Do pharmacy technicians need a license in Washington?

Yes. Washington requires state-level licensing or registration for pharmacy technicians, administered by the Department of Health. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Washington (2026)

Q: How long does pharmacy technician training take in Washington?

Most people become a Pharmacy Technician in Washington 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 Washington?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), pharmacy technicians in Washington earned a median annual wage of approximately $58,900. Employment concentration in Washington is roughly 0.76 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 Washington?

Washington currently employs approximately 8,150 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

Washington pharmacy technicians earn a median annual wage of $58,900 ($28.32/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 8,150 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 28.7% above the national median of $45,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $58,900 ($28.32/hr)
25th percentile: $50,400 per year
75th percentile: $67,630 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $79,090 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $47,270 per year
Workers employed in Washington: 8,150
Versus national median: 28.7% above the U.S. median of $45,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.76 - this occupation is less concentrated in Washington than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Washington employs about 8,150 pharmacy technicians earning a median $58,900 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.

Compare Pharmacy Technician Schools in Washington

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	Skagit Valley College	72.9	$5,400 in-state / $7,500 out-of-state	$48,533	36%	Yes*	109 mi
2	Edmonds College	67.5	$4,810 in-state / $10,875 out-of-state	$52,875	29%	Yes*	75 mi
Sponsored Ad
3	Lower Columbia College	66.5	$4,626 in-state / $6,003 out-of-state	$52,301	23%	Yes*	106 mi
4	Clover Park Technical College	63.9	$6,634	$51,699	43%	Yes*	63 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Renton Technical College	63.3	$6,308 in-state / $7,369 out-of-state	$56,466	46%	Yes*	56 mi
6	Clark College	63.1	$5,233 in-state / $11,183 out-of-state	$49,337	39%	Yes*	122 mi
Sponsored Ad
7	Yakima Valley College	55.9	$5,312 in-state / $5,873 out-of-state	$51,006	29%	—	45 mi
8	Wenatchee Valley College	54.1	$5,267 in-state / $5,636 out-of-state	$52,108	43%	—	46 mi
Sponsored Ad
9	Pima Medical Institute-Renton	52.3	Contact school for pricing	$42,937	69%	—	56 mi
10	Chemeketa Community College	49.9	$6,345 in-state / $14,040 out-of-state	$50,594	21%	Yes*	169 mi
Sponsored Ad

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.

Washington employs approximately 8,150 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $58,900 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 Washington, 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
Exam: PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT
Median wage (Washington): $58,900 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Washington

How to become a Pharmacy Technician in Washington? 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.

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.

Do I need a license in Washington? Yes. Washington credentials this role through Department of Health ³. See the licensing section below.

What do pharmacy technicians earn in Washington? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Washington is $58,900 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,270 and experienced professionals can earn $79,090 or more ¹.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Washington

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

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

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

Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in Washington

Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Washington

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), pharmacy technicians wages in Washington 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
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	4,630	$61,320	$64,360	$48,000	$82,040
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	2,460	$58,590	$57,550	$46,620	$71,370
Spokane-Spokane Valley	740	$57,830	$56,990	$45,540	$72,130
Kennewick-Richland	280	$54,070	$56,840	$46,770	$74,290
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater	260	$57,090	$58,310	$46,280	$72,760
Yakima	230	$51,330	$53,970	$44,450	$62,360
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard	200	$59,380	$59,680	$45,910	$76,150
Bellingham	180	$56,010	$56,720	$39,400	$78,460
Mount Vernon-Anacortes	140	$55,790	$57,020	$46,490	$68,890
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee	130	$56,600	$56,940	$40,890	$67,220
Longview-Kelso	100	$58,250	$56,360	$47,220	$66,210
Lewiston	90	$50,270	$50,230	$39,430	$61,130
Walla Walla	60	$57,190	$56,710	$44,970	$70,550

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 Washington? Washington currently employs approximately 8,150 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 Washington with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Health for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do pharmacy technicians earn in Washington compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Washington is $58,900, which is $15,440 above the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data ¹.

In Washington

Best Trade Schools in Washington (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Washington

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 - Licensing Information: http://www.doh.wa.gov ↩︎ ↩︎

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)