Welcome to Achievable’s Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE) course. This course prepares you for the PTCE administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Passing this nationally recognized exam certifies you as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

Achievable’s PTCE course covers every major exam area, including medications, patient safety, quality assurance, order entry and processing, and pharmacy laws and regulations. Chapter quizzes help you check your understanding as you go, and assessment exams help you gauge test readiness and identify topics that need more review.

Eligibility criteria

• Must live in the United States or its territories.
• Complete a PTCB-recognized education/training program OR equivalent work experience.
• Fully disclose all criminal and State Board of Pharmacy registration or licensure actions.
• Pass the PTCE.

Exam format

• The exam consists of 90 multiple-choice questions, of which 80 are scored while 10 are unscored.
• The exam duration is 2 hours, which includes a 5-minute tutorial, a 50-minute exam, and a 5-minute post-exam survey.
• The passing score is 1400 on a scale of 1000-1600.

Content outline

The PTCE includes multiple-choice questions across four broad content areas.

• Medications
• Federal requirements
• Patient safety and quality assurance
• Order entry and processing

The exam is weighted most heavily toward medications (40%), followed by patient safety and quality assurance (26.25%), order entry and processing (21.25%), and federal requirements (12.5%).

Here’s what each area typically includes:

• Medications: common generic and brand names, drug interactions and adverse effects, medication storage, and physical and chemical incompatibilities.
• Patient safety and quality assurance: procedures that improve patient safety, such as methods to prevent LASA errors, preventing prescription errors, drug utilization reviews, and maintaining hygiene and cleaning standards in the pharmacy.
• Order entry and processing: procedures for compounding medications, formulas and calculations used to dispense medications, and insurance processing.
• Federal requirements: pharmacy-related laws and regulations, including regulation of controlled substances and hazardous products.

Upcoming PTCE exam content changes (effective 2026)

The PTCB has announced updated PTCE content weightings effective in 2026. The table below summarizes how category emphasis will shift.

Category	Current %	2026 %
Medications	40%	35%
Federal Requirements	12.5%	18.75%
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance	26.25%	23.75%
Order Entry and Processing	21.25%	22.5%

The total exam length remains unchanged.

Tips for success

• Review study material thoroughly and make notes when applicable
• Complete quizzes at the end of each chapter and review them again from the dashboard when prompted
• Make a list of weak concepts and review them in detail
• Make a study plan
• Review definitions, formulas, calculations, high yield medications, and adverse effects
• Take assessment tests to increase the ease of answering multiple-choice questions
• Ensure that you get plenty of rest the night before the exam

Final thoughts

Achievable’s PTCE course strengthens your content knowledge using several learning strategies, including spaced repetition. The goal is to give you comprehensive coverage in clear, efficient lessons so you can focus your study time where it matters most.

If questions come up as you work through the course, reach out for help.