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

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Carolina employs about 8,070 pharmacy technicians earning a median $42,120 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 SC Board of Pharmacy.

Compare Pharmacy Technician Schools in South 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
152.6$2,792 in-state / $8,936 out-of-state$48,44131%Yes*103 mi
251.3$5,071 in-state / $10,135 out-of-state$48,99128%Yes*111 mi
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351.1$3,186 in-state / $9,330 out-of-stateNot reported63%Yes*112 mi
450.1$3,388 in-state / $5,956 out-of-state$40,63543%Yes*111 mi
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548.4$5,174 in-state / $7,924 out-of-state$54,58834%Yes*64 mi
646.8$3,380 in-state / $5,948 out-of-state$37,26565%Yes*131 mi
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745.7$3,400 in-state / $5,968 out-of-state$44,62138%Yes*141 mi
845.7$4,775 in-state / $6,923 out-of-state$44,55533%Yes*85 mi
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945.5$2,628 in-state / $8,772 out-of-state$48,13824%Yes*139 mi
1045.4$4,282 in-state / $7,492 out-of-state$43,46931%Yes*78 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.

South Carolina employs approximately 8,070 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $42,120 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 South 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: SC Board of Pharmacy
  • Exam: PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT
  • Median wage (South Carolina): $42,120 per year 1

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

How to become a Pharmacy Technician in South 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 SC 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 SC Board of Pharmacy.

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

What do pharmacy technicians earn in South Carolina? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in South Carolina is $42,120 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,500 and experienced professionals can earn $51,060 or more 1.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in South Carolina

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

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

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

Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), pharmacy technicians wages in South 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
Columbia1,470$39,170$42,210$35,870$52,780
Charleston-North Charleston1,420$45,690$45,780$37,620$56,160
Greenville-Anderson-Greer1,270$45,590$44,140$36,130$51,380
Augusta-Richmond County880$44,550$45,170$34,720$57,000
Spartanburg630$43,840$44,320$35,940$50,760
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach570$38,860$41,340$34,760$49,900
Florence460$39,350$41,850$33,120$50,110
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal290$40,370$43,440$35,990$53,960
Sumter130$38,820$41,240$33,610$50,140

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 South Carolina? South Carolina currently employs approximately 8,070 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 South Carolina with an out-of-state license? Contact the SC Board of Pharmacy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do pharmacy technicians earn in South Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in South Carolina is $42,120, which is $1,340 below the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data 1.

In South Carolina

Top local programs

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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. SC Board of Pharmacy - Licensing Information: http://www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/Pharmacy ↩︎ ↩︎

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)