Reviewed for Hawaii regulatory accuracy: December 22, 2025 (primary sources: Hawaii Board of Pharmacy memo, official FAQs, and PVL application forms)
Important: This guide is for general educational purposes. Requirements and forms can change. Always verify current rules, fees, and allowable duties with the Hawaii Board of Pharmacy (DCCA PVL) and your supervising pharmacist.
Quick answer: Hawaii pharmacy technician license = registration (2026)
Beginning January 1, 2026, Hawaii requires pharmacy technicians to obtain a certificate of registration through the Hawaii Board of Pharmacy (DCCA PVL) to perform specified pharmacy technician tasks in licensed pharmacies. Many people search “license,” but Hawaii’s official term is registration.
Applications are not accepted online at this time; you must submit by mail or hand delivery to PVL.
Key takeaways
- Plan to register if you will do hands-on technician duties (filling/packaging/med prep) on or after January 1, 2026.
- Fees: $130 (even-numbered year) or $80 (odd-numbered year), depending on when your registration takes effect.
- Expiration: Valid through December 31 of an odd-numbered year; you re-apply (no “renewal”).
- Certification (PTCB/NHA) is separate from Hawaii registration but often helps for hiring, and it’s required for Hawaii’s vaccine authorization pathway.
Requirements at a glance
| Item | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii pharmacy technician registration | Yes (effective 1/1/2026) | State credential to perform specified pharmacy technician tasks. |
| National certification (PTCB or NHA) | Recommended | Separate credential; often preferred by employers. |
| Vaccine administration authorization | Only if vaccinating | Separate Hawaii application; requires PTCB/NHA certification and other requirements. |
Table of contents
- Do you need a pharmacy technician license in Hawaii?
- What changed in 2026?
- Eligibility requirements
- How to apply (step-by-step)
- Fees, expiration, and re-application cycle
- Verify your registration status
- Scope of practice and pharmacist supervision
- Vaccine administration authorization (optional)
- Pharmacy technician certification in Hawaii (PTCB vs NHA)
- Training options
- Salary and job outlook in Hawaii
- Work environments in Hawaii
- Sources used for this update
- FAQs
Do you need a pharmacy technician license in Hawaii?
Yes—starting January 1, 2026, most pharmacy technicians in Hawaii will need to be registered (have a certificate of registration) to perform specified pharmacy technician tasks in licensed pharmacies.
License vs. registration vs. certification (quick definitions)
- Hawaii “license” (what people search): In Hawaii’s terminology, this is a pharmacy technician certificate of registration issued by the Board of Pharmacy through PVL.
- National certification: A credential like PTCB’s CPhT or NHA’s CPhT (ExCPT). This is not your Hawaii registration.
- Training/education: The instruction you get on the job or in a program. Training builds competency; registration and certification are credentials.
Want the bigger picture? See our explainer: Pharmacy Technician License vs Certification .
Who needs to register (and who might not)?
A practical rule: if your job includes filling, packaging, or other hands-on medication preparation tasks, you should expect to need Hawaii registration. If you only do clerical/cashier/inventory tasks, your pharmacy may treat the role as auxiliary pharmacy personnel—but confirm your exact duties with the supervising pharmacist.
If you’re comparing states, bookmark our hub: Pharmacy Technician License Requirements by State .
What changed: Act 93 and the January 1, 2026 start date
Hawaii’s Board of Pharmacy issued a memo stating that pharmacy technician registration becomes mandatory on January 1, 2026 (Act 93, 2025; often referenced as HB 72).
Key dates at a glance
| Date | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| December 1, 2025 | Registration application instructions and forms available online | You can prepare your application before the effective date. |
| January 1, 2026 | Registration certificates issued as effective | Plan to be registered to perform specified technician tasks. |
| December 31 (odd-numbered year) | Registration expires | Certificates are valid through December 31 of an odd-numbered year. |
The “renewal” nuance (important)
Hawaii’s memo explains that technicians must re-apply for a new registration upon expiration; registration will not be renewed.
