Virginia Pharmacy Technician Registration Requirements Updated

VA Board of Pharmacy Newsletters

Published July 1st, 2025

Detected February 12th, 2026

Summary

The Virginia Board of Pharmacy is implementing new registration requirements for pharmacy technicians, effective July 1, 2025. Individuals will need to complete an accredited training program or equivalent and pass a national certification exam to be registered.

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What changed

Effective July 1, 2025, the Virginia Board of Pharmacy is introducing new mandatory requirements for pharmacy technician registration. Aspiring technicians must now submit an application and fee, provide evidence of completing an accredited training program (including specific CTE programs, PTCB/NHA recognized programs, or military training), and pass a national certification examination administered by either the PTCB or NHA.

This change introduces new educational and examination prerequisites for individuals seeking to work as pharmacy technicians in Virginia. Employers will need to ensure their new hires meet these updated registration standards by the July 1, 2025 deadline. Failure to comply with these new registration requirements could result in individuals being unable to practice as pharmacy technicians in the state.

What to do next

Update internal hiring and training protocols to include accredited training program completion and national certification exam for new pharmacy technician registrations.
Ensure all pharmacy technicians registered after July 1, 2025, meet the new training and examination requirements.
Verify that training programs used meet the Board's criteria (accredited, PTCB/NHA recognized, or military).

Source document (simplified)

Virginia B oard of Pha rmacy 7/1/2025 This notification contains important inf ormation regarding the registration of ph armacy technicians. Pursuan t to s tatute 54.1 - 3321(B), effective July 1, 2025, to be registered as a pharmacy technician, a perso n shal l submit: 1. An ap plication and fee specifi ed in regulations of the Board 2. Evide nce that he/she has succes sfully comple ted a trai ning program that is i. An accredited training program, including an accredited training program operated through the Department of Education's Career and Technical Education pr ogram or approved by the Board; or ii. Recognized by the Pharmacy Technician Ce rtification Board (PTCB) or the N ational Healthcareer Associ ation (NHA); or iii. Operated through a federal ag ency or branch of the military; and 3. Evide nce that he has succe ssfully pas sed a national ce rtific ation examina tion adminis tered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcare er Association (NHA) Inquiries may be direc ted to pharm bd@dhp.vir ginia.gov