How many questions can you miss on the pharmacy technician exam?

You can miss several questions on the PTCE exam (Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam) because it uses a scaled score (1000-1600), with 1400 to pass, and 10 of the 90 questions are unscored pilot questions, making it impossible to know the exact number you can get wrong, though missing around 20-30 questions (including pilot ones) might still allow you to pass, notes Reddit user "livvv333" and a YouTube video. Focus on achieving the 1400 scaled score rather than counting wrong answers, as some questions carry more weight, say users on Reddit and CCI Training Center.

How many questions can you get wrong on PTCB?

How many questions can I get wrong on PTCB? While the exact number varies, the passing scaled score is 1,400 on a range of 1,000-1,600. Theoretically, you could miss approximately 30-35 questions out of 90 and still pass, depending on question difficulty and weighting.

What is the passing score for the pharmacy technician exam?

The passing scaled score for the PTCE is 1,400. The range of possible PTCE scores based on the exam outline is 1,000 to 1,600.

How many questions can I miss on the NHA Pharmacy Technician exam?

To pass the ExCPT exam, you must answer at least 80 of the 100 scored questions correctly. You have to complete your examination within the 2-hour and 10-minute time limit. Students who do not pass their exam the first time are allowed two additional attempts with a 30-day waiting period in between.

What do I need to know to pass my pharmacy technician exam?

PTCB Exam Syllabus Outline.

1. Generic names, brand names, and classifications of medications.
2. Therapeutic duplications.
3. Common or life-threatening drug interactions and contraindications (e.g., drug-drug, drug-dietary supplement, drug-laboratory, drug-nutrient, drug-disease).

Avoid Failing the PTCB: Learn These Tricky Scenarios! Pro Level Practice Questions

How hard is a pharmacy tech test?

The score for the exam ranges between 1,000 and 1,600. To pass this credentialing examination, you need to attain a scaled score of 1,400 or above. While this may seem challenging at first glance, the pharmacy technician final exam actually has an average pass rate of approximately 71%.

Who gets paid more, CNA or pharmacy tech?

Pharmacy technicians generally earn slightly more than CNAs, with median salaries around $43,000-$44,000 compared to CNA averages, which can range from $38,000-$45,000 but often start lower, though earnings vary significantly by location, experience, and employer, with CNAs potentially increasing pay through overtime. Both roles offer similar entry points, but pharmacy techs often see better pay in hospital or outpatient settings, while CNAs provide direct patient care in homes or facilities, with both roles serving as stepping stones in healthcare. 

How many questions can you get wrong on the NHA?

You only need a 390 to pass which is 78%. That would be a lot of missed questions. That's like getting 40 questions wrong at 78%.

How many times can I take the pharmacy technician exam?

Candidates must apply and pay for each PTCB credential exam attempt. Candidates who fail a PTCB credential exam must wait to receive their official score report before reapplying. Candidates have an unlimited number of exam attempts, although candidates are strongly encouraged to prepare for each attempt.

What is 675 on a scale of 900?

But don't assume this means you need to get 75% of the questions right (675 is 75% of 900, after all).

How many people pass the PTCB first try?

Around 70-71% of people pass the PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam) on their first attempt, with about 7 out of 10 test-takers succeeding initially, though rates can fluctuate slightly year to year, notes. This means roughly 30% need a second or subsequent attempt, highlighting it's a challenging exam but achievable with good preparation, often involving experience and focused study using resources like apps or practice tests. 

Is PTCB or NHA easier?

The NHA ExCPT is generally perceived as easier, focusing more on retail/practical duties and having a lower pass rate (around 63%), while the PTCB PTCE is considered harder and more comprehensive, covering broader hospital/clinical knowledge with a higher pass rate (around 70%), but is the industry gold standard, opening more doors, especially for hospital roles. Choose NHA for a potentially quicker entry into retail, but PTCB for wider recognition and career advancement. 

