If you need help studying for the PTCB exam or just want some more information about what the exam is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free PTCB practice test!
What’s on the Exam?
How to Register
Exam Scores
Retaking the Exam
Online PTCB Prep Course
FAQs
Exam Eligibility
Before you can register to take the PTCB exam, you’ll need to either complete a PTCB-recognized training program or have at least 500 hours of pharmacy tech work experience.
What’s on the Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the exam. There are 90 multiple-choice questions total, but only 80 of the questions will count toward your score. Why is that?
The 10 unscored questions are added to the exam to determine if they’re good enough questions to add to future versions of the test.
The trick is that you won’t have any way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones are pretest. They will appear just like the scored questions throughout the test.
The time limit for the exam is 110 minutes (1 hour and 50 minutes). There aren’t any scheduled breaks, but you’re free to take restroom breaks as needed.
Let’s take a closer look at the different sections of the exam.
1. MEDICATIONS
40% of the exam
- Medication names and classifications
- Drug interactions and contraindications
- Drug stability
- Therapeutic equivalence
- Medication side effects and allergies
- Medication storage
- Narrow therapeutic index (NTI) medications
- Dietary supplement indications
- Incompatibilities related to non-sterile compounding and reconstitution
2. FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS
12.5% of the exam
- Federal requirements for controlled substances
- FDA recall requirements
- Federal requirements for handling and disposing of hazardous, non-hazardous, and pharmaceutical substances and waste
- Federal requirements for controlled substance prescriptions
3. PATIENT SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
26.25% of the exam
- Error prevention strategies
- Prescription errors
- Issues needing pharmacist intervention
- High-alert medications that look and/or sound alike
- Event reporting
- Cleaning and hygiene standards
4. ORDER ENTRY AND PROCESSING
21.25% of the exam
- Returning expired, dispensable, and non-dispensable medications and supplies
- Formulas and calculations
- Alligations
- Conversions
- Medical terms and abbreviations
- Supplies needed for drug administration
- Lot numbers, NDC numbers, and expiration dates
How to Register
Once you’ve ensured that you meet one of the two eligibility requirements, you can register for the exam!
To get started, you’ll need to submit an application on PTCB’s website. The application will ask you for your contact information and any documentation to prove your eligibility (among other things).
When you submit the application, you’ll also need to submit the testing fee, which is $129.
PTCB Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Exam Scores
The test is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
You will need a score of 1400 to pass the test.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone who takes the test is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can retake the test as many times as you need, and there’s no waiting period between your second and third attempts.
Keep in mind that you will have to pay the full testing fee every time you retake the test.
Online PTCB Prep Course
If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online PTCB prep course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The PTCB course includes:
- Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
- 1,050+ PTCB Practice Questions
- More than 300 Digital Flashcards
- Over 20 Instructional Videos
- Money-back Guarantee
- Free Mobile Access
- and More!
The PTCB prep course is designed to help any learner get everything they need to prepare for their PTCB exam. Click below to check it out!
FAQs
What is PTCB?
PTCB stands for Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. The board offers certifications for those pursuing a career as a pharmacy technician.
Is PTCB or ExCPT harder?
Both exams are considered to be similar in difficulty, but the PTCB exam has a slightly higher pass rate at 69% (ExCPT’s pass rate is 63%).
How many questions are on the PTCB exam?
The exam contains 90 questions.
What is the time limit for the PTCB exam?
The exam is timed at 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Can you take the PTCB exam at home?
Yes! There is a remote testing option available if that works best for you.
What is the passing score for the PTCB exam?
You’ll need to get a final score of at least 1400 to pass.
How much is the PTCB exam?
The testing fee is $129.
