PTCB exam guides
Everything about the PTCB exam, answered straight
How many questions are on the PTCB exam?
The PTCB exam (PTCE) has 90 multiple-choice questions, of which 80 are scored and 10 are unscored pretest items you cannot identify. You get 1 hour and 50 minutes for the questions inside a 2-hour appointment.
What is the passing score for the PTCB exam?
You need a scaled score of 1400 to pass the PTCE. Scores range from 1000 to 1600, and PTCB does not publish a fixed percentage of correct answers, because the scale adjusts for differences in difficulty between exam forms.
PTCE content outline 2026: what is on the PTCB exam
Since January 6, 2026 the PTCE follows content outline v1.4: Medications 35%, Federal Requirements 18.75%, Patient Safety and Quality Assurance 23.75%, and Order Entry and Processing 22.5%. The four domains contain 22 knowledge areas, and 9 of them are marked as partly or fully calculation-based.
Top drugs for the PTCB exam: brand, generic and class
PTCB does not publish a drug list, but area 1.1 of the 2026 outline tests generic names, brand names and classifications, and the Medications domain is 35% of the exam. Learn the most-prescribed drugs as sets of generic name, brand name, class and main use, and learn the name stems that reveal the class.
Pharmacy math for the PTCB exam
Nine of the 22 knowledge areas in the 2026 PTCE outline are marked as calculation-based, led by area 4.1: formulas, ratios, conversions and Sig codes for days supply, quantity, dose, concentration and dilution. Most PTCE math comes down to a handful of conversions and three or four formulas, used carefully.
PTCB vs ExCPT: the two pharmacy technician exams compared
The PTCE from PTCB has 90 questions (80 scored) in 1 hour 50 minutes and passes at 1400 on a 1000-1600 scale. The ExCPT from NHA has 120 questions (100 scored) in 2 hours 10 minutes and passes at 390 out of 500. Both lead to a CPhT credential; which one you need depends on your state board and employer.
How long should you study for the PTCB exam?
For most candidates who finished a training program, 6 to 8 weeks at about an hour a day is enough; plan closer to 10 to 12 weeks if you are coming in through work experience alone or have been away from study. PTCB does not publish a recommended study time, so let your practice scores by domain decide when you book.
PTCB exam cost, eligibility and retakes
It costs $129 to apply for CPhT certification and take the PTCE, and every retake is a new $129 application. There is no waiting period before the second and third attempts, a six-month wait before the fourth, and after four attempts you must show PTCB approved preparation before trying again.