PTCE at a glance (and what changes in 2026)
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) is a 90-question (80 scored, 10 unscored) computer-based exam you’ll take at a Pearson VUE center or online; you’ll have 110 minutes and need a scaled score of 1,400 (1,000–1,600 scale) to pass. Starting January 2026, PTCB implements blueprint updates (no change to length or the four domains) that rebalance domain weights, add DSCSA content, and remove certain compounding/NTI details.
Jump to: Exam format & scoring • 2026 changes • PTCE vs ExCPT • Eligibility • Test‑day rules • Retakes • What to study • Math • 8‑week plan • Practice resources • Career & CE
PTCE exam format, timing, scoring, and fees
Format & time: 90 multiple-choice questions (80 scored, 10 unscored) in 110 minutes.
Scoring: Scaled 1,000–1,600; passing 1,400. Official scores typically post about 1–3 weeks after test day.
Domains (current 2020–2025 weighting): Medications 40%, Federal Requirements 12.5%, Patient Safety & Quality Assurance 26.25%, Order Entry & Processing 21.25%.
Fee: The PTCE application/exam fee is $129.
Tip: Use official practice tools (Pre‑PTCE, Practice Bank) to replicate timing and domain mix. Package these tools with the Pharmacy Tech Scholar℠ course, and you will get an exclusive discount!
What’s new in January 2026? Side-by-side blueprint changes
PTCB’s 2024 job analysis led to a refreshed PTCE Content Outline effective January 2026. The exam still has 90 items and four domains, but content shifts matter for how you study.
| Area | 2020–2025 | 2026 Update (announced) | What it means for you |
| Domains & length | 4 domains; 90 items | Unchanged | You’ll prep across the same high-level areas. |
| Nonsterile compounding (e.g., alligation) | Present in Medications/Order Entry | Removed (nonsterile compounding; alligations removed) | Expect fewer compounding‑specific tasks; calculations still appear elsewhere. |
| Narrow Therapeutic Index (NTI) list | Explicit NTI knowledge area | Removed as a standalone list | Focus on safety & interactions broadly vs. memorizing a list. |
| DSCSA | Not explicit | Added DSCSA knowledge | Know track‑and‑trace basics (what/why; dispenser responsibilities). |
| Domain weights | Medications heavy; Patient Safety substantial | Rebalanced: relative increase in Federal Requirements and Order Entry & Processing | Shift a bit more study time to law/operations. |
Action: If you sit before Jan 2026, study the current outline; for Jan 2026 or later, emphasize DSCSA and the increased law/order‑processing weightings.
PTCE vs ExCPT: which certification should you take?
Both PTCE (PTCB) and ExCPT (NHA) lead to the CPhT credential; both report nationwide acceptance, but always verify your state board’s rules.
| Feature | PTCE (PTCB) | ExCPT (NHA) |
| Test length & time | 90 items; 110 minutes | 120 items (100 scored + 20 pretest); 2h 10m |
| Scoring & passing | Scaled 1,000–1,600; pass 1,400 | Scaled 200–500; pass 390 |
| Acceptance | Accepted by regulators/employers in all 50 states + DC/territories | NHA states ExCPT is accepted in all 50 states |
| Blueprint updates | New outline Jan 2026 (DSCSA added; compounding removed) | Current test plan (2023 job analysis) |
| Scheduling vendor | Pearson VUE | PSI (via NHA portal) |
Bottom line: While both exams result in nationally recognized credentials, the PTCB credential is better recognized within the pharmacy industry and offers a path to additional credentials.
Eligibility, registration, and scheduling (HowTo)
- Create a PTCB account and confirm you meet eligibility for the CPhT exam (recognized education/training or work experience per PTCB policy). Then apply and pay the fee.
- Await authorization to test; then schedule with Pearson VUE (test center or online proctoring).
- Pick a date/time, review the Candidate Guidebook sections on appointments, rescheduling, and ID requirements.
Pro move: Choose a morning slot and block 2.5 hours, including check-in and post-exam survey.
Test‑day rules: ID, calculators, breaks, and online proctoring
ID & rules: Follow PTCB Guidebook and Pearson VUE Candidate Rules (no personal items; lockers; permitted comfort aids).
Calculators: An on-screen calculator is built into the PTCE; personal calculators are not allowed. A hand‑held may be issued if available at the center upon request.
Online (OnVUE): Ensure a compatible device, solid bandwidth, and a private testing space; if an online exam is revoked, future PTCB exams must be at a test center.
| Item | Allowed? | Notes |
| ID | Required | Check the exact Guidebook ID standards ahead of time. |
| Calculator | Provided (on‑screen) | Hand‑held only if the center can supply one. |
| Personal notes/devices | No | See Pearson rules; breaks are escorted. |
Retake policy: how many attempts and cooling-off windows?
You can test up to four times: no waiting period before attempts 2–3; six-month wait before a 4th attempt; after four attempts, you must provide evidence of acceptable preparation before approval to retest again. Fees apply to each attempt.
What to study: the four PTCE domains
Medications (current 40%) — brand/generic, therapeutic equivalence, interactions, dosing, storage; emphasize high‑alert/LASA meds and adverse effects.
