How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Arkansas (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arkansas employs about 4,560 pharmacy technicians earning a median $38,680 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 Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy.

Compare Pharmacy Technician Schools in Arkansas

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
158.4$8,674 in-state / $14,668 out-of-state$49,75949%Yes*48 mi
254.0$5,040 in-state / $6,480 out-of-state$50,47862%Yes*95 mi
Sponsored Ad
352.8Contact school for pricing$44,30269%—192 mi
449.5$3,336 in-state / $5,232 out-of-state$41,40442%Yes*28 mi
Sponsored Ad
542.3$4,283$43,03315%Yes*183 mi
641.3$4,159$37,40930%Yes*172 mi
Sponsored Ad
738.5$2,476 in-state / $5,332 out-of-state$41,40647%—144 mi
836.0Contact school for pricing$34,50155%—141 mi
Sponsored Ad
935.0$4,778 in-state / $17,750 out-of-state$44,12419%Yes*142 mi
1034.2Contact school for pricing$40,34055%—133 mi
Sponsored Ad

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.

Arkansas employs approximately 4,560 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $38,680 1. 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 Arkansas, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Arkansas

How to become a Pharmacy Technician in Arkansas? 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 Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State 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 Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy.

Do I need a license in Arkansas? Yes. Arkansas credentials this role through Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy 3. See the licensing section below.

What do pharmacy technicians earn in Arkansas? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Arkansas is $38,680 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $33,400 and experienced professionals can earn $48,620 or more 1.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Arkansas

  1. Meet basic requirements. Most Arkansas pharmacy technician programs expect a high school diploma or GED. Confirm current age, background-check, and work-authorization rules with Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy.
  2. Complete a pharmacy technician program or board-allowed employer training. Finish a certificate or associate program in Arkansas, 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 Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy accepts.
  4. Register with the state board of pharmacy. Apply through Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State 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 Arkansas

Pharmacy technicians in Arkansas typically complete a short training program, pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT, and register with Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy. See Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State 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 Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy before unsupervised work.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy before you enroll.

Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Memphis2,090$45,260$45,070$36,710$57,230
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway1,370$38,860$42,220$35,870$53,930
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers810$44,320$44,320$36,250$58,050
Fort Smith310$38,770$40,180$34,770$47,630
Jonesboro260$38,240$40,070$32,040$47,920
Texarkana200$38,190$40,750$31,530$49,380
Hot Springs160$37,960$41,000$34,210$48,940

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 Arkansas? Arkansas currently employs approximately 4,560 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 Arkansas with an out-of-state license? Contact the Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do pharmacy technicians earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Arkansas is $38,680, which is $4,780 below the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data 1.

In Arkansas

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in Arkansas

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. Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy - Licensing Information: https://www.pharmacyboard.arkansas.gov ↩︎ ↩︎

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)