How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Montana (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Montana employs about 1,340 pharmacy technicians earning a median $49,400 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 Board of Pharmacy.

Compare Pharmacy Technician Schools in Montana

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
176.4Contact school for pricing$57,08262%Yes*343 mi
273.8Contact school for pricing$42,07075%Yes*359 mi
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368.4$5,461 in-state / $6,612 out-of-state$52,56733%Yes*304 mi
465.0$5,818 in-state / $10,626 out-of-state$43,02262%Yes*247 mi
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563.7Contact school for pricing$47,22453%Yes*393 mi
662.5$4,470 in-state / $10,770 out-of-state$46,96343%Yes*362 mi
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751.2Contact school for pricing$39,06442%Yes*299 mi
846.4$3,396 in-state / $8,736 out-of-state$50,31238%Yes*277 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.

Montana employs approximately 1,340 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,400 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 Montana, 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: Board of Pharmacy
  • Exam: PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT
  • Median wage (Montana): $49,400 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Montana

How to become a Pharmacy Technician in Montana? 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 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 Board of Pharmacy.

Do I need a license in Montana? Yes. Montana credentials this role through Board of Pharmacy 3. See the licensing section below.

What do pharmacy technicians earn in Montana? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Montana is $49,400 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,330 and experienced professionals can earn $60,780 or more 1.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Montana

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

Pharmacy technicians in Montana typically complete a short training program, pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT, and register with Board of Pharmacy. See 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 Board of Pharmacy before unsupervised work.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Board of Pharmacy before you enroll.

Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in Montana

Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Montana

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Billings290$48,820$49,130$38,510$58,840
Missoula230$48,570$48,900$37,730$61,560
Bozeman130$54,750$54,170$44,470$60,720
Great Falls120$49,110$49,600$38,750$58,800
Helena110$49,910$53,910$39,030$71,030

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 Montana? Montana currently employs approximately 1,340 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 Montana with an out-of-state license? Contact the Board of Pharmacy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do pharmacy technicians earn in Montana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Montana is $49,400, which is $5,940 above the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data 1.

In Montana

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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. Board of Pharmacy - Licensing Information: http://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/pha ↩︎ ↩︎

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)