The Pharmacy Technician Certification Test: What to Expect and How to Prepare

If you’re looking to become a Pharmacy Technician, it’s quite simple, and you generally just need to have your GED. You may find an employer who offers on-the-job training, but you should also consider getting certified.

Certified Pharmacy Technicians have a slight advantage over Pharmacy Technicians that aren’t certified; their careers have more room for growth and expansion.

Depending on which state you intend to work in, you might need to be a certified Pharmacy Technician to work in a Pharmacy. Certain employers also prefer to hire certified Pharmacy Technicians, so do some research into your desired employer’s hiring requirements.

There are two options for certification; the PTCB exam and the NHA ExCPT. They’re legally recognized as equal qualifications, but they’re completely different and administered by different boards. They both are suitable for new students and more experienced students who are interested in continuing education.

The PTCB Exam

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board has been certifying Pharmacy Technicians since 1995 and is well-recognized in the healthcare industry.

Getting a passing score on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam demonstrates to employers that the Pharmacy Tech is committed to medication safety and effective patient care, as well as well-versed in pharmacy law.

Eligibility requirements

• You have to be a resident of the United States of America or its territories.
• You have to have completed a Pharmacy Technician Certification Board-recognized training or education program. Alternatively, you also need to have equivalent work experience.
  • There is a directory of over 1400 PTCB-recognized programs to choose from.
  • To qualify as equivalent work experience, the pharmacy technician needs to have worked a minimum of 500 hours in that role. This path is best suited for experienced technicians who weren’t able to attend a PTCB-recognized program.
• Complete disclosure of all criminal and State Board of Pharmacy registration and licensure.
• Compliance with any applicable Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) policies.
• A passing score on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).

Apply and schedule

1. Create an account on the PTCB website.
2. Apply for certification by logging into your PTCB account.
3. When your application is approved, you’ll receive an email with authorization to schedule your exam.
4. Any test takers who require testing accommodations must request them during the application process.

Prepare for the exam

Even if you’ve completed a PTCB-recognised program, there’s no guarantee that everything that you need for your PTCB exam will be covered. The best practice is to access the available test resources, such as the PTCB practice test, before your exam.

Exam Outline

The PTCE outline is available online to give you a more detailed breakdown of what to expect.

Here’s a quick overview of the exam:

40% Medications

12.5% Federal Regulations

26.25% Patient Safety and Quality Assurance

21.25% Order Entry and Processing

Pearson Vue Tutorial

This tutorial isn’t specific to the PTCE but gives a preview of the testing experience.

Official PTCB Practice Tools

The PTCB offers practice tools in the form of a PTCE Practice Exam and PTCE Practice Bank. These tools give you a chance to attempt practice questions.

The PTCE Practice Bank costs $39 per candidate, while the PTCE Practice Exam costs $29.

Exam Fee

The cost to take the PTCB exam and apply for the CPht Certification is $129.

Taking The Exam

The PTCB exam is computer-based and consists of 90 multiple-choice questions. There are 80 scored questions and 10 unscored questions; the unscored questions are placed randomly and aren’t identified.

The day off

• Make sure you arrive at your designated test center 30 minutes before your appointment.
• On the day of the exam, be mentally and physically prepared to be there for 2 hours:
  • 5-minute tutorial.
  • 1 hour and 50-minute exam.
  • 5-minute post-exam survey.
• You’ll be required to present proper identification. This means an unexpired, government-issued photo ID with a name that matches the one on your PTCB account.

After the post-exam survey, your unofficial exam result will be presented on the screen. You can get a printed copy of the unofficial exam result at the test center; official score reports will be available on your PTCB account within 2 to 3 weeks.

If you pass the exam, your certificate will be available for download through your PTCb account. You can also order a hard copy certificate and a card for a fee.

The NHA CPht Exam

The NHA’s CPhT certification is a worthy alternative to the PTCB exam; both are legally recognized as legitimate certifications. The tests are different, so it’s important to determine which test is the right one for you.

