How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Tennessee (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Tennessee employs about 11,870 pharmacy technicians earning a median $41,920 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 Department of Health - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards.

Compare Pharmacy Technician Schools in Tennessee

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
159.9Contact school for pricing$46,23975%—42 mi
259.9$4,998 in-state / $18,630 out-of-state$45,99836%Yes*150 mi
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356.9$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$43,11050%Yes*118 mi
456.2Contact school for pricing$39,53578%—119 mi
Sponsored Ad
555.4$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$44,85454%Yes*137 mi
655.3Contact school for pricing$43,13674%—18 mi
Sponsored Ad
753.7$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$50,20235%Yes*143 mi
852.8Contact school for pricing$44,30269%—113 mi
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948.1$4,772 in-state / $17,756 out-of-state$48,36426%Yes*124 mi
1038.8Contact school for pricing$34,39360%Yes*129 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.

Tennessee employs approximately 11,870 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $41,920 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 Tennessee, 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: Department of Health - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards
  • Exam: PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT
  • Median wage (Tennessee): $41,920 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Tennessee

How to become a Pharmacy Technician in Tennessee? 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 Department of Health - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards.

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 Department of Health - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards.

Do I need a license in Tennessee? Yes. Tennessee typically registers this role through Department of Health - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards. See the licensing section below.

What do pharmacy technicians earn in Tennessee? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Tennessee is $41,920 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,550 and experienced professionals can earn $55,430 or more 1.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Tennessee

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

Pharmacy technicians in Tennessee typically complete a short training program, pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT, and register with Department of Health - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards.

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 Department of Health - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards before unsupervised work.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Department of Health - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards before you enroll.

Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin3,340$45,950$46,770$36,780$61,150
Memphis2,090$45,260$45,070$36,710$57,230
Knoxville1,500$38,270$41,450$35,180$49,810
Chattanooga1,020$40,720$42,930$34,980$51,040
Kingsport-Bristol510$37,760$40,710$31,760$49,260
Johnson City460$38,480$41,650$30,870$56,200
Clarksville370$42,240$43,050$34,950$55,430
Jackson310$39,090$41,060$33,010$51,130
Morristown240$36,660$39,510$30,250$48,330
Cleveland200$36,680$39,370$31,740$49,410

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 Tennessee? Tennessee currently employs approximately 11,870 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 Tennessee with an out-of-state license? Contact Department of Health - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do pharmacy technicians earn in Tennessee compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Tennessee is $41,920, which is $1,540 below the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data 1.

In Tennessee

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)