He is in IL, IL does not have any intern licensing, pharmacy students must hold a pharmacy technician license in order to work in a pharmacy, state law allows them to work as technicians without being a CPHT for 2 years, at which point they must take the CPHT or have a letter from their pharmacy school attesting that they are a student. The OP has never taken the CPHT because he has been in the free 2 year period, his 2 years are up before he starts pharmacy school, so unless he gets a letter from his pharmacy school, he will have to take the CPHT.