Background Check & Drug Screening for Hospital Pharmacy Jobs

If you are planning to become a pharmacy technician, then you need to understand that after clearing the interview, the employer will conduct a background and drug screening before hiring you. 

Unsure how to ace the interview? Learn the art of the interview.

It is understandable that this process can induce anxiety, and you can end up asking yourself questions like:

What if something old shows up?

What exactly are they looking for?

Is there any way to “clean” my system quickly?

But the short answer is that as long as you haven’t committed any crimes or are on any medication, the results will be in your favor. 

With that said, knowing the process can help you calm your nerves. This guide walks you through how hospital pharmacy background checks and drug tests actually work, what can disqualify you, and what you can realistically do to prepare. 

NOTE: While each state has a slightly different background check and drug testing requirements, following this guide will help you understand the dos and don’ts of this process.

Why Hospital Pharmacies Take Background Checks So Seriously

While some candidates may be put off by this process, you need to understand that hospital pharmacies sit at the intersection of:

• Patient safety: You’re helping handle medications for vulnerable, often critically ill patients.
• Controlled substances: These include opioids and high-risk medications.
• Regulation and accreditation: State boards of pharmacy, federal healthcare programs, and hospital accreditors all expect strong screening and compliance.

Given the sophisticated nature of this role, most states require criminal background checks for pharmacy technicians as part of licensing or registration, often including state and FBI fingerprint checks.

NOTE: Hospitals can sometimes also leverage third-party investigators for a thorough background check. 

Knowing the daily tasks of a pharmacy technician can help you have a better understanding of the background check. 

Do Pharmacy Techs Get Background Checks?

Short answer, yes. Most people are under the impression that only a selected employers run a background check; however, if you’re applying to a hospital pharmacy, assume you will be background-checked at two levels:

1. State Licensure/Registration Check

Many Boards of Pharmacy require a criminal background check (and sometimes fingerprinting) before issuing or renewing a technician registration or license.

2. Employer/Hospital Background Check

A typical hospital pharmacy background check may include:

• Identity and Social Security number verification
• County, state, and/or federal criminal records
• Sex offender registry search
• Employment history verification
• Education and certification checks
• License/registration status and disciplinary history with the state board
• Healthcare exclusion checks (OIG / other federal lists)
• Drug screening (pre-employment and sometimes random or “for cause”)

If you’re a student or intern in a hospital pharmacy tech program, clinical sites usually require very similar checks before they’ll let you on the floor.

What Disqualifies You From Being A Pharmacy Tech?

Similar to how there are different guidelines for background checks and drug testing, every case is different as well. With that said, there are some common red flags that often disqualify a candidate from hospital pharmacy tech roles or registration.

Likely Hard Stops

These are issues that frequently lead to automatic rejection or major hurdles, especially in hospital settings:

• Drug-related felonies, especially involving manufacture, distribution, diversion, or fraud with controlled substances.
• Violent offenses (e.g., assault, homicide, certain domestic violence offenses).
• Crimes involving patient abuse or neglect.
• Serious theft, fraud, or financial crimes in a healthcare or caregiving context (e.g., stealing medications or defrauding Medicare/Medicaid).
• Being listed on a federal healthcare exclusion list (OIG LEIE or similar) – excluded individuals generally cannot work for organizations that bill federal healthcare programs.

Many states also expect technicians to have “good moral character” and may restrict licensure for certain drug-related or fraud convictions.

Learn more about criminal history.

NOTE: Each state has different policies regarding criminal history and verification.

Case-By-Case Issues

Some records don’t automatically disqualify you, but they will be scrutinized:

• Older misdemeanors (e.g., minor theft, disorderly conduct)
• DUI / DWI offenses, especially if there’s no pattern
• Non-violent property or drug offenses that are several years old
• Charges that were dismissed or for which you completed diversion

In these situations, boards and employers usually look at:

• How long ago did it happen
• How serious it was
• Whether it relates to trust, safety, or drugs
• Whether there’s a pattern or it was a one-time mistake
• What you’ve done since (school, work history, sobriety, references, treatment, etc.)

What Will Stop You From Passing A Hospital Pharmacy Background Check?

Beyond the offenses themselves, how you handle your history matters just as much. Common reasons candidates fail pre-employment screening include:

1. Lying or omitting information

• Not disclosing a conviction that the employer will clearly see.
• Claiming a charge was “dropped” when it resulted in a conviction.
• Falsifying dates, job titles, or reasons for leaving.

2. Falsified or missing credentials

• Claiming a certification, degree, or training you don’t actually have.
• Using someone else’s registration number.
• Letting your registration or certification lapse without telling anyone.

