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You apply to PTCB for CPhT certification, satisfying one of the two eligibility routes. Once approved you schedule a Pearson VUE appointment. The USD 129 fee covers both.
Two steps, and doing them out of order is not possible - which is helpful, because it means the sequence is hard to get wrong. The sequence is fixed.
Step one: apply to PTCB
The application is for CPhT certification, not for the exam alone. You state which eligibility route you are using and provide the evidence for it. It must match exactly.
- Route one: completion of a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program, or completion within 60 days of applying
- Route two: at least 500 hours of equivalent work experience, complete at the time of application, with a supervisor attestation
The fee is USD 129 and it covers the Pearson VUE seat as well as the application.
Step two: schedule with Pearson VUE
Once PTCB approves the application you book an appointment at one of more than 1,400 Pearson VUE test centers.
There are no fixed sitting dates. You take whatever open appointment suits you.
Candidates approved and eager often book the earliest available slot and then discover they needed six more weeks. Nothing forces an early date. Book when a full-length timed paper says you are ready, not when the approval email arrives.
What to have ready
- Evidence for your eligibility route, in the form PTCB asks for
- For route two, a supervisor willing to complete the attestation - ask early, because this is the step that waits on someone else
- Payment for the USD 129 fee
- Identification matching the name on your application
The name has to match
The name on your application must match your identification exactly. A mismatch is discovered at the test center, which is the worst possible moment.
Verify the current process
PTCB owns this process and can change it. Read the current instructions on the PTCB site rather than relying on any third-party summary, including this one. Ask early.
Common questions
How do I apply for the PTCB exam?
Apply to PTCB for CPhT certification with evidence for your eligibility route, then schedule a Pearson VUE appointment once approved.
What does the fee cover?
USD 129 covers both the application and the Pearson VUE seat.
Are there fixed exam dates?
No. You book any open Pearson VUE appointment.
What holds applications up?
Usually the supervisor attestation on route two. Ask early.
Does my name need to match my ID?
Yes, exactly. A mismatch is found at the test center.