Eligibility requirements for Hawaii pharmacy technician registration
Hawaii’s PVL registration application instructions list baseline eligibility requirements. At a minimum, expect the following items to be required:
Basic eligibility (what PVL asks for)
- Age: 18 years or older
- Work authorization: U.S. citizen/national or an alien authorized to work in the U.S.
- Social Security number: PVL notes that without an SSN, the application is deficient and won’t be processed.
- Completed application + correct fee (one check per application is emphasized in official FAQs)
Background and disclosure questions
The application includes yes/no questions about professional discipline and criminal history. If you answer “yes,” PVL may require supporting documentation and may review your application at a Board meeting.
How to apply for a Hawaii pharmacy technician registration
Use Hawaii’s official application publications page as your starting point, and always download the latest version of the forms before submitting.
Step-by-step: Hawaii pharmacy technician registration
- Download the current application form from the Board’s Application Publications page: DCCA PVL — Board of Pharmacy Application Publications .
- Complete all fields (including SSN) and answer every disclosure question.
- Attach supporting documents if any disclosure answers are “yes.”
- Prepare payment (one check per application; correct total depends on even vs odd year).
- Submit by mail or in person (applications are not accepted online).
- Keep copies of everything you submit for your records.
- Display your registration while on duty once issued.
Where to submit
Deliver in person: 335 Merchant St., Room 301, Honolulu, HI 96813
Mail to: Board of Pharmacy, DCCA PVL Licensing Branch, P.O. Box 3469, Honolulu, HI 96801
Employer bulk submissions
PVL’s official FAQ includes bulk submission rules (separate checks, paper clip not staple, labeled envelope). If your employer submits multiple applications at once, follow those instructions closely to avoid delays.
Fees, expiration, and re-application cycle
Hawaii’s pharmacy technician registration fee depends on whether the registration takes effect in an even-numbered year or an odd-numbered year.
Hawaii registration fees (what most applicants pay)
| Registration effective year | Total fee | What the instructions say |
|---|---|---|
| Even-numbered year | $130 | $20 application + $10 registration + $100 compliance resolution fund |
| Odd-numbered year | $80 | $20 application + $10 registration + $50 compliance resolution fund |
Important fee notes
- The application fee is non-refundable.
- PVL notes a $25 service charge for dishonored payments.
Expiration and “renewal”
- Registration is issued through December 31 of an odd-numbered year.
- Hawaii’s memo states you must re-apply after expiration (registration will not be renewed).
How to confirm and verify your registration status
Your primary confirmation: the Notice of Registration
Once approved, you’ll receive a Notice of Registration (email or mail). It includes your name, registration number, and the effective and expiration dates.
Secondary confirmation: PVL public license search
You can also verify a registration through Hawaii’s public license search tool:
Hawaii PVL Public License Search
If you need help
PVL’s FAQ lists a contact number: (808) 586-3000. You can also find contact details on the Board of Pharmacy page.
Scope of practice and pharmacist supervision in Hawaii
In Hawaii, pharmacy technicians may perform delegated tasks that do not require professional judgment while working under a pharmacist’s immediate supervision, consistent with Hawaii’s pharmacy rules.
“Immediate supervision” (Hawaii definition)
Hawaii’s administrative rules define immediate supervision as the pharmacist being physically present and overseeing correctness and accuracy (ingredients, quantity, and label).
Do I need to register for my duties?
Hawaii’s memo separates tasks that auxiliary personnel may do from tasks that require a registered pharmacy technician. Use the table below as a quick guide, then confirm your exact responsibilities with the pharmacist-in-charge.
| Example task category | Auxiliary pharmacy personnel | Registered pharmacy technician |
|---|---|---|
| Clerical / cashier / filing / typing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Inventory / stock / custodial tasks | ✅ | ✅ |
| Filling, packaging, manipulative, repetitive, or other nondiscretionary tasks | ❌ | ✅ |
Display requirement
Hawaii’s memo states a pharmacy technician’s certificate of registration must be prominently displayed in an area accessible to the public at the workplace.
Optional: Vaccine administration authorization for registered pharmacy technicians
Hawaii has a separate application for vaccine administration authorization for registered pharmacy technicians.
