The PTCB exam was first established in 1995 in order to advocate a national standard that is recognized and supported by the profession.
Pharmacy technicians are consistently in high demand and the pharmacy technician requirements are very doable for most applicants to complete. Technicians earn steady salaries with frequent opportunities for advancement and many workers use the position as a gateway career to move into other medical professions. Working with pharmacists, doctors, and patients, pharmacy technicians are essential staff members in pharmacies.
How to Become a Pharmacy Technician
Regulations and requirements vary between states, but all states require a high school diploma as the minimum education requirement. In some states, pharmacy technicians are required to be registered with a state board, pass an education program, complete job training, or hold a pharmacy technician license.
Regardless of each state’s individual policies, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is a certified national program that upholds one standard for all pharmacy technicians across the US. The PTCB was established in 1995 and the exam was written by a team of industry leaders. Most hiring pharmacies require, or highly prefer, applicants who are board certified by the PTCB.
“The PTCB was established in 1995 and the exam was written by a team of industry leaders.”
PTCB Certification Exam Details
The exam is proctored nation-wide at Pearson testing centers. It’s a multiple-choice test with 90 questions, of which 80 are scored and 10 are not. 1,400 is the minimum passing score with possible scores ranging from 1,000 to 1,600. Nine pharmacy knowledge area topics are covered on the exam, including:
Understanding PTCB Acronyms
When you begin researching the pharmacy technician requirements, you’ll see a lot of acronyms. First, let’s explain what they stand for and what they mean:
Difference between PTCB and ExCPT
What If I Don’t Pass?
According to the PTCB, only 58% of applicants passed the certification exam in 2017. The test can be taken four times with a 60-day wait period after each failed attempt. After the fourth attempt, students are required to wait six months and provide proof of preparation activities before the exam can be rescheduled.
This exam is comprehensive and specialized, so job training, education programs, practice tests, and study guides are highly recommended to prepare. We have an all inclusive test prep that gives you questions direct from the PTCB exam so you don’t walk into exam day with any surprises. Our test prep is a crash course in all things pharmacy tech and can prepare you for your exam in 2 weeks or less. We believe so strongly in our material that we offer a 100% pass or money back guarantee. No questions asked.
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You may have heard about the ExCPT and wondered how it differed from the PTCB exam. When it comes to content, the two exams are almost identical. Passing either test will earn you the designation of a nationally Certified Pharmacy Technician.
The ExCPT is administered by the ICPT and is newer than the PTCB exam. It costs $105 to take, which is slightly less expensive that the PTCB exam (which costs $129). Both exams are computer based and require candidates to physically show up to a testing center to take the exam.
The PTCB exam has been around much longer and is considered the most established of the two exams. Currently, many states are moving towards requiring national certification and will be accepting certification through either exam.