Why is the PCAT no longer required?

The most commonly selected reason for discontinuation was a desire to increase pharmacy applications by reducing admission barriers. Pharmacy schools nationwide had concerns regarding high PCAT registration fees.

Do you need to know top 200 drugs for PTCB?

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) strongly recommends mastering top brand and generic drug names, as detailed in the table below. Knowing drug names, classifications, and their uses is essential knowledge for the PTCE exam and in daily pharmacy practice.

How long to wait after failing PTCB?

You can retake the exam. You will have to wait 60 days from the previous exam date for the first two retakes. After that, you will have to wait six months in between attempts. If you fail the test four times, you won't be able to retake it unless you provide evidence of test prep activities.

What to study for the PTCB exam 2025?

This latest edition has been thoroughly revised to align with the most current PTCB exam content outline, covering all four key domains: Medications (40%), Patient Safety (26.25%), Order Processing (21.25%), and Federal Requirements (12.5%).

What is the highest pay for a pharmacy technician?

The highest-paid pharmacy technicians often work in specialized roles like informatics, sterile compounding (infusion/chemotherapy), or management, typically in hospitals or outpatient centers, with top earners in California and Washington reaching $70k+ annually or even six figures in some areas, though specific figures vary greatly by experience and location, with higher pay generally found in Western states like California, Washington, and Alaska.
 

What percent do you need to pass the pharmacy technician exam?

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcare Association (NHA). For the PTCB examination, a passing score of 1,400 is required, with the range of possible scores on the exam being between 1,000 and 1,600. While the NHA range is 200 to 500 with a passing score of 390.

How long is a pharmacy technician certificate good for?

A pharmacy technician certificate (like PTCB) typically needs renewal every two years, requiring continuing education (CE) credits for recertification, though state licenses can vary, with some states requiring renewal every 1-2 years and having specific CE or registration periods, so always check with your state's Board of Pharmacy for exact requirements. 

What is a passing score on NHA?

To pass an NHA (National Healthcareer Association) certification exam, you generally need a scaled score of 390 or higher out of a possible 500 points, though the specific number of correct answers to achieve this can vary slightly by exam version due to scoring adjustments for difficulty. This 390/500 threshold applies to popular exams like the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exams.
 

How do I know if I passed my NHA exam?

You will receive an email notification when your results are available within the certification portal. For confidentiality, the notification email will not include your exam score.

Can you retake the NHA exam if you fail?

If you didn't pass your NHA certification exam, you might be feeling discouraged. It happens, and the best thing you can do is prepare and try again. You can reapply to sit for the exam up to three times, with at least 30 days between each test.

Does CVS or Walgreens pay pharmacy techs more?

Generally, pay between CVS and Walgreens for pharmacy technicians is very comparable, with slight variations depending on location, experience, and specific role (like Certified Tech or Lead Tech), but some data suggests CVS might offer slightly higher hourly rates for technicians, though both face criticism for low starting wages in retail. CVS Health showed higher average hourly pay for technicians in one comparison ($17.65 vs $16.60 at Walgreens), while Pharmacy Technician Guide showed slightly wider ranges for both, with CVS potentially higher overall ($24k-$44k vs $23k-$42k). 

Is it worth becoming a certified pharmacy tech?

Working a pharmacy technician job gives you a good opportunity to work in healthcare without having to spend thousands of dollars or multiple years in school or training programs. Pharmacy technicians are well respected, earn a decent living, get great benefits, and enjoy excellent job security.

Which pharmacy field has the highest salary?

The highest paying pharmacy fields often involve advanced clinical specialties or executive/industry roles, with top earners in Ambulatory Care, Oncology, Critical Care, Nuclear Pharmacy, or high-level Hospital Administration/Pharmacy Director positions, potentially exceeding $180k-$200k+ annually, while roles in the Pharmaceutical Industry or PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers) offer executive salaries upwards of $300k-$500k+ with experience.