To succeed at the PTCB exam, you are required to commit a lot of PTCB facts to memory. It needs you to have extensive knowledge of federal requirements, medications, patient safety, quality assurance, and order entry and processing.
It may look like a huge task, but interestingly, many students have to try multiple times before they finally succeed in the PTCB test. Fortunately, just like other exams, the more PTCB practice questions you familiarize yourself with, the better you learn about your weak and strong points – and how to study so that you can change those weaknesses to strengths.
Doing this will fill any gaps in your knowledge and fully prepare you to meet the Exam’s demands. Below is a guide that intends to provide an overview of facts that pharmacy technicians are expected to know before they sit for the PTCB test.
Once you familiarize yourself with most of these PTCB facts, then be sure to ace the PTCB exams. Below is what you should know.
The Format of the PTCB Exam
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The PTCB exam also referred to as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam is the certification needed to be a pharmacy technician. The format is made up of 90 multiple-choice questions.
Note: it would be best to keep in mind that only 80 of the multiple questions are scored while the remaining ten are not. As a person taking the exam, you will not identify which one’s count and the ones that don’t as they are casually spread throughout the test.
Duration to Complete the PTCB Exam
Additionally, you need to be keen on the time needed to complete the test. The test takes two hours to complete. This means that you will have to know your material and plan yourself accordingly for you not to be caught up with time.
However, you need to note that the average time to complete the exam is one hour and fifty minutes. The remaining ten minutes are split into two: pre-exam and post-exam surveys.
How the PTCB Exam is Scored
Usually, questions differ from one person to another. Hence, not everyone who seats for the PTCB exam receives the same actual questions in the same year. The exam is designed to test similar content, but the number of “hard” questions can vary.
In this case, P.T.C.E. is scored using a scale scoring system that considers the exam variability. The scale scores are then compared across candidates regardless of the differences in exam difficulty. This allows all candidates to be held to the same scoring standard. The passing score for P.T.C.E. is 1400 or higher, while the possible score range is 1000 to 1600.
What Happens if You Fail theTech Exam
If you fail on your first attempt, you can apply for a retake after sixty days. If you fail on your second attempt, you must wait for another sixty days to apply for a third attempt. After the third trial, you must wait for another six months to apply for your fourth attempt.
There are no restrictions to the number of exams you can attempt. However, you have to make a payment every time you re-apply. After four attempts, you will need to provide the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board with the evidence that you have finished “acceptable preparation activities”, which the organization will review and approve before you can apply for additional attempts.
PTCB Exam Preparation Resources You Can Use
If you are going to take P.T.C.E., there are several good resources you can use for preparation. Both are from the pharmacy technician certification board and external sources. Here are some options to consider
- Official PTCB Practice Exam
The best PTCB practice test is the one created by PTCB itself. The Pharmacy Technician Board has put together a practice exam that reflects the actual exam in both content and format.
This familiarizes the student with what is expected. This ensures there are no surprises as to the type of questions asked and the look of the exam. The practice version also contains 90 questions giving the student a chance to pace themselves against time.
- Official PTCB Calculations Practice App
You need to know several top pharmacy calculations tips for the PTCB exam. This includes conversions and formulae, converting ratios and percentage strengths, roman numerals, body mass index, and dosage calculations.
The PTCB Calculations practice question app allows students to practice typical calculations found on the exam. This gives them a realistic look at what to expect. Having a solid coverage of the above topics will help you do well in the PTCB pharmacy calculations section.
Topics Covered on the PTCB
Questions usually are categorized across four knowledge domains. However, they are randomly distributed throughout the exam. The four knowledge domains include
- Medication
Medications make roughly 40% of the questions asked. The questions are generally taken from the old test’s pharmacology area. They include a few concepts in the old test’s sterile and non-sterile compounding and inventory management areas. There is also another new concert that is not listed in the content outline of the old test. That is Narrow TherapeuticIndex, N.T.I. medications.
The PTCB test needs you to familiarize yourself with pharmaceutical names and spellings to make it easier to understand patients and communicate with other healthcare professionals. Knowing the generic and brand name, indication, classification, schedule, and interactions is essential as they are frequently used in practice.
- Federal Requirements
This makes 12.5% of the entire exam. Much of this study comprises Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies REMS, specific pharmacy legislation, and the handling and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste.
These are the common areas tested and what you can expect on PTCB practice test questions for the controlled substances aspect of the exam.
- Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Concepts covered in this study are assessed by about 26.25% of the newest version of the PTCB exam. Topics such as the potential for risk, high alert and high-risk medications, look-alike medications, error prevention strategies, tall man lettering, inventory separations, abbreviation use, and correct order to correct patients are some of the common areas tested.
- Order Entry and Processing
This covers 21.25% of the test. This area covers procedures to compound non-sterile products, equipment supplies required for drug administration, procedures for identifying and returning dispensable and expired medication and supplies.
Bottom Line
Becoming a certified pharmacy technician is a significant milestone. But before you can declare yourself a CPhT, you will have to pass the PTCB As you expect the test to be challenging, the proper test preparation makes all the difference. This article gives you everything you have to expect to be ready.