Louisiana Pharmacy Tech Schools & Certification

Louisiana residents looking for a unique and rewarding role within the healthcare industry can consider becoming a pharmacy technician. Read on to find out the state guidelines for becoming a pharmacy tech, including what you need to know and what you need to do to apply for certification and begin working in this important pharmacy role. While there are Federally mandated laws, states may set additional requirements for those seeking employment in certain restricted roles.

Louisiana Pharmacy Technician Certification Requirements

Louisiana State only permits individuals to work as pharmacy technicians when they are certified after fulfilling the following criteria:

• Applicants must be 18 years or older in Louisiana to work as a pharmacy technician
• Applicants must have a High School Diploma or equivalent (like a GED) and provide evidence of this qualification
• You are required to submit personal details for a criminal record check to ensure that you have no previous convictions related to controlled substances
• Applicant is required to submit proof of enrollment on a course approved by the Louisiana Pharmacy Board. The state has a Training Program Minimum Competencies list that you can check
• You must pass the PTCE before applying for the license
• License application fee is $25, payable at the time of application
• A minimum of 600 hours of on-the-job experience is required, with no less than 200 of these hours earned while in a training program
• Licenses expire at the end of June every year; renewal costs $50

Special note 1: The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy will only carry out the criminal background check once the applicant has successfully submitted all relevant documents.

Special note 2: Louisiana does not permit certification transfers from other states.

Louisiana Pharmacy Technician Careers & Employment Outlook

A United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report released in 2019 listed Louisiana as having 6,150 pharmacy technicians across the state. The report calculated the average pay as $15.92 per hour median average pay and $16.38 per hour mean average pay. Salaried employees were paid an average of $34,070 annually.

51% of pharmacy technicians work in dedicated pharmacies and drug stores. 17% work in a clinical setting such as a surgery or specialist clinic, or a hospital. Some smaller towns do not have dedicated pharmacies and drug stores and therefore have pharmacy concessions within supermarkets and other retail outlets. This type of pharmacy outlet employs 9% of pharmacy technicians.

Most pharmacies in Louisiana work around the clock including nights and weekends. Therefore, you could be expected to work evenings, weekends, and holidays. There may be exceptions where pharmacies adhere to the working hours of another business (for example when located in a food store).

The BLS predicts a national 4% growth of pharmacy technician roles between 2019 and 2029. This is the current average of all jobs in the country.

Louisiana Schools That Offer Pharmacy Technician Training Programs