How to Become A Pharmacy Technician in Louisiana
Louisiana employs approximately 6,700 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $44,410 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 Louisiana, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Pharmacy Technician in Louisiana
How do I become a pharmacy technician in Louisiana? Louisiana requires credentials such as Pharmacy Technician, Pharmacist. The licensing authority is the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Pharmacy 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 600 hours of experience (roughly 0.3 years of full-time work) 3.
Do I need a license in Louisiana? Yes. Louisiana has licensing or registration requirements for pharmacy technicians. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Pharmacy oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do pharmacy technicians earn in Louisiana? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Louisiana is $44,410 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,100 and experienced professionals can earn $52,920 or more 1.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Pharmacy
- Median wage (Louisiana): $44,410 per year 1
- Exam requirement: Third-party exam required
Pharmacy Technician License Requirements in Louisiana
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Pharmacy oversees pharmacy technician licensing in Louisiana 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician | Must earn 600 hours of practical experience in an approved pharmacy. Must pass national certification examination. Must complete state and federal criminal background checks. |
| Pharmacist | Must graduate from an approved school of pharmacy. Must earn 1,500 hours of practical experience in an approved pharmacy. |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: Background check required
- Exam: Third-party exam required
- Experience: Work experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana
Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), pharmacy technicians wages in Louisiana vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | 1,410 | $46,020 | $45,270 | $37,300 | $56,580 |
| Baton Rouge | 1,160 | $45,550 | $45,000 | $36,270 | $55,150 |
| Lafayette | 690 | $40,180 | $43,060 | $36,200 | $50,390 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | 640 | $44,890 | $44,950 | $37,130 | $56,420 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | 450 | $45,700 | $44,500 | $37,160 | $50,170 |
| Monroe | 380 | $39,160 | $40,790 | $30,640 | $48,270 |
| Alexandria | 320 | $39,830 | $42,220 | $32,490 | $54,620 |
| Lake Charles | 290 | $41,520 | $42,160 | $32,490 | $49,900 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | 260 | $44,650 | $42,230 | $33,890 | $49,720 |
| Hammond | 180 | $42,790 | $42,260 | $35,760 | $49,410 |
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 2025.
Top Metros for Pharmacy technicians in Louisiana
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest pharmacy technician employment within Louisiana according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | 1,410 | $46,020 |
| Baton Rouge | 1,160 | $45,550 |
| Lafayette | 690 | $40,180 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | 640 | $44,890 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | 450 | $45,700 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for pharmacy technicians in Louisiana? Louisiana currently employs approximately 6,700 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 Louisiana with an out-of-state license? Contact the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Pharmacy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Louisiana? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Louisiana.
How much do pharmacy technicians earn in Louisiana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Louisiana is $44,410, which is $950 above the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data 1.
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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Pharmacy - Licensing Information: https://www.pharmacy.la.gov ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
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) |