To pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) and earn the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential, candidates must meet eligibility requirements and achieve a passing scaled score of 1,400 on a scale of 1,000 to 1,600. The exam consists of 90 multiple-choice questions (80 scored, 10 unscored) administered in 110 minutes, covering four domains: Medications, Federal Requirements, Patient Safety & Quality Assurance, and Order Entry & Processing.
Eligibility requires either completion of a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program or 500 hours of pharmacy technician work experience. Candidates must reside in the U.S. or its territories and fully disclose any criminal or licensure history.
Effective preparation includes mastering high-yield topics such as the top 200 drugs, pharmacy law, medication safety, and pharmacy math . Starting January 2026, the exam will remove nonsterile compounding and Narrow Therapeutic Index (NTI) lists while adding Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) content and adjusting domain weights.
Use official resources such as the PTCB Practice Bank, Pre-PTCE, and updated study guides and complete full-length practice exams under timed conditions. Consistent review, error analysis, and familiarity with the test format significantly increase the likelihood of success.