Pass the PTCB exam on your first try
194 practice questions on medications, federal requirements, patient safety and order entry, each with a plain-English explanation.
Practice by section
The PTCE covers four knowledge domains, weighted as shown by the questions in each practice exam. Practice one domain at a time, or take a full 90-question practice exam.
Medications 66 questions
Brand and generic names, drug classes and stems, indications, therapeutic duplications, drug interactions and contraindications, side effects and allergies, dosage forms and routes, drug stability and storage.
Federal Requirements 42 questions
Controlled substance schedules, prescriptions, refills, transfers and partial fills, DEA forms, inventories, take-back and disposal, hazardous waste, pseudoephedrine limits, REMS, recalls and DSCSA product tracing.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance 40 questions
High-alert and look-alike/sound-alike drugs, error prevention, issues that need the pharmacist, types of prescription errors, event reporting (MedWatch, VAERS, near misses, root cause analysis, CQI), and infection prevention and cleaning.
Order Entry and Processing 46 questions
Sig codes, abbreviations and Roman numerals, quantity and days-supply calculations, conversions, concentrations, dilutions and IV rates, administration supplies, lot numbers, expiration dates, NDCs, DAW codes and returns.
What full access includes
- All 194 questions across medications, federal requirements, patient safety and order entry
- An explanation for every answer, with the law, standard or label behind it
- Unlimited full 90-question practice exams, with each domain in its real share
- Practice exams for each knowledge domain
- A review of every question you missed at the end of each exam
- Works on your phone, tablet or computer, with no app or account
About the PTCB exam
Who takes the PTCB exam?
Pharmacy technicians who want the CPhT credential. Many states and employers require or prefer it. To be eligible you need to complete a PTCB-recognized education or training program, or have at least 500 hours of equivalent work experience as a technician.
How is the exam structured?
The PTCE has 90 multiple-choice questions (80 scored and 10 unscored) and a time limit of 1 hour 50 minutes. Under the content outline in effect since January 6, 2026, questions come from four domains: Medications (35%), Federal Requirements (18.75%), Patient Safety and Quality Assurance (23.75%), and Order Entry and Processing (22.5%).
What score do I need to pass?
PTCB reports a scaled score from 1000 to 1600, and 1400 or higher passes. PTCB doesn't publish a raw-score cutoff, so our practice exams use 70% correct as a passing benchmark.
Does the certification expire?
Yes. CPhT certification is renewed every 2 years, with 20 hours of continuing education, including 1 hour of pharmacy law and 1 hour of patient safety.
Is this the official exam?
No. This is practice material to help you prepare. The PTCE is given by PTCB at Pearson VUE test centers or online with a proctor. This site is not affiliated with PTCB.