Pharmacy Technician Certification

Some states require registration of pharmacy technicians, whereas other states require certification; still others are considering the matter. There is no national requirement for certification at this time.

Most consumers believe that all pharmacy technicians have been trained and certified before they are allowed to prepare prescriptions.

Technicians who wish to become certified ma take the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) offered by the PTCB. To take the exam, candidates must have earned a high school diploma (GED or foreign diploma) and submit the appropriate form, fee, and supporting documents. Candidates are not eligible if they have been convicted of a drug - or pharmacy- related  felony, or have had any felony convictions at any time during the last five years before applying for the PTCE.

The PTCE is a two hour, closed book, computer based exam consisting of eighty multiple choice questions plus ten non-scored questions. Each question has four possible answers from which to choose , with only one being the best, or correct answer. The score is based on the most correctly answered questions.

The questions are written to assess the knowledge and skills that are deemed necessary to perform the work of pharmacy technicians. The exam divides these activities into three functions areas:

1. i. Assisting the pharmacist in serving patients, including activities related to dispensing prescriptions, distributing medications, and collecting and organizing information.
2. ii. Maintaining medication and inventory control systems pertaining to activities related to purchasing medications and supplies, controlling inventory, and storing, preparing, and distributing medications according to policies and procedures.
3. iii. Participating in the administration and management of pharmacy practice, including administrative activities that deal with such issues as operations, human resources, facilities and equipment, and information systems.

Of the scored questions on the examination, 66% of the exam tests on topics in function area i, 22% on topics in function area ii, and the remaining 12% on topics in function area iii. Candidates who pass the exam may use the designation CPht (certified pharmacy technician) after their names.

To maintain the certification, technicians must re-certify every two years by completing at least twenty hours of continuing  education. A maximum of ten hours may be earned at the technician’s workplace under the direct supervision of a pharmacist. These hours must be special assignments or training; regular work hours do not apply. At least one hour of continuing education must be related to pharmacy law. Refer to the PTCB Website to verify current eligibility requirements and test specifics.