How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Rhode Island (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Rhode Island employs about 1,540 pharmacy technicians earning a median $44,380 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 RI Department of Health - RI Board of Pharmacy.

Compare Pharmacy Technician Schools in Rhode Island

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
172.0Contact school for pricing$56,76088%—178 mi
270.9Contact school for pricing$43,18490%—136 mi
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358.3Contact school for pricingNot reported100%—99 mi
458.2$18,400$45,60937%Yes*220 mi
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558.1$6,262 in-state / $11,206 out-of-state$55,07622%Yes*41 mi
654.5$6,360 in-state / $10,260 out-of-state$50,66440%Yes*256 mi
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754.4$5,206 in-state / $8,086 out-of-state$44,99316%Yes*144 mi
852.7Contact school for pricing$45,02272%—234 mi
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948.9Contact school for pricing$43,44584%—214 mi
1042.5$14,850$50,85721%Yes*244 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.

Rhode Island employs approximately 1,540 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $44,380 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 Rhode Island, 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: RI Department of Health - RI Board of Pharmacy
  • Exam: PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT
  • Median wage (Rhode Island): $44,380 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Rhode Island

How to become a Pharmacy Technician in Rhode Island? 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 RI Department of Health - RI 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 RI Department of Health - RI Board of Pharmacy.

Do I need a license in Rhode Island? Yes. Rhode Island credentials this role through RI Department of Health - RI Board of Pharmacy 3. See the licensing section below.

What do pharmacy technicians earn in Rhode Island? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Rhode Island is $44,380 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,270 and experienced professionals can earn $58,990 or more 1.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Rhode Island

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

Pharmacy technicians in Rhode Island typically complete a short training program, pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT, and register with RI Department of Health - RI Board of Pharmacy. See RI Department of Health - RI 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 RI Department of Health - RI Board of Pharmacy before unsupervised work.

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

Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Providence-Warwick2,240$43,800$45,590$37,790$58,090

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 Rhode Island? Rhode Island currently employs approximately 1,540 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 Rhode Island with an out-of-state license? Contact the RI Department of Health - RI Board of Pharmacy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do pharmacy technicians earn in Rhode Island compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Rhode Island is $44,380, which is $920 above the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data 1.

In Rhode Island

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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. RI Department of Health - RI Board of Pharmacy - Licensing Information: https://health.ri.gov/licenses/detail.php?id=275 ↩︎ ↩︎

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)