PTCB Exam

PTCB Exam: Your Fast Track to a Great Job!

If you have never heard of the PTCB exam, and you are looking for a fast way to get into a skilled job that is in high demand, then you will want to read every word of this article. PTCB stands for Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, which is the name of the group that administers the PTCB test. As the name indicates, the test is used to certify or approve Pharmacy Technicians in the U.S. Anyone who passes the test is qualified to work as a Certified Pharmacy Technician in America. In other words, passing the PTCB exam is the first step toward landing one of these great jobs.

What does a Pharmacy Technician do? They work in pharmacies in hospital, drug stores, grocery stores, etc. Working hand in hand with the pharmacist, Pharmacy Technicians do much of the actual "work" that goes on in a pharmacy. They count and sort pills, label bottles, track orders, and perform many other necessary tasks that the pharmacist is too busy to do. The pharmacist does very little of the actual "work" in a pharmacy; his or her job is mainly to supervise everything, make sure all rules and regulations are followed, and to double check prescriptions filled by the Pharmacy Technicians. Smaller pharmacies may employ one only technician per shift, but in larger, busier pharmacies, there may be several technicians working at the same time.

What makes a Pharmacy Tech job so great is that you do not have to go to school for months or years to qualify for it. It takes only a few weeks of study to be ready to take the PTCB exam. Another great thing about these tech jobs is that they are always in demand. Look around your town and notice all the new pharmacies, drug stores, and grocery stores that offer prescription drug services. Every single one of them needs Pharmacy Technicians, and once you have your training, you will have a marketable skill you can take with you wherever you go. It all starts with passing the PTCB exam.

PTCB Test FAQSs

1. What is the PTCB test?

PTCB stands for Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, which administers the test. Passing the PTCB qualifies a person to use the title of Certified Pharmacy Technician. This is important because many pharmacies will not hire non-certified techs.

2. When is the test given?

Actually, the test can be taken at any time, all over the country, at Pearson VUE testing centers. Most people in America live within reasonable driving distance of one of these testing centers. A person must first apply to take the test, and after being approved, he or she has 90 days to schedule a test date. There is a fee of $129 to take the test.

3. What is the test like?

The PTCB test is taken on a computer (although you do not need computer experience to take it) at the testing center. It is in a multiple-choice format, which means that for every question, the test taker will have to choose the best answer from several different choices. The test will cover all aspects of Pharmacy Technician work, with a strong emphasis on safety and accuracy. There is a time limit of two hours to complete the test.

4. How will I know if I pass the PTCB?

Because the exam is computer based, scoring is done instantly. You will know as soon as the test is over whether you have passed or failed.

5. What happens if I fail the PTCB?

In case of a failing score, prospective Pharmacy Technicians may retake the PTCB exam after a 60 day waiting period. If they fail a second time, they can try a third time, after waiting 60 more days. If they also fail on the third attempt, they are allowed one more try, but only after waiting six months. If a person fails a fourth time, he or she is required to seek special written permission to be allowed to try again. Each retake of the PTCB will cost another $129.

6. If I pass the PTCB, does that mean I will get a job?

No. Passing the exam means that you will be a Certified Pharmacy Technician, but it is no guarantee of a job. It is an excellent step toward getting a job, as Pharmacy Technician are always in demand, though; increasingly, pharmacies will hire only those job applicants who have passed the PTCB test.

Is PTCB Certification Worth Getting?

Is PTCB certification worth getting? Well, that depends. PTCB (which stands for Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) certification is certainly not for everyone. However, there are two groups of people who should definitely be looking into become certified. The first group is comprised of all the people in the country who are currently working as pharmacy techs but are not certified. The second group of people who should consider Pharmacy Technician Certification includes all those Americans who are looking for a career in health care that does not take months or years to train for. For anyone in either of these groups, PTCB Certification is something that should be seriously considered.

Why do non-certified pharmacy techs need to seriously consider getting certified? Two words: job security. While there are currently thousands of non-certified pharmacy techs in the country, the number is getting smaller every year because pharmacies are increasingly requiring PTCB certification. In fact, your pharmacy may already require it for new hires. Do not think you are safe because you were hired before the rule took effect. At some point, your employer is probably going to order you to get certified or seek employment elsewhere. It is better for you to take the initiative to get certified before that situation arise because then you will not feel as much pressure to pass the test. Plus, once you are certified, you can ask for a raise, and you will be able to apply for jobs at pharmacies that would not have considered you before.

For those seeking a career in health care without a long training period, PTCB Certification is ideal. Instead of spending months or years in school, you can be trained for a new job in just a few weeks. The pay is decent, too. Many certified pharmacy technicians who have experience make over $14 an hour, and it is possible new hires to earn between $10 to $12. In today's society, these jobs are in demand and pay much better than most entry-level jobs. You can also use the job as a springboard to an even better health care career. Many pharmacies offer tuition reimbursement, so you could train to become a nurse (or even a full fledged pharmacist) and have your employer pay for it! And it all starts with PTCB Certification.

How to Pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam

So you are ready to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam? Congratulations! You are about to embark on a rewarding, good-paying career helping people recover from illnesses and stay in good health, and you should be proud of yourself for choosing this vocation. Of course, you still have to pass the final hurdle of the PTCB exam. If you fail this test, you will not be able to use the title of Certified Pharmacy Technician, and that is going to make it tough for you to get a job, as more and more pharmacies hire only certified techs. However, there is no need to worry. Here are some tips to help you pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam.

First, schedule your exam at a time that is best for you. You have a 90-day window during which to take the test, so try to arrange a date that allows you about a week or so to relax and be as stress free as possible. This makes a huge difference, because if you go into the testing center frazzled and worn out from a hectic week, you are probably not going to do your best on the exam. Second, if any question on the test stumps you, be sure to at least guess. A blank answer is always wrong, but if you guess, you just might get it right.

Finally, get a good PTCB study guide and use it to prepare for the exam so that you will have to do very little guessing. You will want to be as prepared as possible, because the test is quite challenging. Each year, many people fail it. In fact, quite a few fail it two or three times. The test is also timed, which puts even more pressure on you. You will have two hours to answer 90 questions, which does not give you much time to think about each question for very long at all. You will want to have the material fresh in your mind so that you do not have to spend too much time thinking about each question before the answer comes to you, and a good PTCB study guide will help you do that.