PTCE and ExCPT Guide

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE) and the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) are two exams taken by pharmacy technicians to become certified professionals.  The two examinations are optional, yet beneficial, to individuals seeking employment as pharmacy technicians.

PTCE

The PTCE is taken by pharmacy technicians. Though it is not a required aspect of working as a pharmacy tech, it may allow individuals to work more effectively side-by-side with pharmacists, not to mention opening up promotion opportunities and the possibility of a higher salary.  It is developed and administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and taken at PearsonVUE test centers.

The PTCE is a computerized exam consisting of 90 multiple-choice questions, ten of which are classified as pretest questions and do not count towards scoring.  The exam must be completed in 110 minutes.  Individuals are given two hours to complete the PTCE.

The PTCE has four areas of focus:

1. Medications
2. Federal Regulations
3. Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
4. Order Entry and Processing

Online registration for the PTCE is available at ptcb.org.  In order to be qualified to take the PTCE, individuals must have a high-school diploma or its equivalent, have no felony convictions, no drug- or pharmacy-related convictions, and no denial, suspension, revocation, or restriction of registration or licensure, consent order or other restriction by any state board of pharmacy.

PTCE scores range from 1000 to 1600, but only scores of 1400 and above are considered passing.

ExCPT – Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians

The ExCPT is another exam for pharmacy technicians in any type of practice in the United States.  It is developed by the National Healthcareer Association and taken at a PSI test centers.

The ExCPT is computer-based and made up of 120 multiple-choice questions.  Only 100 of these questions are scored. Two hours and 10 minutes is given to complete the test.  The questions on the ExCPT cover four major areas:

1. Overview and Laws
2. Drugs and Drug Therapy
3. Dispensing Process
4. Medication Safety and Quality Assurance

Individuals sitting for the ExCPT will be given an official report at the conclusion of their exam which will let them know their score and whether or not it is considered to be passing.

For both exams, a government-issued I.D. is required to be shown at the test center.  Sometimes two forms of identification are required.  Scrap paper or a white board is often provided, and individuals can consult exam administrators as to other rules and regulations.

Prepare to get Certified

Tests.com has worked with Dominque Culpepper, RPht, CPht, an instructor in pharmacy technician studies, and Brad Gillespie, PharmD, who currently works with the NIH and is a former reviewer for the FDA, to design a Pharmacy Tech Practice Test to help you prepare for your certification exam.  Tests.com's TestSim online interactive platform allows you to tailor your tests to the subjects you want to study and to form tests that fit your study schedule.  Form tests of 30, 40, 50, 100 or even hudreds of questions.  Get instant scoring and review.  The answers are fully explained for ideal study.  You can even simulate the actual exam by setting the number of questions and timer to the time period allowed for the actual test.  Get experience reading multiple-choice questions and taking timed tests.  Tests.com will help you pass your certification exam and set you on your way to a successful career as a pharmacy technician.

To learn more about the PTCE and ExCPT, please visit the PTCE and ExCPT Directory.