How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Michigan (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Michigan employs about 14,240 pharmacy technicians earning a median $44,340 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 Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs - Bureau of Professional Licensing.

Compare Pharmacy Technician Schools in Michigan

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
163.9$4,844 in-state / $7,087 out-of-state$50,98550%Yes*163 mi
257.3$4,736 in-state / $8,142 out-of-state$48,98118%Yes*83 mi
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353.9$3,568 in-state / $7,816 out-of-state$54,46617%Yes*95 mi
448.5$4,100 in-state / $11,300 out-of-state$56,31425%Yes*34 mi
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539.2$6,132 in-state / $10,864 out-of-state$46,57828%Yes*54 mi
638.4Contact school for pricing$34,40553%Yes*116 mi
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736.7$5,445 in-state / $7,755 out-of-state$54,34922%—119 mi
831.2$8,549 in-state / $12,409 out-of-state$30,76938%—74 mi
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921.4$3,112 in-state / $4,067 out-of-state$44,33322%—102 mi
1018.4$16,990$34,00148%—104 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.

Michigan employs approximately 14,240 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $44,340 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 Michigan, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Michigan

How to become a Pharmacy Technician in Michigan? 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 Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs - Bureau of Professional Licensing.

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 Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs - Bureau of Professional Licensing.

Do I need a license in Michigan? Yes. Michigan credentials this role through Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs - Bureau of Professional Licensing 3. See the licensing section below.

What do pharmacy technicians earn in Michigan? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Michigan is $44,340 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,430 and experienced professionals can earn $54,740 or more 1.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Michigan

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

Pharmacy technicians in Michigan typically complete a short training program, pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT, and register with Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs - Bureau of Professional Licensing. See Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs - Bureau of Professional Licensing 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 Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs - Bureau of Professional Licensing before unsupervised work.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs - Bureau of Professional Licensing before you enroll.

Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in Michigan

Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Michigan

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn5,830$43,330$43,870$35,160$53,560
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood1,630$47,600$46,830$36,280$56,710
Ann Arbor1,030$47,420$48,900$37,860$60,240
Lansing-East Lansing590$44,820$43,060$35,650$49,660
Flint470$44,460$42,910$34,670$51,900
Kalamazoo-Portage450$45,970$45,020$36,230$58,300
South Bend-Mishawaka380$43,410$43,870$36,520$50,180
Jackson270$45,340$44,070$36,570$51,840
Saginaw270$42,130$43,920$35,550$55,100
Traverse City270$45,360$45,020$36,600$52,770
Muskegon-Norton Shores260$44,880$43,610$35,940$50,410
Battle Creek180$46,170$46,560$36,450$60,900
Niles160$45,260$44,170$35,520$48,910
Midland150$44,150$43,980$35,730$49,410
Michigan City-La Porte140$45,290$44,900$36,180$58,820
Monroe140$38,400$41,960$34,160$56,750
Bay City130$37,790$39,760$28,780$49,090

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 Michigan? Michigan currently employs approximately 14,240 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 Michigan with an out-of-state license? Contact the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs - Bureau of Professional Licensing for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do pharmacy technicians earn in Michigan compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Michigan is $44,340, which is $880 above the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data 1.

In Michigan

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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. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs - Bureau of Professional Licensing - Licensing Information: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-89334_72600—,00.html ↩︎ ↩︎

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)