How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Nebraska (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Nebraska employs about 2,660 pharmacy technicians earning a median $46,610 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 Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit.

Compare Pharmacy Technician Schools in Nebraska

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
172.4$7,350 in-state / $7,650 out-of-state$60,88558%Yes*160 mi
269.7$7,650$53,28959%Yes*176 mi
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360.9$7,350Not reported78%—122 mi
460.2$5,370 in-state / $8,820 out-of-state$52,84558%Yes*188 mi
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559.3$3,360 in-state / $4,800 out-of-state$48,67548%Yes*74 mi
659.0$3,540 in-state / $4,500 out-of-state$45,35955%Yes*108 mi
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757.6$5,186 in-state / $5,330 out-of-state$47,71350%Yes*105 mi
857.3$3,540 in-state / $4,770 out-of-state$49,59153%Yes*211 mi
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955.6$3,690 in-state / $4,320 out-of-state$54,27738%Yes*24 mi
1051.4$4,260 in-state / $4,860 out-of-state$48,22137%Yes*230 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.

Nebraska employs approximately 2,660 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $46,610 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 Nebraska, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Nebraska

How to become a Pharmacy Technician in Nebraska? 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 Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit.

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 Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit.

Do I need a license in Nebraska? Yes. Nebraska credentials this role through Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit 3. See the licensing section below.

What do pharmacy technicians earn in Nebraska? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Nebraska is $46,610 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,710 and experienced professionals can earn $57,110 or more 1.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Nebraska

  1. Meet basic requirements. Most Nebraska pharmacy technician programs expect a high school diploma or GED. Confirm current age, background-check, and work-authorization rules with Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit.
  2. Complete a pharmacy technician program or board-allowed employer training. Finish a certificate or associate program in Nebraska, 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 Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit accepts.
  4. Register with the state board of pharmacy. Apply through Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit 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 Nebraska

Pharmacy technicians in Nebraska typically complete a short training program, pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT, and register with Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit. See Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit 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 Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit before unsupervised work.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit before you enroll.

Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in Nebraska

Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Nebraska

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Omaha1,330$47,290$47,480$38,560$58,590
Lincoln510$46,140$44,420$37,280$51,150
Sioux City210$43,820$43,480$36,040$50,650
Grand Island120$46,820$45,190$36,850$50,530

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 Nebraska? Nebraska currently employs approximately 2,660 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 Nebraska with an out-of-state license? Contact the Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do pharmacy technicians earn in Nebraska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Nebraska is $46,610, which is $3,150 above the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data 1.

In Nebraska

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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. Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit - Licensing Information: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/pages/acupuncture.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎

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)