1. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
Composed and edited by The Pre-Pharmacy Towson University

2. Requirements
High school diploma or equivalent educational diploma (e.g., a GED or foreign diploma).
Passing score on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).
Full disclosure of all criminal and State Board of Pharmacy registration or licensure actions.
Compliance with all applicable PTCB Certification policies.

3. Beware…
A candidate may be disqualified for PTCB Certification upon the disclosure or discovery of:
Criminal conduct involving the candidate;
State Board of Pharmacy registration or licensure action involving the candidate;
Violation of a PTCB Certification policy, including but not limited to the Code of Conduct.

4. How to Apply
Eligible candidates may apply online to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). The fee to apply for and take the PTCE is $129.
During the application process, candidates will verify that they meet the eligibility requirements above.
Candidates and CPhTs who misrepresent their eligibility, or violate PTCB's policies, may have their certification revoked.
Candidates who successfully apply will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter or that contains important information candidates need to schedule an exam appointment.

5. PTCE Layout 90 questions (80 scored; 10 unscored) Computer-based exam
Total test time: 120 min.
5 minute tutorial prior to test
110 minutes to answer questions (1hr 50 min)
5 minute survey post test
Different variations of test

6. PTCE Blueprint Domains
What is on the PTCE?
PTCE Blueprint Domains
Knowledge Domains
Domain Description
% of PTCE Content
Knowledge Areas 1
Pharmacology for Technicians
13.75 6 2
Pharmacy Law and Regulations
12.50 15 3
Sterile and Non-sterile Compounding
8.75 7 4
Medication Safety 5
Pharmacy Quality Assurance
7.50
Medication Order Entry and Fill Process
17.50
Pharmacy Inventory Management 8
Pharmacy Billing and Reimbursement 9
Pharmacy Information Systems Usage and Application
10.00

7. What to Study for the Exam
Top 200 Drugs
Drug Laws and Regulations
Pharmacy sigs (ex. tk 2 ts q 4 h)
Know unit conversions (i.e. gtt, cc, mL, g, oz.)
Regulatory agencies (DEA, FDA, etc.)
Compounding
Scheduled Drugs

8. Tips on Studying A lot of information, may be overwhelming
Start on one section at a time
Plan out your study time (i.e. memorize 5 drugs a day – brand vs. generic)
Memorize basic conversions for units, don’t try to memorize for each specific conversion
Ex. 30 mL = 1 oz.; don’t try memorizing 240 mL = 8 oz., 480 mL = 16 oz, and so on (waste of time and memory)
Understand differences between Scheduled Drugs

9. Sample Prescription

10. Practice Interpreting These Sig Codes
**Highlight the spaces below each bullet for the answers and add color
Tk 2 ts po q hs
Take 2 tablets by mouth every night at bedtime
G “Lauren” 1 tea po q4h tat
Give Lauren 1 teaspoon by mouth every 4 hours until all taken (pediatric medication)
Tk 1 to 2 cs po q4h prf pain
Take 1 to 2 capsules by mouth every 4 hours as needed for pain
You will notice that all directions will indicate the quantity taken, the route of administration, and the frequency of the medication

11. Practice Conversions 25 degrees Celsius = 77 degrees Fahrenheit
**Highlight the spaces/blanks for the answer
25 degrees Celsius = degrees Fahrenheit
960 mL = oz. = ½ cup(s)
Roman Numerals: C C L = 250
mL = 1 tbsp
20 gtts = 1 mL
1 mL = cc

12. PTCE Scoring
The passing score and all candidate results are reported as scaled scores.
The passing scaled score for the updated PTCE is 1400, with a range of possible scores of 1000 to 1600.
Candidates are allowed four attempts to pass the PTCE.
Candidates must apply and pay for each attempt.
Candidates who are unsuccessful at passing the PTCE must wait 60 days from the most recent attempt to apply for the second and third attempts, and six months for the fourth attempt.
After four attempts, candidates will need to petition PTCB in writing for additional attempts.

13. After passing…
You must be a REGISTERED CphT in the state that you reside
Registration process may vary among states; however each candidate must go through a criminal history/background check and be fingerprinted
Example of the Maryland Board of Pharmacy regulation