Quick answer
You may submit the registration and vaccine administration applications at the same time. However, the pharmacy technician registration must be approved before the vaccine application can be processed.
Key requirements (from Hawaii’s vaccine application)
- Hold a pharmacy technician registration that is current, valid, and in good standing.
- Submit a completion certificate for an ACPE-approved practical training program that includes hands-on injection technique.
- Self-attestation that you have:
- Current CPhT certification from PTCB or NHA
- Current basic CPR
- A minimum of two credit hours in immunization-related continuing education during each licensing biennium
Fee (vaccine authorization)
The vaccine administration application lists a $10 application fee (non-refundable).
Official forms (registration + vaccine) are posted here: Board of Pharmacy — Application Publications .
Pharmacy technician certification in Hawaii (PTCB vs NHA)
If you’re researching pharmacy technician certification in Hawaii, here’s the key point: Hawaii registration and national certification are different. Registration is the state credential to work; certification is a national credential that proves competency.
Important: Hawaii’s vaccine administration authorization requires national certification from PTCB or NHA.
PTCB vs NHA at a glance
| Credential | Body | Eligibility snapshot | Renewal snapshot |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPhT (PTCE) | PTCB | PTCB-recognized training program or 500 hours of equivalent work experience (per PTCB eligibility rules). | Recertification requirements apply (commonly a 2-year cycle with CE). PTCB renewal details. |
| CPhT (ExCPT) | NHA | Training program or relevant work experience (per NHA eligibility rules). | Renewal requirements apply (NHA guidance commonly references 20 hours of CE with patient safety and pharmacy law components). NHA renewal details. |
2026 PTCE note: PTCB has an updated PTCE content outline effective January 6, 2026. If you’re scheduling around that date, confirm which version you’ll take with your testing authorization timeline.
Study support: PTCE Study Guide (2026) and Free PTCB Practice Test.
Training options: Hawaii programs and online routes
Hawaii’s registration packet focuses on eligibility and fees. Your training plan is typically driven by employer expectations and whether you want to earn national certification.
Common routes
- On-the-job training: Learn workflow under pharmacist supervision.
- Formal education/training program: Helpful for confidence and certification prep.
- Work-experience route (PTCB): Some candidates qualify via work experience as allowed by PTCB eligibility rules.
What to look for (fast checklist)
Calculations • medication safety • pharmacy law/ethics basics • hands-on workflow or externship • compounding fundamentals (if relevant)
Helpful reference: Accredited Pharmacy Technician Training Programs and How to Become a Pharmacy Technician .
Salary and job outlook for pharmacy technicians in Hawaii
Hawaii pay snapshot (state data)
Hawaii’s Occupational Employment and Wages publication (May 2024 data) reports the following for pharmacy technicians (SOC 29-2052):
| Metric | Hawaii (May 2024) |
|---|---|
| Employment | 1,820 |
| Mean hourly wage | $22.17 |
| Mean annual wage | $46,120 |
| Median hourly wage | $21.82 |
| Median annual wage | $45,380 |
Source: Hawaii Occupational Employment and Wages 2024 (PDF)
National outlook (context)
For national context, see the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook page for pharmacy technicians: BLS OOH: Pharmacy Technicians .
Work environments for pharmacy technicians in Hawaii
Common environments where pharmacy technicians work in Hawaii include:
- Retail/community pharmacies (chain and independent)
- Hospital pharmacies (inpatient/outpatient)
- Long-term care (medication packaging and coordination)
- Specialty/compounding/home infusion (more complex therapies)
When comparing roles, ask about training support, staffing levels, and whether national certification is preferred for advancement.
