Pass the PTCE / ExCPT Exam.

What is the PTCE exam?

The PTCE (Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam) is administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and is one of two nationally recognized pharmacy tech certification exams. The PTCE is 90 questions (80 scored + 10 unscored), 1 hour 50 minutes, with a passing score of 1400 on a scaled score of 1000–1600. It covers medication safety, pharmacy law, sterile and non-sterile compounding, and medication order entry.

What is the difference between PTCE and ExCPT?

Both exams certify pharmacy technicians, but they are administered by different organizations. The PTCE is from PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board); the ExCPT is from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Both are accepted by most states and employers. The PTCE is slightly more common and has stricter eligibility requirements (high school diploma or equivalent required).

How hard is the pharmacy tech exam?

The PTCE national first-attempt pass rate is approximately 58–65%. Most failures occur on pharmacology, drug calculations, and pharmacy law sections. Candidates who practice dosage calculations and memorize top medication classes significantly improve their pass rates.