Use our PTCB practice test to study for your upcoming Pharmacy Technician exam.
The PTCB exam is used to ensure candidates have the proper knowledge to become a pharmacy technician. The exam is challenging and includes 90 total questions – 80 scored questions and 10 unscored questions.
Our PTCB sample exams include actual questions and answers to help you prepare. Our exams require no registration and include instant scoring and complete answer explanations.
Summary: Use our free PTCB practice test to test your knowledge.
Our sample PTCB questions are an excellent way to study for your upcoming Pharmacy Technician exam. Our sample tests require no registration (or payment). The questions are categorized based on the PTCB test outline and are immediately scored at the end of the quiz.
Once you are finished with the test, you will be presented with a score report which includes a complete rationale for every question you got wrong.
PTCB Practice Test Benefits
There are many benefits of preparing for your Pharmacy Technician exam with practice tests. Studying for your PTCB exam using sample questions is one of the most effective study practices you can use.
The advantages of using sample tests include:
- Understanding the Test Format – Every standardized test has its own unique format. As you take practice Pharm Tech tests you will become familiar with the format of the actual PTCB test. Once the test day arrives you will have no surprises.
- Concentrating Your Studies– As you take more and more sample tests you begin to get a feel for the topics that you know well and the areas that you are weak on. Many students waste a lot of valuable study time by reviewing material that they are already good with. The most effective way to study is to concentrate on the areas that you need help on.
- Know the Tricks – All standardized tests have certain “tricks” that they use to get you to select the wrong answer. By taking practice tests, you will learn to spot these trick questions.
PTCB Exam Overview
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), in conjunction with PearsonVue, developed the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) to assess whether individuals have the knowledge necessary to work as pharmacy technicians.
Passing the PTCB exam allows pharmacy techs to use the CPhT (Certified Pharmacy Technician) designation. In order to continue using the CPhT designation, pharmacy tech’s must successfully complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years.
The PTCB exam (also known as the PTCE) is a multiple choice exam that has 90 multiple-choice questions (80 scored questions and 10 unscored questions). The exam is taken on a computer.
Candidates are given 1 hour and 50 minutes to answer the exam questions. You can learn more information about the exam by visiting the official site.
An in-depth breakdown of the exam can be found in the table below:
| Medications | 40% |
| Generic names, brand names, and classifications of medications | |
| Therapeutic equivalence | |
| Common and life-threatening drug interactions and contraindications | |
| Strengths/dose, dosage forms, routes of administration, special handling and administration instructions, and duration of drug therapy | |
| Common and severe medication side effects, adverse effects, and allergies | |
| Indications of medications and dietary supplements | |
| Drug stability | |
| Narrow therapeutic index (NTI) medications | |
| Physical and chemical incompatibilities related to non-sterile compounding and reconstitution | |
| Proper storage of medications | |
| Federal Requirements | 12.5% |
| Federal requirements for handling and disposal of non-hazardous, hazardous, and pharmaceutical substances and waste | |
| Federal requirements for controlled substance prescriptions | |
| Federal requirements (e.g., DEA, FDA) for controlled substances | |
| Federal requirements for restricted drug programs and related medication processing | |
| FDA recall requirements | |
| Patient Safety and Quality Assurance | 26.25% |
| High-alert/risk medications and look-alike/sound-alike [LASA] medications | |
| Error prevention strategies | |
| Issues that require pharmacist intervention | |
| Event reporting procedures | |
| Types of prescription errors | |
| Hygiene and cleaning standards | |
| Order Entry and Processing | 21.25% |
| Procedures to compound non-sterile products | |
| Formulas, calculations, ratios, proportions, alligations, conversions, Sig codes | |
| Equipment/supplies required for drug administration | |
| Lot numbers, expiration dates, and National Drug Code (NDC) numbers | |
| Procedures for identifying and returning dispensable, non-dispensable, and expired medications and supplies |
For more information, review the official content outline.
Registering for the Exam
Pearson VUE is responsible for administering the Pharmacy Technician exam. To schedule an exam appointment, candidates can go to the official site or call 1-866-902-0593.
Pearson VUE operates over 250 test centers nationwide. Additionally, Pearson VUE allows military personnel and qualifying dependents to take the exam at approved military sites.
The current fee for the PTCB exam is $129. Candidates may change their exam appointment up to one business day before their appointment. Exam fees will be forfeited if a candidate does not show up for their exam appointment.
PTCB Certification Eligibility Requirements
A candidate must meet all of the following requirements in order to be eligible for the PTCB certification:
- Live in the United State or a territory of the United States
- Full compliance with all appropriate PTCB certification policies.
- Complete disclosure of: State Board of Pharmacy registration/licensure actions and any criminal convictions.
- Completion of a PTCB-Recognized education program or equivalent work experience.
- Successful completion (passing) of the PTCE exam.
PTCB Exam Scoring
The PTCB exam uses scaled scores to help keep the scoring similar from year to year. A candidate’s raw score (the number of questions a candidate answered correctly) is transformed to a scaled score.
Scaled scores on the PTCB exam range from 1,000 to 1,600. The passing score for the exam is 1,400.
Official score reports will be available online approximately one to three weeks after the exam date. Candidates are also given the option of having their score reports emailed to them.
Candidates who pass the exam will receive a certificate and wallet card approximately four to six weeks after the exam.
Candidates who fail the exam are allowed to retake the exam after 60 days (for second and third attempts).
If a candidate fails the exam three times, they must wait six months to take their fourth attempt. After four failed attempts, candidates must provide evidence of completing acceptable preparation activities in order to be allowed to take the exam again.
PTCB FAQs
How can I practice for the PTCB?
One of the best ways to practice for the PTCB test is by taking practice tests. Our free practice tests will challenge you in all subjects that are on the PTCB.
Our practice tests include answer explanations to help you learn as much material as possible.
What is on the PTCB
The PTCB asks questions on the following categories:
- Medications
- Federal Requirements
- Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
- Order Entry and Processing
It is important to note that this exam is also referred to as the PTCE.
What is the PTCB exam?
PTCB stands for Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. The exam was designed to assess whether individuals have the knowledge necessary to work as pharmacy technicians.
Please note that this exam is commonly referred to as the PTCB exam or the PTCE.