3. Active board or license problems

• Current restrictions, probation, or suspensions from the Board of Pharmacy.
• Open investigations for diversion or impairment.

4. Recent high-risk convictions

• Recent drug-distribution charges, healthcare fraud, or violent offenses are very hard to overcome for hospital roles.

5. Failed or refused drug tests

• A verified positive drug test without a legitimate prescription
• Attempting to tamper with or substitute a sample (often treated like a refusal)

How Do I Pass My Background Check?

While you cannot rewrite the past, you can control how prepared, honest, and organized you are for your pharmacy technician background checks.

1. Know what’s on your record

• Request your state criminal history and, if possible, a multi-jurisdiction report.
• Check your driving record if the job involves driving (deliveries, off-site clinics).
• Confirm your certifications and licenses are active and in good standing with the Board of Pharmacy.

2. Gather paperwork before you apply

Have this ready in a folder (digital or physical):

• Court documents showing final disposition (e.g., completed probation, fines paid).
• Proof of completion for diversion, treatment, or counseling programs.
• Reference letters from instructors, employers, or supervisors.
• Documentation for any expungement or sealing you’ve had done (if applicable).

3. Be honest on applications and in interviews

Most hospital applications ask some version of:
“Have you ever been convicted of a crime?”
If you say “no” and something shows up, the dishonesty itself often becomes the disqualifier.

Many employers and boards are more willing to work with:
“Yes, I made a mistake in 2018. Here’s what happened, what I learned, and what’s changed since then.”

4. Read the disclosures and consent forms

If your background check is done through a third-party company, you generally have rights under federal law (like the Fair Credit Reporting Act) to:

• Receive a copy of the report if something negative appears
• Dispute inaccurate information
• Be given a chance to respond before a final adverse hiring decision

Always:

• Sign only clear, separate background check consent forms
• Save copies of everything you sign

5. Follow instructions exactly

• Use your full legal name (and list any previous names)
• Double-check your SSN, dates, and addresses
• Complete fingerprinting or lab appointments on time

Why Do Pharmacy Techs Get Drug Tested?

Hospitals drug test pharmacy technicians for several big reasons:

• Patient safety: Impaired staff handling medications can cause serious harm.
• Controlled substances compliance: Drug diversion is a major risk in healthcare.
• Workplace safety and performance: Especially on fast-paced inpatient units.
• Regulatory and accreditation expectations: Many hospitals must show they have a substance use policy and testing program.

Expect drug testing:

• Before you start (pre-employment)
• Randomly, depending on policy
• “For cause” (reasonable suspicion)
• After certain incidents or accidents

What Type Of Drug Test Do They Do For Pharmacy Techs?

Policies vary by hospital system and state, but in most cases, you’ll see:

Urine Drug Test (Lab-based)

• This is the most common method.
• Typically screens for a standard panel (e.g., amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, PCP, and cannabis), with many employers adding opioids, benzodiazepines, and other substances.
• Non-negative results are usually confirmed with more precise testing in the lab.

Additional Drug Tests

• Hair testing
• Oral fluid (saliva) tests
• Blood tests

What Is The Procedure For A Drug Screening Test?

Exact steps vary, but a typical hospital pre-employment drug test looks like this:

1. Conditional job offer
The hospital offers you the job contingent on passing the background check and drug screen.

2. Consent and scheduling
You sign a drug testing consent form.
HR or occupational health gives you a time window (e.g., 24–72 hours) to report to a collection site or on-site clinic.

3. Check-in at the collection site
Bring a valid photo ID.
You’ll review and sign paperwork verifying your identity and consent.

4. Sample collection
For a urine test, you’ll usually:
Leave personal items in a secure area
Provide a sample in a private restroom
Have the sample checked for temperature and tampering

For hair or saliva, the collector will gather a small hair sample or swab your mouth.

5. Chain of custody and lab testing
The specimen is labeled, sealed, and sent to a certified lab with a documented chain of custody.

6. Medical Review Officer (MRO) review
If the lab detects a substance, a physician (MRO) may contact you to ask about prescriptions or legitimate medical explanations before reporting a final result to the employer.

7. Results for the employer
The hospital typically only sees a “clear/negative” vs “non-negative” / failed status, not your full medical history.

What If You’re In Recovery Or On A Prescribed Controlled Medication?

Many people in healthcare are in recovery or take legitimate prescriptions (like ADHD meds, anti-anxiety meds, or medication for opioid use disorder). A positive screen may be medically cleared if you have a valid prescription and use it as directed.

Still, an MRO may ask for:

• Your prescriber’s name
• Pharmacy information
• Proof of the prescription