PTCB Certification Requirements
Earning Your PTCB Certification
To earn your Pharmacy Technician Certification (CPhT) from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
High school diploma or equivalent (such as a GED or a foreign diploma)
Full disclosure of all criminal history and any State Board of Pharmacy registration or licensure actions
Agreement to comply with all PTCB certification policies
Passing score on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE)
Note: PTCB previously planned to require completion of an accredited pharmacy technician education program starting in 2020. However, this requirement has been suspended, and is not currently enforced for first-time certification candidates.
Last updated: 10/04/2017
California State Licensing Requirements for PTCB
In addition to a high school diploma or GED, a criminal background check, and applicable licensing fees, pharmacy technicians in California must meet at least one of the following qualifications:
1. Graduate from an Accredited Pharmacy Technology Program
An Associate’s degree in Pharmacy Technology from a program accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) or another approved body. These programs typically include instruction in:
Basic math and recordkeeping
Pharmacy law and ethics
Medication dispensing methods
Names, uses, and dosages of common medications
Clinical experience for hands-on training
2. Complete a Board-Approved Pharmacy Technician Training Course
This must include at least 240 hours of instruction and cover:
Medical and pharmaceutical terminology, abbreviations, and symbols
Dosage calculations using both the metric and apothecary systems
Storage and dosage requirements
Real-world pharmacy operations and prescription processing
More detailed curriculum information is available on the California Board of Pharmacy website.
3. Graduate from a School of Pharmacy Recognized by the Board
Graduation from a recognized School of Pharmacy qualifies you for technician licensure in California.
4. Pass the PTCB Certification Exam (PTCE)
The PTCE has recently been updated and now includes 90 questions divided into nine sections, covering areas such as:
Medication safety
Pharmacy law and regulations
Pharmacy information systems
Inventory management
Order entry and processing
Continuing Education & Recertification
To maintain your PTCB certification, pharmacy technicians must recertify every two years. The recertification process requires:
20 hours of pharmacy-related continuing education (CE)
Up to 10 hours may be earned through on-the-job training
At least 1 hour must focus specifically on pharmacy law (required in California)