How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Wisconsin (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Wisconsin employs about 9,540 pharmacy technicians earning a median $45,970 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 the Wisconsin board of pharmacy.

Compare Pharmacy Technician Schools in Wisconsin

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
172.6Contact school for pricing$59,99657%Yes*82 mi
265.2$4,904 in-state / $7,147 out-of-state$50,75766%Yes*105 mi
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363.9$4,844 in-state / $7,087 out-of-state$50,98550%Yes*57 mi
457.2$3,985 in-state / $12,462 out-of-state$53,38837%Yes*101 mi
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556.9$5,002 in-state / $7,171 out-of-state$53,82752%Yes*88 mi
656.0$4,956 in-state / $7,199 out-of-state$54,14251%Yes*69 mi
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752.5$5,184 in-state / $7,427 out-of-state$52,34625%Yes*45 mi
848.6$5,093 in-state / $12,683 out-of-state$45,06928%Yes*134 mi
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947.4$4,788 in-state / $14,400 out-of-state$52,82137%—80 mi
1045.8$14,078$59,99643%Yes*82 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.

Wisconsin employs approximately 9,540 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $45,970 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 Wisconsin, 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
  • Exam: PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT
  • Median wage (Wisconsin): $45,970 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Wisconsin

How to become a Pharmacy Technician in Wisconsin? 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 the Wisconsin 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 the Wisconsin board of pharmacy.

Do I need a license in Wisconsin? Yes. Wisconsin typically registers this role through the Wisconsin board of pharmacy. See the licensing section below.

What do pharmacy technicians earn in Wisconsin? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Wisconsin is $45,970 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,080 and experienced professionals can earn $58,700 or more 1.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Wisconsin

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

Pharmacy technicians in Wisconsin typically complete a short training program, pass PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT, and register with the Wisconsin board of pharmacy.

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 the Wisconsin board of pharmacy before unsupervised work.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the Wisconsin board of pharmacy before you enroll.

Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in Wisconsin

Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Wisconsin

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington4,670$48,520$49,500$38,240$61,790
Milwaukee-Waukesha3,170$47,300$46,810$36,610$60,890
Madison1,530$46,680$46,990$36,550$61,120
Green Bay460$44,830$44,900$34,570$57,500
Duluth400$47,510$48,020$37,040$58,330
Appleton350$45,160$45,610$35,750$60,080
La Crosse-Onalaska350$45,880$45,860$35,180$56,620
Eau Claire280$46,430$47,440$34,910$60,800
Kenosha260$39,360$43,150$35,150$56,300
Racine-Mount Pleasant240$39,640$43,360$35,360$54,850
Oshkosh-Neenah230$44,760$44,960$35,780$58,830
Janesville-Beloit220$45,430$43,610$34,950$56,110
Wausau200$41,710$44,330$35,110$60,000
Sheboygan150$46,910$45,540$36,150$57,090
Fond du Lac130$45,760$44,510$34,710$60,250

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 Wisconsin? Wisconsin currently employs approximately 9,540 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 Wisconsin with an out-of-state license? Contact the Wisconsin board of pharmacy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do pharmacy technicians earn in Wisconsin compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in Wisconsin is $45,970, which is $2,510 above the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data 1.

In Wisconsin

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)