Federal Requirements (12.5%) — controlled substances, DEA schedules, REMS, recalls, disposal; for 2026, add DSCSA traceability basics (TI/TS, suspect product, authorized trading partners).
Patient Safety & QA (26.25%) — error‑prevention (Tall Man, leading/trailing zeros), DUR flags, event reporting.
Order Entry & Processing (21.25%) — SIGs, days’ supply, NDCs, inventory, returns, calculations (proportions, dilutions). (Compounding/alligation elements are removed from this domain beginning in 2026.)
Exam‑day leverage: Many missed questions are basics: SIG decoding, days’ supply, interactions, and look-alike/sound-alike swaps.
Pharmacy math you must master (with quick formulas)
Expect ratio‑proportion, dimensional analysis, percent strength, mg/mL conversions, dose by weight (mg/kg), and IV rate calculations. (Alligation is emphasized pre-2026; far less so post-2026.)
Quick formulas
- Dose: ordered ÷ stock concentration × volume per unit
- Days’ supply: (quantity dispensed ÷ daily use)
- % strength: g solute / 100 mL × 100
- IV drip (mL/hr): total volume ÷ hours
- Dilution (C₁V₁ = C₂V₂): solve for the missing term
Practice under time: aim for <60–75 sec per math item to protect time for law/safety.
An 8-week PTCE study plan
Use this lightweight schedule and adjust it based on baseline knowledge.
| Week | Focus | Targets |
| 1 | Orientation + Medications I | Top 200 by class; indications; suffixes; 150 practice Qs |
| 2 | Medications II | Interactions, adverse effects, storage; 150 Qs |
| 3 | Patient Safety & QA | Error types, Tall Man, DUR interventions; 150 Qs |
| 4 | Federal Requirements | DEA schedules, REMS, recalls; add DSCSA primer (trace/verify). |
| 5 | Order Entry & Processing | SIGs, days’ supply, NDC, inventory; 150 Qs |
| 6 | Math Intensive | Proportion, % strength, mg/mL, IV rates; mixed drills (20–30/day) |
| 7 | Mixed Practice + Timing | Two full-length mock exams; review weak domains; formula sheet |
| 8 | Final Review & Logistics | Guidebook rules, ID, calculator policy; light drills; sleep/arrival plan. |
Pair each week with domain-specific practice (official Practice Bank or high-quality question sets).
Official and free practice resources
- PTCB Practice Tools: Pre‑PTCE and Practice Bank (300+ Qs; 400 flashcards).
- PTCB Guidebook: Appointments, rules, scoring, CE policy, references.
- Pearson VUE: Candidate Rules; OnVUE technical requirements.
- Unofficial Pharmacy Tech Scholar℠ Practice PTCE: Completely free!
Career outlook, salary, and advancement
Pharmacy technician 2024 median pay: $43,460; projected 6% job growth (2024–2034), with ~49,000 openings annually.
Grow after CPhT: hospital roles, inventory coordinator, buyer, sterile compounding (CSPT), immunization, billing & reimbursement, tech product verification, and eventually CPhT‑Adv via stacked certificates.
Continuing education (CE) and recertification
PTCB recertification every 2 years with 20 CE hours; for recertification, at least 1 hr law and 1 hr patient safety (different law requirements for reinstatement).
Use the PTCB CE Directory (ACPE‑accredited) and ensure CE posts to your NABP CPE Monitor before you submit renewal.
Sources
- PTCB – PTCE Content Outline & Guidebook: https://ptcb.org/guidebook
- PTCB – Certified Pharmacy Technician (scoring/fees): https://ptcb.org/credentials/certification/certified-pharmacy-technician/
- PTCB – PTCE Job Analysis & 2026 Updates: https://ptcb.org/news/ptce-job-analysis-study/
- Pearson VUE – Candidate Rules Agreement: https://www.pearsonvue.com/ptcb
- PTCB – Calculators Policy: https://ptcb.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/37195814889229-Calculators
- FDA – Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA): https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-supply-chain-integrity/drug-supply-chain-security-act-dscsa
- BLS – Pharmacy Technicians OOH: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm
FAQ
How many questions are on the PTCE and how long is it?
90 questions (80 scored + 10 unscored) in 110 minutes. Practice to maintain ~75 seconds per question.
What score do I need to pass the PTCE?
A scaled score of 1,400 on a 1,000–1,600 scale. Preliminary results appear on screen; official results usually post within 1–3 weeks.
What changes on the PTCE in January 2026?
No change to length or four domains; DSCSA content is added, nonsterile compounding/alligation and the explicit NTI list are removed, and domain weights shift toward Federal Requirements and Order Entry.
Can I use a calculator on the PTCE?
Yes: an on-screen calculator is built in. You can’t bring your own; a center-provided hand‑held may be available on request.
How often can I retake the PTCE?
Up to four attempts: no waiting before attempts 2–3; six-month wait before the 4th; further attempts require proof of preparation. Fees apply each time.
Is ExCPT accepted everywhere?
NHA states ExCPT is accepted in all 50 states, and PTCB states PTCE is accepted nationwide. Always verify with your state board.
Do I need CE after I’m certified?
Yes. For PTCB CPhT, renew every 2 years with 20 CE hours, including 1 hr law and 1 hr patient safety (different for reinstatement).
