Technician Training Requirements

Technician training is a combination of theoretical instruction and practical application training to ensure standardized practice throughout the state of Minnesota. Technician training must be completed within 12 months from the date of original registration or reinstatement.

The Following Items Do Not Meet the Board’s Technician Training Requirements

• Continuing Education (CEs)
• PTCB Certification
• Solely on-the-job training on how to be a technician
• Solely theoretical/didactic training

Technician Training Recognized by the Board

• A pharmacy technician training program offered by a Board-approved, accredited vocational/technical institution or college that includes an externship
• ASHP accredited Technician training program
• A pharmacy technician training program provided by a branch of the United States Armed Forces or Public Health Service
• An employer-based program that includes a minimum of 240 hours in a one-year period that includes theoretical and practical instruction

Accrediting agencies recognized by the US Department of Education can be found on the US Department of Education’s website. If an institution or college is not accredited by one of the agencies listed on this website, it will not be approved by the Board.

Documents Accepted as Proof of Training

• Certificate of completion from an accredited institution/college
• Signed certificate of completion from your employer
• Signed transcript/training log

Frequently Asked Questions from Technicians

Does my PTCB Certification count as training?
No, the PTCB Certification does not meet the Board’s training requirements.

Why doesn’t Continuing Education (CE) count as training?
Continuing Education is designed to reinforce and expand upon the existing knowledge that is gained during training. Thus, it does not meet the requirements for a training program.

I was a technician in another state for years, do I have to complete the training in Minnesota?
Yes. While previous work experience as a pharmacy technician is helpful, it does not waive or substitute for the completion of a Board-approved training program requirement.

I no longer work at the pharmacy that I did my training at and no longer have the certificate.
You will need to reach out to your previous employer for a copy of your signed certificate.

My employer should have sent the certificate to you.
It is the technician’s responsibility to ensure that they have completed the necessary steps and submitted the required training documentation to the Board. In most cases, employers will not send proof of training to the Board.

I sent my training and have not heard back yet.
Before contacting the Board, check the following:

• Check your email (including your junk mail), for a response from the Board
• Log in to your account online to see the status. If there is a technician training task outstanding and it has been longer than five business days, please reach out to to the Board

How can I submit a waiver request?
Please submit a request in writing through email, fax, or mail. The Board requires a cover letter stating your request and a resume with relevant experience that you feel shows sufficient training.

When can I expect to hear back from the Board/How do I know the Board has received my documentation?
You will receive an email from the Board within five business days with either an acknowledgement that your training documentation has satisfied the requirement, or a request for additional information.

Information for Employers/Pharmacists

Technicians have 12 months from their original date of registration/reinstatement to complete their training program (not from the date of employment).

How to Check a Technician’s Training Status

• Do a license verification check with either their name or registration number.
  If they are in “Owes Training” status, they are still active until their expiration date, but are past the deadline for submitting their proof of training to the board. They will not be able to renew until they have submitted their proof of completion.
• Ask your technician to log in to their account. If the technician training requirement is still in their outstanding tasks, they will need to submit their documentation of completion.

An experienced technician will still need to meet the requirements of the board.

If they are a registered technician with the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy

• Check their registration status using the online license verification.
  1. If the technician is not active or had a lapse in registration, they will have to complete the technician training as required by the Board.
  2. If the technician is in “Owes Training” status, they are still active until their expiration date, but are past the deadline for submitting their proof of training to the board. They will not be able to renew until they have submitted their proof of completion.
  3. If the technician is active, please verify with the technician that they completed their training at their previous place of employment. If they did not, they will need to go through a qualifying technician training program.

If they are coming in from out-of-state and do not hold a registration with the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy
The technician will have to meet all requirements of a new technician.

• If they have completed their training through an out of state employer their training documentation will need to be submitted to us for review.
• If the training the technician received out-of-state does not meet the Board’s minimum requirements, the technician will need to complete a qualifying technician training program within 12 months of becoming actively registered with us.

Additional information about technician training requirements can be found in the Pharmacy Technician Training Guidance document.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the options if the technician is in ‘Owes Training’ status?
If the technician owes training, they will need to submit a signed certificate, transcript, or training log to the Board. If they have not completed their training, contact pharmacy.board@state.mn.us for additional information.

How can we submit a training extension request?
Contact pharmacy.board@state.mn.us for more information.

What if the pharmacy has a training program, but does not have a certificate?
Contact pharmacy.board@state.mn.us for more information.

What if the pharmacy would like to develop their own training program instead of partnering with an existing provider?
You must reach out to the Board with the specifics. The pharmacy will need prior authorization to ensure that the training program it will be providing meets the Board’s requirements.

How can we request a training waiver?
Submit a request in writing through email, fax, or mail, stating your request and relevant information that you feel shows sufficient training. Please note that while previous work experience as a pharmacy technician is helpful, it does not waive or substitute for the completion of a Board-approved training program requirement.