PTCE
Offered by Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) is the exam for PTCB's Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential. It is 90 multiple-choice...
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PTCE exam at a glance
Format
90 multiple-choice questions (80 scored + 10 unscored pretest)
Duration
1 hour 50 minutes of testing (plan about 2 hours including tutorial and survey)
Delivery
Pearson VUE test centers (PTCE is not currently offered via online proctoring)
Passing score
1,400 on a 1,000–1,600 scaled scale
Exam cost
$129 USD application and exam fee
Validity
2-year CPhT recertification cycle with PTCB continuing education
Prerequisites
PTCB-recognized education/training or equivalent work experience, plus PTCB's disclosure and policy requirements
About the PTCE certification
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) is the exam for PTCB's Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential. It is 90 multiple-choice questions (80 scored + 10 unscored) with 1 hour 50 minutes of testing time, plus a short tutorial and survey.
The passing scaled score is 1,400 on a 1,000–1,600 scale. PTCB currently delivers the PTCE in person at Pearson VUE (online proctoring for PTCE has been suspended — confirm before you apply). An updated outline applies for applications on or after January 6, 2026; study the current content outline, not an old compounding-heavy list.
Who it’s for: Pharmacy technician students and technicians who completed a PTCB-recognized program or equivalent work experience.
Official exam page· Details verified September 2026
Exam details can change. Always confirm current requirements, fees, and exam policies with the certification provider before registering.
What the PTCE exam covers
- Medications
- Federal requirements
- Patient safety and quality assurance
- Order entry and processing
How to study for the PTCE
- 1Download the PTCE outline that matches your application date (the January 6, 2026 update changed some historical topics).
- 2Drill drug names, strengths, and federal controlled-substance rules daily — medications and law are the usual fail points.
- 3Practice order-entry math with the on-screen calculator only.
- 4Take 90-item timed tests targeting 1,400 scaled, not a raw percentage.
- 5Apply when you can sit inside the authorization window; the exam is in-person only.
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Build My Free PTCE Study PlanPTCE — frequently asked questions
Is PTCE the same as ExCPT?
No. PTCE is PTCB. ExCPT is NHA's pharmacy technician exam. Many employers and states accept CPhT from either path — confirm with your board of pharmacy.
Can I take the PTCB exam at home?
Not the PTCE. PTCB has suspended online-proctored PTCE delivery; you schedule at a Pearson VUE center. Other PTCB credential exams may still offer OnVUE.