Are you planning on taking the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE)? Are you confused about what is on the Pharmacy Technician Certified Board exam (PTCB)? Wondering what to expect on the PTCB Medications exam?
In this article, you will learn more about the PTCB exam. This article has all the required information you need to learn more about the PTCE and the PTCB Medications exam.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) Required?
Most of the states in the U.S. require pharmacy technicians to hold a Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification. To earn a PTCB certification, you are required to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).
The requirement for a pharmacy technician may vary depending on the state. But generally, an individual is required to pass the PTCE and attain a PTCB certification to be able to practice as a pharmacy technician in their respective state.
Even if it is not mandatory for a pharmacy technician to be certified in certain states, earning a PTCB certification adds more value to your career as a pharmacy technician. Employers prefer hiring pharmacy technicians who hold a PTCB certification.
A PTCB survey shows that the public prefers going to a pharmacy with certified pharmacy technicians. This shows that certifications help pharmacy technicians to gain the trust of the public.
What Is the PTCE All About?
PTCE stands for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam and is also known as the PTCB exam. The PTCE is the first step to becoming a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam consists of 4 major parts, namely:
- Medications.
- Federal Requirements.
- Patient Safety and Quality Assurance.
- Order Entry and Processing.
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam consists of 90 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), out of which only 80 multiple-choice questions will be scored. Candidates have 1 hour and 50 minutes to complete the examination.
Topics Covered in the PTCB Exam
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) tests candidates in 4 major categories, which are referred to as “knowledge domains” by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Each knowledge domain has sub domains that are more specific.
Let’s discuss some of the common topics covered on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). The following are topics from which candidates can expect questions:
- Pharmacy law and regulations.
- Pharmacy quality assurance.
- Pharmacology for pharmacy technicians.
- Non-sterile and sterile compounding.
- Medication safety.
- Pharmacy information systems, application, and usage.
- Pharmacy billing and reimbursements.
- Pharmacy inventory management.
- Medication filling processes and order entries.
PTCB Medications
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) consists of 4 major categories as mentioned above. Out of the 4 categories, the one with the highest weight is the PTCB Medications section. In the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), the PTCB Medications section makes up roughly 40% of the exam questions.
As the PTCB Medications section has the highest weight, you need to be well prepared to answer the questions from this section. Starting your exam preparation with the PTCB Medications section will give you the time to concentrate more on this section.
The questions on the PTCB Medications section are mostly from the Pharmacology portions of the old test. Apart from Pharmacology, the questions also include a few concepts from the Inventory Management and Non-Sterile and Sterile Compounding portions of the old test. There is a new concept that has been added recently that was not listed in the content of the old test outline. The new concept that was recently added is Narrow Therapeutic Index (NTI) Medications.
There are about 10 sub-domains for PTCB Medications that you must concentrate on. They include:
| S.NO | MEDICATIONS |
| 1 | Classification of medications, brand names, and generic names. |
| 2 | Dietary supplements and indication of medications. |
| 3 | Narrow Therapeutic Index (NTI) Medications. |
| 4 | Drug stability. |
| 5 | Therapeutic equivalence. |
| 6 | Proper storage of medications. |
| 7 | Common and severe medication side effects, adverse effects, and allergies. |
| 8 | Dosage forms, routes of administration, strengths/dose, special handling and administration instructions, and duration of drug therapy. |
| 9 | Common and life-threatening drug interactions and contradictions. |
| 10 | Chemical and physical incompatibilities related to non-sterile compounding and reconstitution. |
Wrapping Up
The PTCB Medications section has a high weight in the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) with 40% of the questions. Starting your preparation with the section that has major allotment helps you concentrate more on that section and score well.
If you are passionate about becoming a pharmacy technician, you can try our free practice test to take your preparation process to the next level.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which certification exam would a pharmacy technician take?
A pharmacy technician takes the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) to attain their certification.
Is the pharmacy technician certification exam hard?
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) can be hard but preparing well is the key to succeeding in the exam. You can do a study plan and start preparing for the exam. Starting your preparation early can give you the opportunity to prepare and perform well on the exam.
How can I practice for the PTCB exam?
You can start preparing for the PTCB exam by making a study plan and using practice tests to take your preparation process to the next level. You can check out our free practice test to help you prepare for the exam more efficiently.
How many questions are on the pharmacy tech exam?
The Pharmacy Technician Certified Exam (PTCE) consists of 90 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), out of which only 80 multiple-choice questions are scored.
How many times can you retake the PTCB exam?
If you fail the PTCB exam, you must wait for a period of 60 days from your most recent attempt before you apply for the second or third attempts, and 6 months for further attempts.
