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You are nearing the end of your pharmacy technician training. Congratulations on all the hard work you have put in. Now comes the most challenging part, which is the PTCB exam. You are having sleepless nights because you don’t want to be part of the statistics of those who do not pass the exams.
Indeed a cursory internet search will tell you that the pass rate is 71%. And the rates have been dropping, reaching as low as 57%. Those numbers keep you up because your dream is to earn the CPhT title that qualifies you as a pharm tech.
If you are on this page, reading this, you are in the right place. We will guide you on the right path. We will also share a fantastic resource in the form of a free PTCB online test you can use to practice.
Start by Understanding the PTCB Test and Scope
The Pharmacy Technicians Certification Board (PTCB) exam falls under the mandate of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. It gives accreditation to pharmacy technician students and is a process of assessing them.
It is important to note that not all states require students to sit for the exam. These include Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Colorado, and New York. But, having the certificate makes candidates more attractive to potential employers.
The PTCB exam is a computerized, multiple choice type of test. Students have two hours within which to complete 90 questions. But, the board only scores 80 of them. You will not know the ten questions that are not, so please ensure you do not leave any questions blank.
The PTCB covers four broad categories. These are;-
- Medications take up 40% of the total score
- Federal requirement is 12.5% of the exam
- Order processing and entry at 21.25%
- Quality assurance and patient safety take 26.25%
Under each are subcategories covering a total of 9 subjects.
You can re-sit the exam after 60 days if you fail the first attempt. The same applies to the third attempt. Beyond that, you have to wait six months to try again. Please note the applicable fees by checking on the Pharm tech board site.
Take Advantage of Free PTCB Practice Tests
You may think that you have a good grasp of all the material. But, on exam day, you find it hard to answer the questions.
Complement the studying by taking the pharmacy technician practice test. The creators of the content use material from the latest syllabus to develop the test questions. They also use the multiple-choice format that is similar to what is in the PTCB exam.
The advantage of using the free PTCB test is:-
- It allows you to practice so that you can be comfortable with the exam format.
- You can identify areas of strength and weakness. You can then concentrate on improving on the latter.
- The practice tests cover the critical areas for the examination. It will give you more confidence in tackling the actual exam.
Allocate Sufficient Time to Preparing For the Exam
How can you expect to pass the PTCB exam if you don’t allocate sufficient time to studying? Think about it like any other exam you have taken over the years. Waiting until the last minute can put unnecessary pressure on you. A reasonable timeline would be anywhere from six to eight weeks. There is a lot of material that you will need to cover.
Get comfortable with the mathematical aspect of the exam. That includes the formulas, conversions, and calculations. And let’s not forget having to remember all the medication generic and brand names. With over 200, it can be tough.
Please remember we live in the internet age. That means you don’t have to depend on physical books. Many resources are available online to help you prepare for the PTCB exam.
Create a timetable covering the key examinable subjects. As we said, you may need to allocate a little bit more time to the areas in which you are not very strong.
It is also essential to take time to learn how to answer questions. Trying to cram all the information may work against you. A better option is to devise a smart way of taking the exam. You can try and master the mathematical formulas rather than memorizing the steps. For drugs, using classifications may work better than learning each drug individually.
Use Study Aids
With a busy work schedule, you may find it hard to find time to study. Get creative by using study aids like flash cards. Write critical points on paper that you can carry around with you. If you find any free moments, you can bring them out and commit the information to memory.
Indeed, such study aids are great for the subjects you find difficult. Research shows that students who depend on laptops for note-taking may impair their learning capacity. They generally tend to perform worse on conceptual questions.
The same does not apply to students who take long-hand notes. The reason is laptop note-takers tend to transcribe the lectures verbatim. Those who use long-hand first process the information, understand it, and then put it down.
If you apply the same thinking to creating flashcards, you will appreciate the integrity of the study. Since you have little space to put the information, you will only have what matters.
Final Thoughts
Do not be afraid of the PTCB exam. Rather, consider it as that final stretch to winning the race. You have spent a lot of time in class learning the basics. And with some studying and practice using the free PTCB practice test, there should be no reason not to pass.
Remember, give yourself plenty of time to study. Learn everything there is to know about the PTCB exam. Look at the format and type of questions.
Also, learn how to answer multiple choice questions. They can sometimes be quite confusing. So, read each question carefully, think of the answer then look at the options available. Please take note of subtle things like spelling errors because it could be a way of checking how attentive to detail you are.
Finally, even if you don’t pass the first time, you have up to four attempts to get it right. Focus on your weaknesses so that you can get your PTCB certification. Don’t kill your dream of becoming a pharm tech because of the exam. Prepare well, and you will ace it.