Pharmacy Technician Licensure
In the fall of 2014, Public Act 285 was signed into law by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, requiring licensure of all pharmacy technicians in the state of Michigan.
MPA has made efforts to supply you with all of the most current information related to the licensure of pharmacy technicians. Please read the information below for the latest details on pharmacy technician licensure, including how you can become licensed as a pharmacy technician, where to obtain certification information and study materials, frequently asked questions and more. We will be continually updating this page as more information becomes available.
In addition, MPA will continue to monitor and address concerns related to this issue. If you have any concerns, please email Brian Sapita, MPA director of government affairs. To get the most up-to-date information related to technician licensure, visit this page on the MPA website or the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Website.
Contact Information
If you have any questions regarding technician licensure, please contact:
Michigan Pharmacists Association
Eric Roath
Director of Government Affairs
Ph: (517) 377-0254
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)
Phone: (517) 335-0918
or visit the LARA Web site
As a reminder, it takes approximately 6-8 weeks to process each application. Please allow adequate time before contacting the Department.
Technician Certification and Preparation
Pharmacy technicians preparing to become certified are encouraged to use the following resources:
- Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
PTCB offers Certified Pharmacy Technician certification for pharmacy technicians. To become certified, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent educational diploma, passing score on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam, full disclosure of all criminal and state Board of Pharmacy registration or licensure actions and compliance with all applicable PTCB certification policies. - Pharmacy Tech Prep Online Employer-based Training Program
Pharmacy Tech Prep (PTP) is a training program approved by the Michigan Board of Pharmacy and administered by Pharmacy Services Inc. (PSI) that allows individuals to acquire on-the-job training to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve certification and licensure by completing the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) examination. While enrolled in the PSI training program, individuals are exempt from the licensure requirements that are typically expected of pharmacy technicians under the Michigan Public Health Code.Programs that have been approved by the Board of Pharmacy exempt individuals from the licensure requirement to practice in a pharmacy as a technician. This is useful for individuals who may be looking into being a pharmacy technician as a new career, or who may be attending a collegiate or technical program to become a pharmacy technician.Licensure as a pharmacy technician requires that an applicant pass a Board-approved examination. That is exactly what the PTP Online Employer-based Training Program does. Individuals who complete the program’s recommended training activities will be better prepared to take the PTCB certification exam than individuals who have not received any additional education or training. Furthermore, the exemption from the licensure requirement for individuals enrolled in the program allows them to apply their knowledge on-the-job under the supervision of a licensed pharmacy preceptor.If you are interested in enrolling one of your employees in the employer-based program, click here for more information. - Pharmacy Certified Technician Training Manual and Calculations Workbook
MPA publishes a training manual and calculations workbook to assist pharmacy technicians in preparing for the national certification exam. New editions of both resources were released in 2018. The Pharmacy Certified Technician Training Manual covers a variety of pharmacy practice areas and disease states as well as systems of the human body and how pharmacy interacts with these areas. The Manual has an accompanying CD-ROM that includes a master spreadsheet table of all medications listed throughout the book as well as answers to the review questions and a glossary of terms. The Pharmacy Certified Technician Calculations Workbook features examples and review questions as well as real-life applications. The accompanying CD-ROM includes the step-by-step math to arrive at the solution for each review problem. Visit our Online Store to purchase these resources.
The following section of the Michigan Public Health Code is effective on Dec. 22, 2014, when Public Act 285 goes into effect:
333.17739 added Pharmacy technician; functions; licensure.
Sec. 17739.
(1) An individual who performs any of the following functions is considered to be serving as a pharmacy technician and, except as otherwise provided in this part, is required to be licensed under this part as a pharmacy technician:
- (a) Assisting in the dispensing process.
- (b) Handling transfer of prescriptions, except controlled substances prescriptions.
- (c) Compounding drugs.
- (d) Preparing or mixing intravenous drugs for injection into a human patient.
- (e) Contacting prescribers concerning prescription drug order clarification, which does not include drug regimen review or clinical or therapeutic interpretation.
- (f) Receiving verbal orders for prescription drugs, except orders for controlled substances.
- (g) Subject to section 16215, performing any other functions authorized under rules promulgated by the department in consultation with the board.
(2) A pharmacy or dispensing prescriber that utilizes the services of a pharmacy technician shall ensure that all of the following requirements, as applicable, are met:
- (a) The pharmacy technician is licensed or otherwise authorized to serve as a pharmacy technician under this part.
- (b) The pharmacy technician only performs the activities or functions that he or she is licensed or otherwise authorized to perform under this part or rules promulgated under this part.
- (c) Except as otherwise provided by rule promulgated by the department in consultation with the board, the pharmacy technician only performs the activities or functions described in subdivision (b) under the supervision and personal charge of the pharmacist or dispensing prescriber.
History: Add. 2014, Act 285, Eff. Dec. 22, 2014
Popular Name: Act 368
Becoming a part of Michigan Society of Pharmacy Technicians, which means you also become a part of MPA, means becoming a part of the organization that works to keep you informed, protect your interests, and raise awareness and recognition of pharmacy technicians on a daily basis. Technician membership is only $40 per year. In addition to receiving valuable information through our electronic and print publications, you will also receive discounts on continuing education, access to members-only areas of the website, the most up-to-date details on legislative issues such as pharmacy technician licensure and much more.
Please see our Membership Benefits and FAQs page for complete details.
If you have any questions regarding technician licensure, please contact:
- Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), (517) 335-0918 or visit the LARA website.
- Eric Roath, MPA director of government affairs, (517) 377-0254