What is the National Healthcareer Association?

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) is a nationally accredited health science certification provider. They provide certifications for other healthcare professionals, such as Clinical Medical Assistants and Patient Care Technicians.

Eligibility Requirements

• You have a high school diploma, GED or any other equivalency test that is recognized by your state of residence.
  • You are within 60 days of earning your high school diploma, GED or any other equivalency test recognized by your state of residence.
• You must have followed one of the following pathways:
  • You must have completed a minimum of 1200 hours of supervised, pharmacy-related work in the last 3 years.
  • You must have successfully completed an accredited or state institution-approved pharmacy technician training program within the last 5 years.
  • You must have successfully completed a pharmacy technician apprenticeship program that is registered pursuant to U.S. Department of Labor guidelines.
  • You must have successfully completed a formal pharmacy training program offered by any U.S. military branch.
  • You must have successfully completed a training program offered by an employer that has been verified to provide sufficient preparation for the role of an entry-level pharmacy technician. Or a program offered by the National Pharmacy Association that is recognized in your state’s Board of Pharmacy.

Apply and Schedule

1. Create an NHA candidate profile on the NHA website.
2. Follow the steps to register for the NHA exam.
3. Pay your exam fee within 2 hours of your application to complete registration.
4. A confirmation email will be sent to you when your registration is complete.
5. Schedule your exam with PSI from your NHA account.

Prepare for the exam

Exam Outline

There is an NHA CPhT exam outline available online to give you a more detailed breakdown of what to expect.

Here’s a quick overview of the exam:

45% Dispensing Process

15% Drugs and Drug Therapy

25% Overview and Laws

15% Medication Safety and Quality Assurance

Exam Fee

The cost of taking this exam is $117.

Taking the exam

The NHA pharmacy certification test will be a single-session exam that consists of 100 questions, including 20 pre-test questions. Electronic devices aren’t allowed in the testing center; this is one of the test center rules. A non-programmable calculator will be provided by PSI for each candidate.

The day of

• Make sure you arrive at your designated test center 30 minutes before your appointment.
• On the day of the exam, be mentally and physically prepared to be there for 2 hours and 10 minutes.
• You’ll be required to present proper identification. This means an unexpired, government-issued photo ID with a name that matches the one on your PTCB account.
• The NHA CPhT exam is scored right after the exam is over, and students receive their results immediately.

After the actual exam, test takers will receive a preliminary exam score. The NHA posts the official exam results to your NHA account within a few business days of taking the test.

FAQs

What is the difference between the PTCB exam and the NHA ExCPT?

You can take either test and still be considered a certified Pharmacy Technician. The main difference is that the PTCB certification has been around longer and is the gold standard for Pharmacy Technicians. It’s recognized as such in all the states of the U.S., while the NHA still isn’t recognized in a few states. You should check which one your state recognizes to help you make an informed decision.

What’s good textbook to prepare for the pharmacy certification test?

Pharmacy Technician: Practice and Procedures is a good textbook to prepare for the pharmacy certification test. The book covers important topics such as pharmacology, drug interactions, dosage calculations, and more. It’s also filled with practice questions to help you prepare for the test.

If you’re looking for a more comprehensive review, consider enrolling in an online pharmacy technician course. These courses cover all of the material on the certification exam and often include practice tests as well.

Final Thoughts

Depending on your career aspirations, becoming certified can be the difference between having a job and building a strong career.

Make yourself aware of what’s required to practice as a Pharmacy Technician in your state, and pick the appropriate certification examination for your needs and plan.

As an experienced Pharmacy Technician, it is also possible for you to take either one of these exams and further your career and education.

The PTCB is the more well-known pharmacy certification test and well-recognized, but the NHA ExCPT is not far behind and will also show any potential employers that you’re committed to being a Pharmacy Tech.

To find out if there if you need to pass a pharmacy technician state test, check out our state guides: