How to Become A Pharmacy Technician in Virginia
Virginia employs approximately 10,720 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $44,610 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 Virginia, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Pharmacy Technician in Virginia
How do I become a pharmacy technician in Virginia? Virginia requires credentials such as Pharmacy Technician, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Intern. The licensing authority is the Department of Health Professions - Virginia Board of Pharmacy 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.
Do I need a license in Virginia? Yes. Virginia has licensing or registration requirements for pharmacy technicians. The Department of Health Professions - Virginia Board of Pharmacy oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do pharmacy technicians earn in Virginia? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Virginia is $44,610 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,260 and experienced professionals can earn $59,030 or more 1.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: Department of Health Professions - Virginia Board of Pharmacy
- Median wage (Virginia): $44,610 per year 1
Pharmacy Technician License Requirements in Virginia
The Department of Health Professions - Virginia Board of Pharmacy oversees pharmacy technician licensing in Virginia 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician | 18VAC110-21-140. Application for registration as a pharmacy technician. No longer effective as of July 1, 2022. Superseded by statute. |
| Pharmacy | Only one pharmacy permit shall be issued to conduct a pharmacy occupying the same designated prescription department space. |
| Pharmacy Intern | Each person desiring to gain practical pharmacy experience in Virginia shall first register with the board as a pharmacy intern on a form provided by the board prior to becoming so engaged as a pharma… |
| Pharmacist | Each applicant for licensure as a pharmacist shall have gained practical experience in the practice of pharmacy as set forth in this section and 18VAC110-21-60. |
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in Virginia
Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Virginia
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), pharmacy technicians wages in Virginia vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | 6,650 | $46,660 | $49,550 | $37,950 | $64,220 |
| Richmond | 2,020 | $44,030 | $44,070 | $37,040 | $51,430 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | 1,990 | $43,930 | $44,470 | $36,340 | $57,600 |
| Roanoke | 530 | $41,200 | $42,850 | $35,300 | $54,270 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | 510 | $37,760 | $40,710 | $31,760 | $49,260 |
| Charlottesville | 340 | $48,110 | $47,750 | $38,020 | $62,720 |
| Harrisonburg | 300 | $43,780 | $43,340 | $35,080 | $53,830 |
| Lynchburg | 300 | $42,030 | $42,450 | $34,980 | $49,290 |
| Winchester | 270 | $42,390 | $43,620 | $35,720 | $52,820 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | 230 | $40,510 | $41,640 | $34,810 | $49,380 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | 130 | $46,100 | $45,240 | $37,060 | $55,520 |
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 2025.
Top Metros for Pharmacy technicians in Virginia
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest pharmacy technician employment within Virginia according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 2,020 | $44,030 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | 1,990 | $43,930 |
| Roanoke | 530 | $41,200 |
| Charlottesville | 340 | $48,110 |
| Harrisonburg | 300 | $43,780 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for pharmacy technicians in Virginia? Virginia currently employs approximately 10,720 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 Virginia with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Health Professions - Virginia Board of Pharmacy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Virginia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Virginia.
How much do pharmacy technicians earn in Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Virginia is $44,610, which is $1,150 above the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data 1.
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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Health Professions - Virginia Board of Pharmacy - Licensing Information: https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Pharmacy/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
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) |