How to become a pharmacy technician in Illinois

Foothills alone is not enough to finish the Illinois path. You can register as a tech with no training, but within 2 years you must become a Registered Certified Pharmacy Technician, and that needs a nationally accredited program or 500 hours of documented work. Foothills is PTCB-recognized, not accredited, so please call IDFPR at 888-473-4858 before you pay for anything.

Heads up: our program alone is not enough in Illinois. Foothills alone is not enough. Illinois also needs an accredited program or 500 work hours. We'd rather tell you now than have you pay and find out later.

The 5 steps in Illinois

Register as a pharmacy technician. Register with IDFPR. Age 16 or older. No training is required for this first step.
Get a pharmacy job. The realistic path is to work as a registered tech.
Log 500 hours of work. Your pharmacist-in-charge documents your hours. An ACPE or ASHP-accredited program is the other option.
Pass the PTCE. Illinois requires a national exam for the certified tier. Foothills can help you prepare.
Upgrade within 2 years. Become a Registered Certified Pharmacy Technician (18 or older). Then do 20 hours of CE every 2 years.

Costs beyond Foothills in Illinois

Registration fee (check with IDFPR)
PTCE, about $129

Checked against the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Board of Pharmacy's own rules in October 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm current details with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Board of Pharmacy. Sources: 1, 2, 3.

See requirements in every state

Get PTCB certified from anywhere in Illinois

Foothills is a PTCB-recognized online program, built and taught by a licensed pharmacist with 33 years in the field. Finish it and you're eligible to sit for the PTCE.

100% online and self-paced, so it fits around work. Most students are ready in about 4 months. College programs can run $1,500 to $5,000. Foothills is about $541 start to certified.

Foothills · cost to certification

EnrollmentOne-time, instruction + portal$180

Two digital textbooksAccess codes included$232

PTCE exam feePaid to PTCB when you're ready≈ $129

Total, start to certified≈ $541

Ask us about Illinois

Illinois questions

Yes. You register first, then must upgrade to certified within 2 years.

Not a PTCB-recognized one. Illinois requires a nationally accredited program, such as ACPE or ASHP, or 500 work hours.

Yes, for the certified tier. IDFPR accepts the PTCE or ExCPT.

Besides the PTCE, you need either 500 work hours or an accredited program. Check IDFPR for registration fees. Please confirm with IDFPR before enrolling anywhere.

About $541 all-in: $180 to enroll, about $232 for two digital textbooks, and about $129 for the PTCE. State fees are separate (see above). See the full cost breakdown.

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