Sources used for this update
Hawaii (official)
- Hawaii Board of Pharmacy — main hub: https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/pharmacy/
- Board memo (Pharmacy Technician Registration; Dec 9, 2025): https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/files/2025/12/Pharmacy-Technician-Registration_Memo.pdf
- Application Publications (registration + vaccine forms): https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/pharmacy/application_publications/
- Registration application (PHT-00/PHT-01; v2 2025-12-10): https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/files/2025/12/PVL_Form_Pharmacy_Technician_Registration_Application_v2_2025-12-10.pdf
- Vaccine administration application (PHT-02; v2 2025-12-10): https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/files/2025/12/PVL_Form_Pharmacy_Technician_Vaccine_Application_v2_2025-12-10.pdf
- Official FAQ (Registration and Vaccine Administration; Nov 2025): https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/files/2025/11/Pharmacy-Technician-Registration_FAQs_Board-of-Pharmacy-Site.pdf
- PVL Public License Search: https://mypvl.dcca.hawaii.gov/public-license-search/
- Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR 16-95; PDF): https://files.hawaii.gov/dcca/pvl/pvl/har/har_95-c.pdf
Certification + wages
- PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT): https://ptcb.org/credentials/certification/certified-pharmacy-technician/
- PTCB Renewal Requirements: https://ptcb.org/renewal-requirements/
- PTCE Content Outline (effective Jan 6, 2026; PDF): https://ptcb.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ptce-content-outline.pdf
- NHA Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT): https://www.nhanow.com/certification/nha-certifications/certified-pharmacy-technician-(cpht)
- NHA ExCPT renewal guidance: https://knowledge.nhanow.com/how-to-renew-an-nha-excpt-certification
- Hawaii occupational wages (May 2024; PDF): https://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/economic/data_reports/DLIR/OEWS-2024-Publication.pdf
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm
Questions for PVL/Board: PVL’s FAQ lists (808) 586-3000. The Board memo also references submitting questions to the Board email listed on official materials.
FAQs
Do you need a pharmacy technician license in Hawaii?
Starting January 1, 2026, pharmacy technicians in Hawaii must obtain a certificate of registration (often searched as a “license”) to perform specified technician tasks in licensed pharmacies. Verify the latest requirements on the Hawaii Board of Pharmacy / PVL site.
When does Hawaii pharmacy technician registration start?
Hawaii’s Board memo states registration is mandated beginning January 1, 2026, with forms available online starting December 1, 2025.
Can I apply online for Hawaii pharmacy technician registration?
No. Hawaii’s official FAQs state pharmacy technician registration applications are not accepted online at this time. You must submit by mail or hand-deliver to PVL.
Where do I mail or drop off my Hawaii pharmacy technician registration application?
Deliver to 335 Merchant St., Room 301, Honolulu, HI 96813 or mail to P.O. Box 3469, Honolulu, HI 96801 (Board of Pharmacy, DCCA PVL Licensing Branch). Always confirm addresses on the latest form packet.
How much does the Hawaii pharmacy technician registration cost?
The application instructions list $130 if the registration is effective in an even-numbered year and $80 if effective in an odd-numbered year (includes application/registration fees plus the compliance resolution fund component).
How long is a Hawaii pharmacy technician registration valid, and how do you renew it?
The Board memo states registration is valid through December 31 of an odd-numbered year and that technicians must re-apply upon expiration (registration will not be renewed).
How do I verify my registration after I apply?
After approval, PVL issues a Notice of Registration (email or mail) with your registration number and effective/expiration dates. You can also verify via the PVL Public License Search.
What does “immediate supervision” mean for pharmacy technicians in Hawaii?
Hawaii’s administrative rules define immediate supervision as a pharmacist being physically present and overseeing correctness and accuracy (ingredients, quantity, and label). In practice, expect the pharmacist to be on-site and actively overseeing the work.
Is national certification required to work as a pharmacy technician in Hawaii?
Hawaii registration is separate from national certification. Certification is commonly preferred by employers and is required for Hawaii’s vaccine administration authorization pathway for technicians.
Can pharmacy technicians administer vaccines in Hawaii?
Yes, via a separate vaccine administration application process for registered pharmacy technicians. The vaccine application lists requirements such as registration in good standing, ACPE-approved practical injection training, current PTCB/NHA certification, CPR, and immunization-related continuing education.
Compliance note: This content is informational and not individualized legal or medical advice. Always verify the most current requirements with official Hawaii PVL/Board of Pharmacy publications.
