How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Missouri (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Missouri employs about 12,610 pharmacy technicians earning a median $40,100 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 Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Pharmacy.

Compare Pharmacy Technician Schools in Missouri

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
160.2$5,370 in-state / $8,820 out-of-state$52,84558%Yes*128 mi
258.4$8,674 in-state / $14,668 out-of-state$49,75949%Yes*213 mi
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356.1$5,040 in-state / $6,120 out-of-state$50,32240%Yes*187 mi
451.4$4,260 in-state / $4,860 out-of-state$48,22137%Yes*148 mi
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549.6$3,960 in-state / $6,720 out-of-state$51,51636%Yes*152 mi
649.5$3,336 in-state / $5,232 out-of-state$41,40442%Yes*232 mi
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749.1$4,340 in-state / $7,840 out-of-state$47,50844%—143 mi
849.0$17,160$59,99645%Yes*167 mi
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948.7$3,792 in-state / $9,720 out-of-state$50,75528%Yes*235 mi
1045.9$4,500 in-state / $7,800 out-of-state$46,50663%—207 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.

Missouri employs approximately 12,610 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $40,100 1. The state’s concentration of pharmacy technician jobs is 1.42x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Missouri, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Missouri

How to become a Pharmacy Technician in Missouri? 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 Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri 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 Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Pharmacy.

Do I need a license in Missouri? Yes. Missouri credentials this role through Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Pharmacy 3. See the licensing section below.

What do pharmacy technicians earn in Missouri? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Missouri is $40,100 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $33,830 and experienced professionals can earn $54,600 or more 1.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Missouri

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

Pharmacy technicians in Missouri typically complete a short training program, pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT, and register with Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Pharmacy. See Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri 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 Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Pharmacy before unsupervised work.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Pharmacy before you enroll.

Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in Missouri

Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Missouri

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
St. Louis4,980$45,220$44,680$36,020$58,730
Kansas City3,550$45,360$45,710$35,920$59,070
Springfield1,020$39,490$41,570$34,790$49,370
Columbia500$37,750$41,990$31,880$53,820
Joplin310$37,860$40,280$31,790$49,520
St. Joseph240$36,930$41,190$33,470$55,220
Cape Girardeau230$35,910$39,330$34,450$49,770
Jefferson City200$36,410$40,240$32,220$48,830

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 Missouri? Missouri currently employs approximately 12,610 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 Missouri with an out-of-state license? Contact the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Pharmacy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do pharmacy technicians earn in Missouri compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Missouri is $40,100, which is $3,360 below the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data 1.

In Missouri

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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. Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Pharmacy - Licensing Information: http://pr.mo.gov/pharmacists.asp ↩︎ ↩︎

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)