how long does it take to be a pharmacy tech
This does not apply to (Grandfathered) Pharmacy Technicians that were registered with the Board prior to July 1, 2009 and have stayed with the same employer since that time; nor to Pharmacy Technicians-in-Training who may be registered without being nationally certified for up to two (2) renewals.
You need to go to college to become a pharmacist, but you can study on your own to pass the http://www.ptcb.org/ test to become a pharmacy technician. You can successfully study to become a pharmacy technician in a matter of weeks but it will take years for you to become a pharmacist.