Continuing Education Requirements for Technicians

As a pharmacy technician, you will need to complete 20 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. However, if you are a new registrant, you can find out how many hours of CE you need to complete on the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy Website.

• Visit the Board of Pharmacy's online services portal.
• Login if you are a returning user or click "Register to Access Site" if this is your first visit to the site.
• Once in your record, click on "Continuing Education" to see how many CE hours need to be completed.

Continuing Education (CE) is not available through the MN Board of Pharmacy website. Visit our Technician Continuing Education page for a list of helpful links to CE providers.

There are many different sources of technician CE, some require a fee. The MN Board of Pharmacy does not endorse any continuing education (CE) courses or programs.
Sources may include trade associations, trade journals, employer-based programs, and professional CE providers. You may find sources by doing an internet search for “Free ACPE Continuing Education for Pharmacy Technicians.” Visit our Technician Continuing Education page for a list of helpful links to CE providers we have compiled.

The Board accepts programs developed specifically for technicians (or for both technicians and pharmacists) by CE providers that are approved by either the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) or by the Board.

Maybe. You can download a form to request credit, fill it out and submit it with proof of attendance. Your submission will be reviewed and you will be notified about whether or not you request has been approved.

A technician cannot use pharmacist only CE to complete their technician CE requirement. Please make sure any program that you complete has been approved for technicians alone or both technicians and pharmacists. If you complete a program meant only for pharmacists, the credit will not count towards the Board’s requirement. When printing your proof of CE, there should be a letter “T” printed at the end of your CE course number. “T” is for technician.

You should only mail in proof of completion if requested by the MN Board of Pharmacy. After completing your CE, log in to your Online Services record on the Board website and certify that you have completed your CE. All technicians need to certify that they have completed their CE by July 31 of every odd year. If you do not certify by that date you will have to show proof of CE before renewing your registration.

The MN Board of Pharmacy does not keep records of the CE courses you have taken. It is your responsibility as a registrant to retain records showing the courses you have completed.

The Minnesota Board of Pharmacy does not keep records of the CE courses you have taken. It is your responsibility as a registrant to retain records showing the courses you have completed.

No. The Minnesota Technician Training requirements and Continuing Education (CE) requirements are two separate requirements. See Minnesota Rules 6800.1500 and 6800.3850.

Each August (of odd numbered calendar years), the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy conducts an audit of technicians that have certified completion of their CE. If you receive an audit letter, you will need to send to the Board proof that you have completed the CE requirements.

Follow the instructions in the letter you received. Submit copies of your certificates of attendance for CE programs offered by ACPE or Board-approved providers or the approval letters issued to you from the Board if you had requested approval for CE courses. Your certificate needs to include your name, the CE course number, the date you completed the CE and the number of credits you received for that CE. If you don’t have your certificates you can:

• Go to the original website where you completed your CE and print off the certificates of completion. The certificates of completion may also be called “Statement of Credit” or “History”. OR
• If you used the CPE monitor you can login to your profile and print a “Transcript”.

Note: Make sure you include your name, address and registration number when you submit your CE information to the Board of Pharmacy.