How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Illinois (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois employs about 21,340 pharmacy technicians earning a median $46,650 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 Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Compare Pharmacy Technician Schools in Illinois

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
157.2$3,985 in-state / $12,462 out-of-state$53,38837%Yes*91 mi
256.3$6,176 in-state / $8,220 out-of-state$48,66343%Yes*154 mi
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356.0$4,956 in-state / $7,199 out-of-state$54,14251%Yes*124 mi
452.5$5,184 in-state / $7,427 out-of-state$52,34625%Yes*150 mi
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551.7$5,550 in-state / $13,110 out-of-state$48,94254%Yes*33 mi
648.6$5,093 in-state / $12,683 out-of-state$45,06928%Yes*81 mi
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747.4$4,788 in-state / $14,400 out-of-state$52,82137%—105 mi
845.8$14,078$59,99643%Yes*87 mi
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945.8$10,101 in-state / $14,412 out-of-state$54,30150%Yes*112 mi
1045.1$4,267 in-state / $6,061 out-of-state$56,99134%—116 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.

Illinois employs approximately 21,340 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $46,650 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 Illinois, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Illinois

How to become a Pharmacy Technician in Illinois? 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 Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

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 Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Do I need a license in Illinois? Yes. Illinois credentials this role through Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation 3. See the licensing section below.

What do pharmacy technicians earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Illinois is $46,650 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,550 and experienced professionals can earn $58,260 or more 1.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Illinois

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

Pharmacy technicians in Illinois typically complete a short training program, pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT, and register with Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. See Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation 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 Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation before unsupervised work.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation before you enroll.

Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin15,830$46,820$47,020$37,780$59,170
St. Louis4,980$45,220$44,680$36,020$58,730
Peoria590$46,110$44,530$35,600$56,840
Springfield570$42,160$42,750$35,120$49,150
Rockford560$45,170$44,570$35,140$53,820
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island550$45,080$44,180$34,810$51,580
Champaign-Urbana390$37,970$42,400$35,980$50,110
Bloomington270$42,990$42,670$34,280$50,060
Cape Girardeau230$35,910$39,330$34,450$49,770
Paducah210$37,750$41,190$31,280$48,190
Decatur180$40,560$42,600$36,360$51,970
Kankakee160$39,190$42,970$35,120$51,790

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 Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 21,340 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 Illinois with an out-of-state license? Contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do pharmacy technicians earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Illinois is $46,650, which is $3,190 above the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data 1.

In Illinois

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. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation - Licensing Information: https://www.idfpr.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)