Pharmacy technicians work in bright, clean environments, in the heart of a growing and secure industry—and they help connect people with the prescriptions they need for healthier, happier lives.
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam is a required certification for pharmacy technicians in the US and its territories.
The exam is administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) to ensure that pharmacy technicians meet the set standards for the industry.
This article discusses what you need to know about the PTCB exam and how to Study for it.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) Required?
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The answer to this question is yes. While there are variances from state to state, most states require pharmacy technicians to hold national certification or licensure as of 2020, according to the PTCB.
Certification helps the public trust the pharmacists who handle their prescriptions, medications, and vaccinations and employers certainly like to see it.
Another factor worth considering is that while many pharmacy technicians will work in traditional clinics and commercial pharmacies, there are specialized roles within managed care, nuclear pharmacy, veterinary pharmacy and compounding pharmacies where certification can be a significant advantage.
What to Expect From the PTCB Exam
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The PTCB exam consists of 90 multiple-choice questions. But you have to keep in mind that only 80 questions are scored. Of course, as the test taker, you will not know which ones count and which ones don’t, as they are spread randomly throughout the test.
You have one hour and 50 minutes to answer all the 90 questions, which gives you a minute and 22 seconds per question on average.
You need to know your material to be on top of your game. So, what can one expect from the PTCB exam? Let’s take a look.
Topics Covered in the PTCB Exam
The PTCB exam tests applicants in four categories, referred to as “knowledge domains” by the board. Within every knowledge domains are more specific subdomains. You can expect to answer questions related to these topics:
- Pharmacology for technicians
- Pharmacy law and regulations
- Medication safety
- Sterile and non-sterile compounding
- Pharmacy quality assurance
- Medication order entry and fill process
- Pharmacy billing and reimbursement
- Pharmacy inventory management
- Pharmacy information system usage and application
For more detailed information about topics covered in the exam, prospective test takers should look at the PTCE content outline.
How to Prepare for the PTCE
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If you are going to take the PTCE, it will help to get in some serious study time. Preparing for an exam increases your chances of successfully passing it. Following these steps when preparing for the PTCB exam can help you feel more confident and help you study the material that you may encounter on the test:
1. Create a Schedule
Creating a study schedule is an essential first step when preparing for the PTCB exam. Allow yourself at least two hours of study each day and begin studying at least a few months before the time you plan to take the exam.
Studying over an extended period allows you to retain the information without infringing on other daily activities, such as sleep, physical exercise, and eating. So, when you sit for the actual exam, you will be better prepared for the type of questioning and exam format.
2. Take Practice Tests
Test yourself by taking a practice test. You can try the free pharmacy technician practice test to assist you with PTCB certification preparation.
A practice test helps you determine which areas of the exam you know well and to which areas you need to devote extra study time. If you pass the practice test easily, you are probably ready to schedule your PTCB exam.
3. Review the Exam Content Outline
The PTCB publishes a detailed overview of the topics in the exam in its content outline, a handy resource for students preparing to take it.
Before you review any suggested study materials, go through this outline and highlight any topics you are not familiar with or need to study more. Use this outline to guide what concepts you need to dedicate your study time to and which you already know well.
4. Use Other Resources
There are lots of resources available to individuals preparing to take the PTCB exam. These include drug reference books, training manuals and calculation guides.
Reviewing the content outline and previous exams, note the topics you need to study more aggressively. You can use other resources to get more knowledge about these topics.
5. Create Your Study Materials
Reviewing the materials provided by the exam administration board and pharmacy educational programs can create materials that help you learn more effectively.
For some people, creating flashcards is a valuable tool that allows them to review key concepts and test their knowledge. Creating cheat sheets of notes to review while studying is beneficial for others. Take what you know about your learning style and make materials to help you continue reviewing complex subjects and concepts as you study for the test.
PTCB Exam Advice
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To prepare for the PTCE, it is recommended that you try practice tests that resemble the actual test. Additionally, test takers may struggle with a couple of focus areas.
The most challenging part of the exam is the calculations. It is the highest-rated part of the exam. You need to calculate things such as going from grams to milliliters and fluid ounces to milliliters. You will do a lot of calculations from the royal to metric systems of measurement.
It is also recommended that you study pharmacy law—know the major laws and regulations guiding pharmacy workers and what they do.
In addition to getting plenty of advance practice and review time in, you can take steps to keep test day anxiety in check. Getting familiar with the test location, guided meditations, and more can help you stay centered and focused solely on the task at hand.
Conclusion
There is no denying the healthcare field is an attractive place to start a career. Becoming a pharmacy technician and earning certification is one of many excellent lower barrier entryways to get started in healthcare.
Understanding what you might face on the PTCB exam and learning about questions are two essential tools used when studying for the exam.
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