program in Alabama, preferably ASHP-accredited, or employer training if the board allows it. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
  3. Pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT. Many boards and employers require the PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT exam. Confirm which exam Alabama Board of Pharmacy accepts.
  4. Register with the state board of pharmacy. Apply through Alabama Board of Pharmacy before unsupervised work. Reciprocity, trainee cards, and fees vary; confirm with the board.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Pharmacy Technician License Requirements in Alabama

Pharmacy technicians in Alabama typically complete a short training program, pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT, and register with Alabama Board of Pharmacy. See Alabama Board of Pharmacy 3.

Typical path

  1. Meet the board’s entry rules.

  2. Complete a pharmacy technician program or board-allowed employer training.

  3. Pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT if the board requires a national exam.

  4. Register or license with Alabama Board of Pharmacy before unsupervised work.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Alabama Board of Pharmacy before you enroll.

Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in Alabama

Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Alabama

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), pharmacy technicians wages in Alabama vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Birmingham2,540$38,700$41,650$34,760$49,450
Huntsville860$43,910$43,100$35,360$50,280
Montgomery690$39,370$41,990$32,490$52,400
Mobile630$39,280$42,220$30,340$50,760
Tuscaloosa430$39,450$41,450$32,610$50,820
Columbus410$40,370$42,790$30,700$59,380
Auburn-Opelika330$39,490$40,710$31,940$48,520
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley330$41,820$43,350$36,210$50,270
Dothan260$38,830$40,060$31,720$46,840
Florence-Muscle Shoals260$39,380$40,340$28,850$49,410
Decatur230$43,420$41,850$28,700$50,040
Anniston-Oxford190$37,040$38,800$27,810$48,110
Gadsden160$36,800$39,400$31,150$47,980

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for pharmacy technicians in Alabama? Alabama currently employs approximately 8,510 pharmacy technicians 1. Nationally, pharmacy technician employment is projected to grow 6.4% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a pharmacy technician in Alabama with an out-of-state license? Contact the Alabama Board of Pharmacy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Alabama? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Alabama.

How much do pharmacy technicians earn in Alabama compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Alabama is $39,030, which is $4,430 below the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data 1.

In Alabama

Top local programs

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Alabama Board of Pharmacy - Licensing Information: https://www.albop.com/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)