What is the passing score for the pharmacy technician exam?

To pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), you need a scaled score of 1,400 or higher, out of a possible range of 1,000 to 1,600, using a system that adjusts for exam difficulty. The official passing score is consistent across test versions, with scores reflecting ability rather than just raw answers, and typically, 80 out of 90 questions are scored.

What score do you need to pass 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.

What is the passing rate for the pharmacy technician exam?

CPhT Exam Statistics

At the end of 2022, there were 283,229 Certified Pharmacy Technicians in the United States. The overall pass rate for the PCBT's CPhT exam is 70%.

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

To pass, you need a minimum score of 1,400. Because of the way the PTCB scores the exam, you will not know how many questions you have to get right to earn this score. Remember that only 80 of the 90 questions will count toward your test result.

How hard is the pharmacy technician exam?

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%.

What Is The Passing Score For Pharmacy Technician Exam? - CountyOffice.org

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. 

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 out of 90 to pass 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.

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 many times can I take the pharmacy tech exam?

Retake Policy

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 the pass mark for pharmacy?

1) A student shall be declared pass and eligible for getting grade in the B. Pharma course if he/she secures at least 50% marks in each theory subjects including internal assessment marks, provided a minimum of 35% marks is scored in cach theory subject in the end semester university examination.

What happens if you fail the pharmacy tech exam?

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.

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.

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).

How many questions can you get wrong on the Nha pharmacy technician exam?

The ExCPT exam has to be taken at a testing center, an NHA-affiliated school, or with a Live Remote Proctor. To pass the ExCPT exam, you must answer at least 80 of the 100 scored questions correctly.

Is pharmacy 2 or 4 years?

Pharmacy school, leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, is typically a four-year professional program, but requires 2-4 years of undergraduate prerequisites, making the total path 6 to 8 years of college; however, accelerated or direct-entry options can shorten this to as few as 3-6 years. The standard is four years of professional coursework after completing prerequisites, often including hands-on clinical training. 

How to memorize 200 drugs?

How to memorize the Top 200 (step‑by‑step)

1. Group by class. Learn common effects and uses once; apply to all members.
2. Learn the suffix patterns. ...
3. Drill brand and generic names daily. ...
4. Attach one primary use + one red‑flag effect to each drug as you go.
5. Spiral review.

How do you pass the PTCB on the first try?

Being comfortable with the exam software will help ease some of your stress on test day.

1. Sign Up For a Review Course. You can find in-person review and prep courses. ...
2. Take a Practice Test. You can purchase a practice test through the PTCB's website. ...
3. Use Additional Resources.

What is the difference between pharmacy tech 1 2 and 3?

A pharmacy technician III is a medical professional who has completed all the pharmacy technician I and II requirements and advances to the higher levels of study. A pharmacy technician III is typically the highest level of certification in the career path and requires more experience and training.

How many questions can you miss on step 1?

In order to pass the USMLE Step 1, you must answer approximately 60% of questions correctly. In numerical terms, if there are 280 questions in total, you must answer at least 168 questions correctly.

Can you use a calculator on the PTCB exam?

A calculator is built into the PTCB exam. A personal calculator may not be used under any circumstance. However, if a candidate requests a hand-held calculator and one is available at the test center, the candidate is permitted to use it upon request.

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%).

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.

What's higher than a pharmacy tech?

Pharmacists require significantly more education than pharmacy technicians. To become a pharmacist, you must earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from an accredited school or university.