Do pharmacy technicians need a license in District of Columbia?

Yes. District of Columbia requires state-level licensing or registration for pharmacy technicians, administered by the Department of Health - Health Regulation Administration. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in District of Columbia (2026)

Q: How long does pharmacy technician training take in District of Columbia?

Most people become a Pharmacy Technician in District of Columbia through 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.

Q: How much do pharmacy technicians earn in District of Columbia?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), pharmacy technicians in District of Columbia earned a median annual wage of approximately $47,410. Employment concentration in District of Columbia is roughly 0.53 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for pharmacy technicians in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia currently employs approximately 1,130 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6.4% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

District of Columbia pharmacy technicians earn a median annual wage of $47,410 ($22.79/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,130 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 3.6% above the national median of $45,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $47,410 ($22.79/hr)
25th percentile: $46,270 per year
75th percentile: $59,470 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $74,100 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $41,300 per year
Workers employed in District of Columbia: 1,130
Versus national median: 3.6% above the U.S. median of $45,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.53 - this occupation is less concentrated in District of Columbia than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

District of Columbia employs about 1,130 pharmacy technicians earning a median $47,410 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 Department of Health - Health Regulation Administration.

Compare Pharmacy Technician Schools in District of Columbia

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Martinsburg College	63.8	Contact school for pricing	$32,883	64%	Yes*	62 mi
2	Salem Community College	54.5	Contact school for pricing	$50,664	39%	Yes*	100 mi
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3	College of Southern Maryland	53.7	Contact school for pricing	$58,851	33%	Yes*	25 mi
4	Allegany College of Maryland	53.1	Contact school for pricing	$47,031	42%	Yes*	104 mi
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5	Pennco Tech-Blackwood	52.7	Contact school for pricing	$45,022	71%	—	122 mi
6	West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown	52.7	Contact school for pricing	$36,699	65%	Yes*	164 mi
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7	Pennco Tech-Bristol	48.9	Contact school for pricing	$43,445	81%	—	141 mi
8	Pennsylvania Institute of Technology	42.5	$14,850 - $23,995	$50,857	27%	Yes*	111 mi
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9	Fortis College-Landover	37.9	Contact school for pricing	$39,605	Not reported	—	9 mi
10	All-State Career-Baltimore	35.5	Contact school for pricing	$40,918	57%	—	36 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.

District of Columbia employs approximately 1,130 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $47,410 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 District of Columbia, 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: Department of Health - Health Regulation Administration
Exam: PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT
Median wage (District of Columbia): $47,410 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in District of Columbia

How to become a Pharmacy Technician in District of Columbia? 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 Department of Health - Health Regulation Administration.

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 Department of Health - Health Regulation Administration.

Do I need a license in District of Columbia? Yes. District of Columbia credentials this role through Department of Health - Health Regulation Administration ³. See the licensing section below.

What do pharmacy technicians earn in District of Columbia? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in District of Columbia is $47,410 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $41,300 and experienced professionals can earn $74,100 or more ¹.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in District of Columbia

Meet basic requirements. Most District of Columbia pharmacy technician programs expect a high school diploma or GED. Confirm current age, background-check, and work-authorization rules with Department of Health - Health Regulation Administration.
Complete a pharmacy technician program or board-allowed employer training. Finish a certificate or associate program in District of Columbia, preferably ASHP-accredited, or employer training if the board allows it. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT. Many boards and employers require the PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT exam. Confirm which exam Department of Health - Health Regulation Administration accepts.
Register with the state board of pharmacy. Apply through Department of Health - Health Regulation Administration 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 District of Columbia

Pharmacy technicians in District of Columbia typically complete a short training program, pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT, and register with Department of Health - Health Regulation Administration. See Department of Health - Health Regulation Administration ³.

Typical path

Meet the board’s entry rules.
Complete a pharmacy technician program or board-allowed employer training.
Pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT if the board requires a national exam.
Register or license with Department of Health - Health Regulation Administration before unsupervised work.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Department of Health - Health Regulation Administration before you enroll.

Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	6,650	$46,660	$49,550	$37,950	$64,220

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 District of Columbia? District of Columbia currently employs approximately 1,130 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 District of Columbia with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Health - Health Regulation Administration for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do pharmacy technicians earn in District of Columbia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in District of Columbia is $47,410, which is $3,950 above the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data ¹.

In District of Columbia

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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

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Health - Health Regulation Administration - Licensing Information: https://dchealth.dc.gov/service/professional-license-applications ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

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

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / 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)