Exams / PTCB / How many questions are on the PTCB exam?

How many questions are on the PTCB exam?

The PTCB exam (PTCE) has 90 multiple-choice questions. 80 of them count toward your score and 10 are unscored. You get 1 hour and 50 minutes to answer them.

Checked against the sources on October 15, 2026.

Plan on 2 hours at the test center. PTCB breaks that into a 5-minute tutorial, the 1 hour and 50 minute exam, and a 5-minute survey afterward.

Part of the appointment Time
Tutorial 5 minutes
Exam (90 questions) 1 hour 50 minutes
Survey 5 minutes
Total 2 hours

That’s about 73 seconds per question. The 10 unscored questions are mixed in at random and aren’t marked, so treat every question as if it counts.

You take the PTCE in person at a Pearson VUE test center with a live proctor. PTCB doesn’t currently offer it online.

Sources

  1. PTCB, Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). 90 questions with 80 scored and 10 unscored, 2-hour appointment, Pearson test centers. Checked October 15, 2026.
  2. PTCB Help Center, At a Glance: CPhT Exam. Up to 110 minutes for the exam itself. Checked October 15, 2026.

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More about the PTCB

What is on the PTCB exam?

The PTCB exam (PTCE) covers four content areas. Medications is the largest at 35% of the exam, followed by patient safety and quality assurance, order entry and processing, and federal requirements.

What is the PTCB passing score?

The PTCB passing score is 1,400. PTCB reports PTCE results as scaled scores from 1,000 to 1,600, so you need 1,400 or higher to pass.

How much does the PTCB exam cost?

The PTCB exam costs $129. That fee covers your application for Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) certification and one sitting of the PTCE.

PTCB practice test

We’re writing a PTCB practice test, and a pharmacy professional checks every question before it goes live, because drug facts change often. Join the waitlist to hear the day it opens.