Are you planning to take the PTCB exam? Are you preparing for the PTCB federal requirements section but are confused about how to prepare for the exam? Wondering what the PTCB federal requirements are all about?
This article is all about the PTCB exam, the benefits of the PTCB certification, the skills required, and the PTCB federal requirements.
The PTCB Exam
The PTCB Exam is also referred to as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). You must take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) to procure PTCB certification in the US.
Let’s discuss the PTCB Exam. Here are some of the essential details regarding the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE):
- The PTCE is a multiple-choice questions (MCQs) format.
- The exam consists of 90 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), out of which only 80 questions are scored.
- The candidates are given one hour and 50 minutes to complete 90 questions. Each question is allotted a minute and 22 seconds to complete.
- The PTCE consists of 4 major parts which include:
- Medications.
- Federal Requirements.
- Patient Safety and Quality Assurance.
- Order Entry and Processing.
The Skills Required to Become a Pharmacy Technician
As a pharmacy technician, you need to have the right skills to be able to advance in your career. The right skills and abilities can help you stand out among your colleagues. Some of the skills required to become a pharmacy technician are as follows:
- Excellent listening and communication skills.
- Good customer service skills.
- Good ethics and organizational skills.
- Excellent math skills.
- Good detail-oriented and computer skills.
The PTCB Federal Requirements
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) consists of 4 major categories, as mentioned above. In the PTCE, the PTCB Federal Requirements section has the least amount of weight. The PTCB Federal Requirements section makes up approximately 12.5% of the PTCE questions.
As the PTCE has only about 12.5% of the questions from the PTCB Federal Requirements section, you will have fewer topics to cover at the time of preparation. In the PTCE, Federal Requirements is one of the domains that requires core knowledge.
The questions on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) in the PTCB Federal Requirements section are based on handling pharmaceutical, controlled, hazardous and non-hazardous substances, maintenance of inventory, scheduling transfer and drug refills, and documentation of controlled drugs.
There are about 5 sub-domains for the PTCB Federal Requirements exam that you must cover at the time of preparation for the PTCE. They include:
| S.NO | FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS |
| 1 | Disposal and handling of hazardous, non-hazardous, and pharmaceutical substances and waste. |
| 2 | Schedule for DEA controlled substance and controlled substance prescriptions. |
| 3 | FDA and DEA for controlled substances – ordering, receiving, labeling, storing, and dispensing, as well as reverse distribution, take-back programs, and loss or theft-related details. |
| 4 | Restricted drug programs and related medical processing for pseudoephedrine, Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS). |
| 5 | FDA recall requirements for supplies, medications, supplements, devices, and classifications. |
The Benefits of PTCB Certification
After taking and successfully completing the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), the next step is to receive the PTCB Certification. It is essential to know the benefits of procuring the PTCB certification.
Here are some of the benefits of procuring the PTCB certification.
- Pharmacy technicians with PTCB certification have higher salaries compared to technicians without certifications.
- Professionals with certifications offer better patient safety and services at the pharmacy.
- They are also given more responsibilities at the pharmacy.
- PTCB certification offers you opportunities to advance in your career.
- The certification also helps you stand out among your colleagues.
- Professionals with certification have the opportunity to legally practice in their respective states.
- PTCB certification is a symbol of achievement for the knowledge you have gained in the field.
Wrapping Up
As a pharmacy technician, it is important to cover all the topics when preparing for the exam. The PTCE consists of around 12.5% of the questions from the PTCB Federal Requirements section. Though this section may have fewer questions on the exam, it is the domain that requires the most core knowledge.
If you are interested in taking the PTCB exam, you can try our free practice test to help you efficiently prepare. You can also check our PTCB guide to learn more about the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam and certification.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the PTCB exam format multiple choice?
Yes. The PTCB exam format is multiple-choice questions (MCQs). You will be given a duration of one hour and 50 minutes to answer 90 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), out of which 80 questions will be scored.
What should I study for the pharmacy technician exam?
There are 4 major categories in the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam. They are:
- Medications.
- Federal Requirements.
- Patient Safety and Quality Assurance.
- Order Entry and Processing.
You must prepare for the PTCE based on these domains.
Can you use a calculator on the PTCB exam?
Yes. you can use calculators during the PTCB exam. However, you are not allowed to bring a calculator. The calculator will be provided at the exam center.
Do you have to be good in math to be a pharmacy technician?
Yes. PTCB math plays a vital role in the PTCB exam. It is essential to be good at math to become a well-qualified and skilled pharmacy technician in the US. Check our article to learn more about the PTCB math exam.
How many times can you take the PTCB exam?
You can take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) 4 times a year. If you fail in the first attempt, you must wait for 60 days to apply for the second or third attempts. If you fail the third attempt, you must wait 6 months to apply for the fourth attempt.
