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How to prepare for your PTCB exam

As you’ll know when you’ve taken the free PTCB practice exam, the PTCE isn’t easy! Even if you’ve completed a Pharmacy Technician program or logged hundreds of hours of work experience, you should not expect to just show up on the day and be able to pass.

Many people go into the exam totally unprepared…which is why nationwide only 58% of people pass!

We know – that sounds scary. But don’t worry: the exam isn’t impossibly difficult. The problem is that most students aren’t told how to prepare properly, and they’re given giant textbooks that are impossible to memorize.

We were sick of seeing people waste hundreds of dollars on making multiple attempts to pass their PTCB exam, and being unable to start their career as a pharmacy technician.

Taking online quizzes is a good start, but it’s an inefficient form of exam practice.

That’s why we put togetther PTCB Hero, which tells you exactly what you need to know and gives you all the tools we need to prepare. It’s so good, our students’ pass rate is 98% – and if you don’t pass first time, we’ll give you a full refund!

We’ll tell you more about PTCB Hero after you’ve taken the practice test. Taking free PTCB practice tests is a great place to start, because the practice questions you get right and wrong will you an idea of which knowledge domains you need to focus on.

Common questions about the pharmacy tech exam

What is the format of the PTCB exam?

The PTCB exam is called the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). It is a computer-based exam with 90 multiple-choice questions – 80 of which are scored, and 10 of which are unscored. Unscored questions are placed randomly throughout the exam, and you won’t know which ones they are. Each multiple-choice question will have four possible answers; you must select which you think is the correct answer for each question.

Which topics are covered on the PTCE?

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board implemented its most recent update to the exam in 2020, with questions categorized across four knowledge domains. Questions are randomly distributed throughout the exam – i.e. they are not presented in the order of the knowledge domains below.

The four knowledge domains are: 

• Medications (40% of the exam’s content)
• Federal Requirements (12.5%)
• Patient Safety and Quality Assurance (26.25%)
• Order Entry and Processing (21.25%)

Important: if you see any study guides or practice tests that mention different numbers or knowledge domains, they are outdated and should not be used.

How long is the PTCB exam? 

You’ll have one hour and 50 minutes to answer the questions, although the entire exam is two hours long. This is because you’ll be given five minutes at the start to read the tutorial (which contains important instructions on how to navigate the exam questions), and there will be five minutes at the end for a post-exam survey.

How is the PTCB exam scored?

Not everyone who takes the PTCB exam in the same year will receive the same exact set of questions. The exam is designed to test the same content, but the number of “difficult” questions can fluctuate. As a result, the PTCE is scored using a “scaled scoring system,” which takes the exam variability into account. Scaled scores are comparable across candidates despite differences in exam difficulty, which allows all candidates to be held to the same scoring standard.

A passing score on the PTCE is 1,400 or higher. The possible score range is 1,000 to 1,600.

What happens if I fail my pharmacy tech exam?

Don’t worry: you can apply to retake the exam 60 days after your first attempt. If you don’t pass your second attempt, you must wait a further 60 days to apply for your third attempt. After your third attempt, you must wait six months for your fourth attempt. You’re not limited to a finite number of exam attempts, but you will have to pay each time you re-apply. 

(After four attempts, you’ll need to provide the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board with evidence that you’ve completed “acceptable preparation activities,” which the organization will review and approve before you can apply for additional attempts. Don’t worry, though: you’ll pass before you reach this stage!)

What is Pearson Vue?

Pearson Vue is the company that administers the PTCE. They run the test centers that you’ll attend to take your exam, and you’ll need to book your exam through them too.

How long should I take to study for the PTCB exam?

We’ve heard of people passing with as little as a week of study, but a more realistic amount of time to allow is 1-2 months. Allowing longer to prepare will make the experience less stressful, and you’re also more likely to retain the knowledge and be a better pharmacy technician as a result!

After taking this free PTCB practice test, you’ll have a better idea of your strengths and weaknesses to guide your study sessions.

Of course, students who use PTCB Hero make more productive use of their study time because our study guide ensures you cover just the material that’s likely to come up on the exam in the most efficient way.