PTCE at a glance
Content outline (effective January 6, 2026)
| Domain | Share of exam |
|---|---|
| Medications | 35% |
| Federal Requirements | 18.75% |
| Patient Safety and Quality Assurance | 23.75% |
| Order Entry and Processing | 22.50% |
Format and rules
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Delivery | In person at Pearson VUE test centers |
| Appointment | 5-min tutorial, 1 hr 50 min exam, 5-min survey |
| Eligibility pathway 1 | Complete a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program (or equivalent pharmacy degree) |
| Eligibility pathway 2 | Equivalent work experience as a pharmacy technician (minimum 500 hours) |
| Recertification | Every 2 years; 20 CE hours including 1 hour pharmacy law and 1 hour patient safety |
How to register
- Pick your pathway
Finish a PTCB-Recognized program or log at least 500 hours of technician work experience.
- Apply in your PTCB account
Pay the $129 fee and wait for authorization to schedule.
- Schedule at Pearson VUE
Book a test center appointment and bring acceptable ID.
- Keep it current
Recertify every 2 years with 20 CE hours.
6-week study plan
- Weeks 1-2: Medications (35%)
Brand/generic names, classes, indications, side effects, storage. Use top drugs.
- Week 3: Federal requirements (18.75%)
Schedules, DEA forms, REMS, recalls, DSCSA. Use pharmacy law.
- Week 4: Order entry and math (22.5%)
Days supply, dilutions, conversions, NDC. Use pharmacy math.
- Weeks 5-6: Safety + timed practice
LASA drugs, error prevention, event reporting; two timed practice exams.
PTCB (PTCE) practice test
PTCB (PTCE) practice test
Unlock the full PTCB question bank
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HealthCert Prep is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). PTCB, PTCE and CPhT is a trademark of its owner. All practice questions on this site are original.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the PTCB exam?
90 multiple-choice questions: 80 scored and 10 unscored, mixed randomly.
What score do you need to pass the PTCB?
A scaled score of 1400 on a 1000-1600 scale.
How much does the PTCB exam cost?
$129 for the application and exam.
What changed on the PTCE in 2026?
A new content outline took effect January 6, 2026: Medications 35%, Federal Requirements 18.75%, Patient Safety 23.75%, Order Entry 22.5%, with new FDA recall and DSCSA topics.
How often do I renew PTCB certification?
Every 2 years, with 20 CE hours including 1 hour of law and 1 hour of patient safety.
Can I take the PTCB online?
PTCB’s current credential page lists in-person testing at Pearson VUE centers.
Sources
- PTCB - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- PTCB - PTCE Content Outline effective January 6, 2026 (accessed 2026-09-23)
- PTCB - Recertification Policy (accessed 2026-09-23)