United States
Hong KongWhat the PTCB exam is
The PTCE is the examination for the Certified Pharmacy Technician credential, awarded by PTCB. It is 90 multiple-choice questions in 110 minutes at a Pearson VUE center, with a pass at a scaled score of 1,400.
One exam, one credential, and a set of rules that are more specific than most summaries suggest.
The basics
- Questions
- 90 administered, 80 scored
- Time
- 110 minutes
- Pass standard
- A scaled score of 1,400 on 1,000 to 1,600
- Fee
- USD 129
- Delivery
- Pearson VUE test center
- Credential
- CPhT, held for two years
What it examines
Four domains under the outline effective 6 January 2026: Medications at 35 percent, Patient Safety and Quality Assurance at 23.75, Order Entry and Processing at 22.5, and Federal Requirements at 18.75.
Against the 80 scored questions those weights give 28, 19, 18 and 15 respectively, dividing exactly.
Who it is for
Pharmacy technicians seeking the CPhT credential. Many employers require it and many state boards recognize or require it, though the requirement itself comes from the state or employer rather than from PTCB.
PTCB awards a national certification. Your state board of pharmacy decides whether you may work as a technician and what you may do. Certification often satisfies part of a state requirement, and it is not a substitute for whatever registration your state operates.
Getting in
Two eligibility routes: completion of a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program, or a minimum of 500 hours of equivalent work experience with a supervisor attestation.
The ten unscored questions
Ninety questions are administered but only 80 count. The other 10 are unscored pilot items being trialled for future forms, and they are indistinguishable from the rest.
What is not published
A percentage pass mark and a pass rate. PTCB publishes neither, and figures quoted for them elsewhere have been estimated.
The published standard is the scaled score. That is the whole of it.
Common questions
What is the PTCB exam?
The PTCE, the examination for the Certified Pharmacy Technician credential awarded by PTCB.
How many questions and how long?
90 questions in 110 minutes, of which 80 are scored.
What is the pass mark?
A scaled score of 1,400 on a 1,000 to 1,600 scale. There is no published percentage.
What does it cost?
USD 129, which covers the Pearson VUE seat.
Is certification the same as a state license?
No. PTCB certifies nationally; your state board decides whether and how you may work.