PTCE
Pharmacy technicians fill prescriptions, manage inventory and keep the pharmacy compliant, under a pharmacist's supervision. The PTCE tests medications, federal requirements (including controlled substances), patient safety and quality assurance, and order entry with pharmacy math.
Most states require pharmacy technicians to register or be licensed with the state board of pharmacy, and many require or accept national certification such as the PTCB's CPhT, earned by passing the PTCE. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Pharmacy technicians, How to become one.
Practice and timed mocks are free, with right or wrong on every answer and your total score. The full analysis is $39, once.
How the exam is built
Owned by Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, given by Pearson VUE. Exam fee at last check: $129.
PTCE
80 scored questions (90 in total), 110 minutes, to pass: a scaled score of 1400 on a 1000 to 1600 scale.
| Topic | Share |
|---|---|
| Medications | 35% |
| Federal Requirements | 19% |
| Patient Safety and Quality Assurance | 24% |
| Order Entry and Processing | 23% |
The official outline: ptcb.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/PTCE-Content-Outline.pdf. Checked 2026-10-08.
Sources
- PTCB Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) Content Outline, effective January 6, 2026 (document footer: v1.4, August 2024), retrieved 2026-10-08.
- Exam format and pass rule, retrieved 2026-10-08.
Questions are original, written from the official outline and primary sources under an assessment framework designed by Julian Calvo, Ed.D., M.S. DecipherU is not affiliated with the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. PTCE and CPhT are PTCB marks. Every practice question is original and written from FDA labels, federal law and regulation, and the official outline.