CPhT (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician

The Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) is a Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) recognized credential that provides pharmacy technicians with the skills to participate in pharmaceutical settings safely.

The duties of a certified pharmacy technician include precisely and safely measuring prescription drug amounts, maintaining medication inventory, reviewing prescriptions from doctor’s offices and patients, and preserving the integrity of patient records.

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) is administered throughout the year nationwide. The cost to take the PTCE and apply for CPhT certification is $129.

Applicants are required to complete a recognized PTCB training program or have comparable work experience. Over 1,400 recognized programs PTCB education programs are available for applicants. Comparable work experience includes a minimum of 500 hours as a pharmacy technician throughout various pharmacy settings.

Students taking the Certified Pharmacy Technician exam can test in person by answering 90 computer-based multiple-choice questions. The exam contains 80 scored questions and ten unscored questions randomly dispersed during the exam. This exam is 2 hours, consisting of a 5-minute tutorial, 1 hour and 50 minutes of exam time, and a 5-minute survey. Applicants will receive their unofficial test results immediately after completion of the exam. Official results will be uploaded to an applicant’s PTCB portal within two to three weeks. Additionally, candidates can also access a digital badge after completing certification that can be displayed on social media platforms.

Candidates must meet the following Eligibility requirements:

• Be a resident of the United States of America or any US territories

• Complete an education/training program that is recognized by PTCB or have corresponding work experience

• Make known any criminal, State Board of Pharmacy registration, or licensing actions taken against the applicant

• Be compliant with PTCB policies  

• Successfully passed the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE)

Application Process:

• Candidates can apply on the PTCB website by creating an account

• Upon approval, applicants can schedule an exam nationwide

Renewal of CPhT certification is required every two years, with applicants being notified 60 days before the certification expiration date. Any CPhT member who doesn’t renew by their certification expiration date will not be considered certified and must apply for reinstatement by one year to return to active status. The cost of CPhT renewal is $49. Reinstatement costs $89.

Renewal requirements include completing 20 hours of continuing education in pharmacy technician subjects (CE) during the 2-year recertification period; which includes 1 hour of pharmacy law and 1 hour of patient safety. After earning CEs, applicants can log into their PTCB Account and submit an application and payment for review and approval.

The PTCB offers resources for exam candidates, including:

• Exam Content Outline

• Official PTCB Practice Tools (Practice Bank - $39 per candidate, Practice Exam - $29 per exam)

The PTCB also offers the following certifications:

• Billing and Reimbursement Certificate

• Controlled Substances Diversion Prevention Certificate

• Immunization Administration Certificate

• Hazardous Drug Management Certificate

• Medication History Certificate

• Medication Therapy Management Certificate

• Nonsterile Compounding Certificate

• Point-of-Care Testing Certificate

• Regulatory Compliance Certificate

• Supply Chain and Inventory Management Certificate

• Technician Product Verification Certificate

• Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT-Adv)