How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Michigan (2026 Guide)

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Michigan: Step by Step

The PTCE exam and PTCB eligibility rules are the same nationwide. Michigan's only state-specific layer is its own registration requirement.

1. 1
   Meet PTCB eligibility

   Have a high school diploma or GED, disclose any criminal or state board history, and qualify through one of two national pathways: completion of a PTCB-recognized education/training program, or at least 500 hours of verified pharmacy technician work experience within the preceding four years.
2. 2
   Pass the national PTCE exam

   Register with PTCB and pay the $129 exam fee (this never varies by state). The exam is 90 multiple-choice questions (80 scored, 10 unscored pretest) over 110 minutes at a Pearson VUE test center. A scaled score of 1400 (out of 1000-1600) is required to pass.
3. 3
   Complete Michigan's Pharmacy Technician License

   Michigan LICENSES (not registers) pharmacy technicians through LARA — highest fee found among all 13 states researched ($137.70). Qualify via PTCB exam, NHA ExCPT exam, OR an exam through a Michigan-approved employer-based training program. Distinctive extra requirements beyond the national-certification baseline: one-time human-trafficking-victim-identification training, plus at least 2 hours of implicit bias training completed within 5 years of licensure. State and federal fingerprint-based background check required. The fee is $137.7. Renewal: Every 2 years (Temporary license: 1 year, non-renewable).
4. 4
   Apply for your first pharmacy technician position

   With PTCB certification and your state registration in hand, you can apply to retail pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, and specialty/mail-order pharmacies. Average pay in Michigan is $19.25/hr.

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