How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in North Carolina (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

North Carolina employs about 17,260 pharmacy technicians earning a median $44,530 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 NC Board of Pharmacy.

Compare Pharmacy Technician Schools in North Carolina

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
157.2$1,944 in-state / $6,552 out-of-state$47,63353%Yes*97 mi
255.3$2,254 in-state / $6,862 out-of-state$49,03433%Yes*61 mi
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353.6$2,566 in-state / $8,710 out-of-state$45,14749%Yes*102 mi
452.9$2,276 in-state / $6,884 out-of-state$48,62534%Yes*51 mi
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552.6$2,792 in-state / $8,936 out-of-state$48,44131%Yes*63 mi
651.6$1,980 in-state / $6,588 out-of-state$44,53346%Yes*37 mi
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751.1$3,186 in-state / $9,330 out-of-stateNot reported63%Yes*82 mi
849.8$1,986 in-state / $6,594 out-of-state$57,86845%Yes*61 mi
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945.5$2,628 in-state / $8,772 out-of-state$48,13824%Yes*54 mi
1043.9$5,715 in-state / $9,016 out-of-state$45,87634%Yes*111 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.

North Carolina employs approximately 17,260 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $44,530 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 North Carolina, 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: NC Board of Pharmacy
  • Exam: PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT
  • Median wage (North Carolina): $44,530 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in North Carolina

How to become a Pharmacy Technician in North Carolina? 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 NC 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 NC Board of Pharmacy.

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

What do pharmacy technicians earn in North Carolina? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in North Carolina is $44,530 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,820 and experienced professionals can earn $57,360 or more 1.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in North Carolina

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

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

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

Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia3,970$46,220$45,180$36,240$58,860
Raleigh-Cary2,430$46,130$44,860$36,920$55,580
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk1,990$43,930$44,470$36,340$57,600
Winston-Salem1,540$45,770$47,360$35,380$62,820
Durham-Chapel Hill1,380$47,350$47,470$38,110$59,130
Greensboro-High Point1,240$44,930$43,870$35,960$57,360
Asheville680$45,160$45,000$36,030$56,440
Wilmington670$44,300$44,420$35,940$62,620
Fayetteville580$46,490$47,340$35,720$62,520
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton580$43,920$43,460$35,160$51,070
Greenville370$45,310$44,290$35,080$57,980
Burlington240$41,490$41,010$34,340$48,470
Rocky Mount220$40,700$41,620$34,790$49,950
Jacksonville170$40,710$41,500$33,510$50,250
Goldsboro160$42,030$41,610$34,670$49,860
Pinehurst-Southern Pines160$43,150$43,440$35,970$49,890

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 North Carolina? North Carolina currently employs approximately 17,260 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 North Carolina with an out-of-state license? Contact the NC Board of Pharmacy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do pharmacy technicians earn in North Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in North Carolina is $44,530, which is $1,070 above the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data 1.

In North Carolina

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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. NC Board of Pharmacy - Licensing Information: https://www.ncbop.org ↩︎ ↩︎

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)