What you need to know about the Pharmacy Tech certification exam

Leave no stone unturned as you prepare for your pharmacy tech certification exam. You don't want any surprises. Pharmacy Technician training through Ashworth College helps prepare you for this important step into your career as a pharmacy tech. When you reach exam time, you should feel confident and ready to take the test.

What is the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam?

The PTCB Pharmacy Tech Certification Exam is a nationally accredited test that validates your knowledge. Earning this certificate lets employers know you can do the work of an entry level pharmacy technician.

A passing score equals 650 points or more. Scores range from 300-900 and about 75% of test takers pass! When it's time for you to take the exam, you should feel confident. Ashworth College built its Pharmacy Technician training curriculum to help prepare you for testing.

What are the exam questions like?

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam contains 90 multiple-choice questions. Each question offers four answers. You must choose the best one.

The topics covered include nine knowledge areas: Pharmacology for Technicians, Pharmacy Law and Regulations, Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding, Medication Safety, Pharmacy Quality Assurance, Medication Offer Entry and Fill Process, Pharmacy Inventory Management, Pharmacy Billing and Reimbursement, Pharmacy Information System Usage and Application.

As an Ashworth College Pharmacy Technician student, you will learn about these topics through your studies, during your 60-hour retail pharmacy externship, and by taking virtual field trips. Interactive test prep resources help prepare you thoroughly for the Pharmacy Tech Certification Exam.

What happens when I'm ready to take the PTCB exam?

Once your pharmacy technician certification prep is complete, you will register for the test at one of the more than 350 testing sites available worldwide. Payment for your first attempt at this exam is part of your tuition. When you arrive at the test site, you must show proof of payment and a valid photo ID. The exam takes about two hours to complete. There is no pen or paper required for the test because it's online. Don't worry if you currently feel like you are not computer savvy! Your online course sharpens your computer skills while you study. By exam time, you will have experience with digital testing. And, if for some reason you do not earn your Pharmacy Tech Certification on the first try, you will get up to three more attempts.

Some states have licensing requirements for pharmacy technicians. Visit this page of Ashworth College resources to confirm state licensing requirements for the location where you plan to work. As your accredited online school, Ashworth College provides plenty of support and resources to help you prepare for certification and career success as a Pharmacy Technician.