Do pharmacy technicians need a license in South Dakota?

Yes. South Dakota requires state-level licensing or registration for pharmacy technicians, administered by the South Dakota Board of Pharmacy. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

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

Q: How long does pharmacy technician training take in South Dakota?

Most people become a Pharmacy Technician in South Dakota through 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.

Q: How much do pharmacy technicians earn in South Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), pharmacy technicians in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $46,170. Employment concentration in South Dakota is roughly 0.88 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for pharmacy technicians in South Dakota?

South Dakota currently employs approximately 1,230 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6.4% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota employs about 1,230 pharmacy technicians earning a median $46,170 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 South Dakota Board of Pharmacy.

Compare Pharmacy Technician Schools in South Dakota

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.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	North Dakota State College of Science	72.6	$5,974 in-state / $6,973 out-of-state	$60,587	55%	Yes*	200 mi
2	Northwest Iowa Community College	72.4	$7,350 in-state / $7,650 out-of-state	$60,885	58%	Yes*	184 mi
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3	Rasmussen University-North Dakota	70.8	$13,957	$59,996	29%	Yes*	229 mi
4	Southeast Technical College	69.7	$7,650	$53,289	59%	Yes*	131 mi
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5	Minnesota State Community and Technical College	64.5	$5,908	$54,581	47%	Yes*	219 mi
6	South Central College	60.0	$6,146	$52,003	39%	Yes*	261 mi
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7	Rasmussen University-Minnesota	59.9	$11,490	$59,996	53%	Yes*	270 mi
8	Central Community College	59.3	$3,360 in-state / $4,800 out-of-state	$48,675	48%	Yes*	225 mi
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9	Hennepin Technical College	58.9	$5,940	$59,906	42%	Yes*	300 mi
10	Minnesota West Community and Technical College	58.5	$6,491	$52,390	52%	Yes*	192 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 Dakota employs approximately 1,230 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $46,170 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 Dakota, 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: South Dakota Board of Pharmacy
Exam: PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT
Median wage (South Dakota): $46,170 per year ¹

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

How to become a Pharmacy Technician in South Dakota? 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota Board of Pharmacy.

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

What do pharmacy technicians earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in South Dakota is $46,170 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,220 and experienced professionals can earn $56,800 or more ¹.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in South Dakota

Meet basic requirements. Most South Dakota pharmacy technician programs expect a high school diploma or GED. Confirm current age, background-check, and work-authorization rules with South Dakota Board of Pharmacy.
Complete a pharmacy technician program or board-allowed employer training. Finish a certificate or associate program in South Dakota, preferably ASHP-accredited, or employer training if the board allows it. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT. Many boards and employers require the PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT exam. Confirm which exam South Dakota Board of Pharmacy accepts.
Register with the state board of pharmacy. Apply through South Dakota 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 Dakota

Pharmacy technicians in South Dakota typically complete a short training program, pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT, and register with South Dakota Board of Pharmacy. See South Dakota Board of Pharmacy ³.

Typical path

Meet the board’s entry rules.
Complete a pharmacy technician program or board-allowed employer training.
Pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT if the board requires a national exam.
Register or license with South Dakota Board of Pharmacy before unsupervised work.

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

Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Sioux Falls	600	$45,610	$44,940	$38,050	$54,520
Sioux City	210	$43,820	$43,480	$36,040	$50,650
Rapid City	200	$47,840	$47,850	$37,000	$59,330

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 Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 1,230 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 Dakota with an out-of-state license? Contact the South Dakota Board of Pharmacy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do pharmacy technicians earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in South Dakota is $46,170, which is $2,710 above the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data ¹.

In South Dakota

Best Trade Schools in South Dakota (2026)

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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

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
South Dakota Board of Pharmacy - Licensing Information: http://doh.sd.gov/boards/pharmacy/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / 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)