As a registered pharmacy technician, passing the pharmacy tech test is just one of the things you have to do to maintain a successful career. Another important factor is the Pharmacy Technician CE or Continuing Education.
Certified pharmacy technicians (CPhTs) and Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technicians (CSPTs) are required to complete their CE to recertify or renew their PTCB certification. They have 2 years to maintain their respective credentials.
The completion of their CE means that they are up to date on recent pharmacy practices and that they have learned and grown more in their profession. The PTCB requires CPhts to finish their CE. It is so that they can maintain their active status and have the eligibility for pharmacy technician license renewal.
To start your PTCB Recertification, you need to have these requirements:
To track your PTCB CE hours, you can use the CPE Monitor. It is a service of the NABP or the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. You can apply for recertification or renewal of your pharmacy technician certification without manually entering your CE hours on your PTCB Account by using the service. Practice with the free Pharmacy Technician practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (16 questions with answer explanations).
Take note that you also need to start your renewal application 60 days before the expiration date of your certificate. If you are not able to do this, then you are no longer certified. You should instead apply for reinstatement within 1 year of the expiration of your certification to reclaim your active status.
There are many programs to choose from. Some even offer free CE for pharmacy technicians. If you have a difficult time looking for programs for your PTCB continuing education, you can check out some of the sample CE providers below as resourced by PTCB.
Pharmacy candidates preparing for licensure can practice with our ExCPT pharmacy technician exam 2026, covering drug classifications, dosage calculations, and pharmacy law tested on the national certification exam.
Healthcare professionals preparing for certification should also practice with our MPJE pharmacy law exam 2026, which covers the clinical reasoning, patient care, and pharmacology sections of the official exam.
Pharmacy technicians working in sterile compounding can prepare for PTCB certification with our free CSPT Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician practice test — covering USP standards, aseptic technique, and quality assurance.
Healthcare professionals seeking additional clinical credentials may also find value in the Pharmacy Technician Practice Test 2026, which covers drug classifications and dispensing knowledge relevant to pharmaceutical careers.
Interactive Pharmacy Technician resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
Facts verified Oct 20, 2026 against Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
Facts verified Oct 20, 2026 against Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 90 multiple-choice questions (80 scored + 10 unscored) | Pharmacy Technician Certification Board |
| Passing score | 1,400 scaled (range 1,000–1,600) | Pharmacy Technician Certification Board |
| Exam fee | $129 (application + PTCE) | Pharmacy Technician Certification Board |
| Retake policy | No wait for 2nd/3rd attempts; 6-month wait before 4th; proof of preparation after 4 attempts | ptcb.zendesk.com |
| Validity | 2 years | Pharmacy Technician Certification Board |
| Delivery | In person at 1,400+ Pearson VUE test centers, live proctor | Pharmacy Technician Certification Board |
| Eligibility | Pathway 1: PTCB-recognized program (or completion within 60 days); Pathway 2: 500+ hours work experience | Pharmacy Technician Certification Board |
| Score release | Unofficial on screen right away; official within 3 weeks | Pharmacy Technician Certification Board |
| Late registration deadline | Recertification: apply from 60 days before expiry; $25 late fee after deadline (1st of expiration month) | Pharmacy Technician Certification Board |
| Testing window | 90-day exam authorization after approval (up to two 90-day extensions) | Pharmacy Technician Certification Board |
Facts verified Oct 20, 2026 against Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
According to PTCB’s official website, the renewal fees are broken down into the following amount:
Prepare for the Pharmacy Technician exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
If you also want to consider other fees, then for the late application processing fee, you’ll have to pay $25. For the reprocessing fee, it is $10.
It all depends on the pharmacy technician classes that you’ll choose. You can either take the pharmacy technician training or the pharmacy technician post-secondary education program. The former requires you to have on-the-job training at retail or hospital pharmacies that usually lasts for weeks. The latter is when you want to pursue formal education. It might take 9 months to 24 months, depending on which program you’ll choose, be it a certificate, diploma, or associate degree.
To become a pharmacy technician nationally, you’ll have to take the CPhT exam to get your PTCB license. If you complete the required education and training, then you’ll have to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination or PTCE for short. You need to review and prepare properly. You can use our pharmacy tech practice test. We have PTCB practice questions or pharmacy technician study guide. We at Practice Test Geeks offer free online practice tests that can help you get that certification in no time.
There are many topics included in the coursework for pharmacy technicians. It often involves the 9 knowledge domains that are the focus of the PTCE. These are Pharmacology, Pharmacy Law and Regulations, Sterile and Non-sterile Compounding, Medication Safety, Pharmacy Quality Assurance, Medication Order Entry and Fill Process, Pharmacy Inventory Management, Pharmacy Billing and Reimbursement, and Pharmacy Information Systems Usage and Application.
A minimum of 20 hours of continuing education must be completed, which must include the following: One hour of continuing education in pharmacy law. One hour of continuing education on patient safety.
Maintaining membership in an organization is necessary in order to take advantage of the various values and benefits that each may provide. Participating in a professional group can also help enhance a career, expand networking connections, and provide opportunities for leadership.
Yes. The ACPE or Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education recognizes its online courses as a great option to acquire free continuing education credit hours.
Yes. All you need is a high school diploma and on-site experience. The journey to become a certified pharmacy technician is well worth it.
You may wonder "How to get pharmacy tech certified?" or "How to study for PTCB?" The following are some tips for passing the pharmacy technician board certification exam.
As a pharmacy technician with a specialist certification in oncology, you will prepare and distribute chemotherapeutic drugs for patients receiving cancer treatment in hospitals or outpatient oncology infusion clinics under the supervision of a supervising pharmacist.
Try these questions from our free Pharmacy Technician practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
A pharmacy technician receives a call from someone claiming to be a physician requesting a prescription. What should the technician do?
Answer: B. Transfer to the pharmacist, who is responsible for accepting verbal orders
Pharmacy technicians are NOT authorized to accept verbal prescription orders from prescribers. This must be handled by a licensed pharmacist. The technician should transfer the call to the pharmacist.
The cost of a pharmacy balance is $49.99. What is the mark-up % value if the pharmacy's cost price is 28.79 per piece?
Answer: B. 73.60%
To calculate the mark-up percentage, first find the profit by subtracting the cost price from the selling price: $49.99 - $28.79 = $21.20. Next, divide the profit by the cost price: $21.20 / $28.79 ≈ 0.7363. Finally, multiply by 100 to express it as a percentage, which is approximately 73.60%.
Which of the following is a HIPAA-compliant action by a pharmacy technician?
Answer: C. Confirming a patient's prescription pickup with their adult child who was designated on file
HIPAA permits disclosure of patient information to individuals specifically authorized by the patient (e.g., family member listed on file). Unauthorized disclosure to neighbors, employers, or allowing public visibility of prescription info violates HIPAA.
A pharmacy technician is instructed to distribute 250mL of a solution containing 0.05g of medication per 5mL. How many milligrams of medication are required to fulfill this prescription's requirements?
Answer: A. 2,500 mg
First, determine the total grams of medication needed. The solution contains 0.05g per 5mL. To find the amount in 250mL, set up a proportion: (0.05g / 5mL) = (X g / 250mL). Solving for X, X = (0.05g * 250mL) / 5mL = 2.5 grams. Finally, convert grams to milligrams: 2.5 grams * 1000 mg/gram = 2500 mg.