Pharmacy technician (PTCE, ExCPT)
The PTCB exam, step by step
Independent site, not affiliated with the certifying body or the test vendor. Applications, payments and scheduling happen only on their own websites.
Who can sit the PTCE, what the exam looks like since the January 2026 outline, how it is scored, and what keeping the CPhT requires.
Time per question on the real exam
Seconds per question
67
- Questions
- 90
- Time allowed
- 1 h 50 min
- Average with no review
- 73 s
PTCE: 90 questions, of which 80 count toward the score.
The PTCB exam, officially the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam or PTCE, is the test that leads to the CPhT credential of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Candidates qualify through one of two pathways: completing a PTCB-recognized education or training program, or at least 500 hours of work experience as a pharmacy technician. The exam has 90 questions, 80 of them scored, with 1 hour 50 minutes of testing time, and follows a content outline in force since January 6, 2026 with four domains led by medications. Scores are scaled from 1,000 to 1,600; scaled score of 1,400 (scale 1,000 to 1,600). The fee is $129 per attempt. There is no wait before a second or third attempt, six months before a fourth, and approved preparation is required after four. The CPhT is renewed every 2 years with 20 hours of continuing education, including one hour of pharmacy law and one of patient safety, for $55.
PTCE · practice
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| Study target: 4 of 5 (80%), not the official passing score |
Practice questions written by Radif Partners from the public outline; not questions from the real exam. Progress stays in this browser.
Questions, formats and fees by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
The PTCE in figures
| Item | PTCE |
|---|---|
| Questions | 90 (80 scored, 10 unscored) |
| Testing time | 1 hour 50 minutes |
| Score scale | 1,000 to 1,600 |
| Passing score | scaled score of 1,400 (scale 1,000 to 1,600) |
| Fee | $129 |
| Outline in force since | January 6, 2026 |
The 2026 outline
| Outline domain | Questions in a full mock | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Medications | 32 | 35% |
| Federal Requirements | 17 | 19% |
| Patient Safety and Quality Assurance | 21 | 24% |
| Order Entry and Processing | 20 | 23% |
The outline lists the knowledge statements under each domain. Reading it once, end to end, is the best way to see the scope; then use the practice sets by domain to test each part.
From application to certificate
- Create a PTCB account and apply under pathway one or two, with the attestation or program details.
- Pay the fee; once approved, you get an authorization to schedule with Pearson VUE.
- Take the exam at a Pearson VUE appointment.
- Once the official result and any pending documents are in, the CPhT is issued in your account.
The PTCB certification guidebook sets out each step, the identification required and the rules of the test session.
Retakes
A failed attempt can be retaken without waiting the second and third times. Before a fourth attempt the PTCB requires six months, and after four attempts it requires proof of approved preparation before allowing more. Each attempt costs the full $129. The cost page puts the numbers together, including renewal.
Keeping the CPhT
The credential runs for 2 years. Renewal requires 20 hours of continuing education in the cycle, with at least one hour on pharmacy law and one on patient safety, and the renewal fee of $55 (PTCB renewal requirements). State registration or licensing, where it exists, has its own renewal.
This site is independent of the PTCB and Pearson VUE. To practice under exam conditions, take the full PTCE mock.