Jobs and career pathways
PTCE – Pharmacy Tech jobs, salary benchmarks, and career pathways
CPhT certification is the standard credential for the role below, and several states require it for practice.
Updated October 6, 2026
Where this exam tends to lead
These roles centre on related jobs and career pathways. The role targets below are the main search patterns this jobs page is built around.
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Pharmacy technician salary benchmark
CPhT certification is the standard credential for the role below, and several states require it for practice.
| Role / benchmark | Pay | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy technicians | $45,750 median annual wage | May 2025 figure; typical entry-level education is a high school diploma or equivalent BLS Pharmacy Technicians |
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Official PTCE facts
| Fact | Current detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 90 multiple-choice questions — 80 scored and 10 unscored | PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician |
| Time commitment | 2 hours total — a 5-minute tutorial, a 1 hour and 50 minute exam, and a 5-minute post-exam survey | PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician |
| Cost | $129 to apply for CPhT certification and take the PTCE | PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician |
| Passing score | A scaled score of 1,400, on a range of possible scores from 1,000 to 1,600 | PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician |
| Eligibility route one | Completion of a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program | PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician |
| Eligibility route two | Equivalent work experience as a pharmacy technician, minimum 500 hours | PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician |
| Domain weights | Medications 35%, Patient Safety and Quality Assurance 23.75%, Order Entry and Processing 22.50%, Federal Requirements 18.75% | PTCB PTCE Content Outline |
| Recertification | PTCB CPhTs must renew their certification every 2 years to maintain the credential | PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician |
| Other eligibility conditions | Candidates must reside in the United States, disclose criminal history, and comply with PTCB policies in addition to meeting an education or experience route | PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician |
Fetched job listings
These listings come from the latest automated jobs update run. If a board blocks or limits retrieval, use the live search links above.
6 listings captured
The Muse
Store Associate
CVS Health
Litchfield, CT
The Muse
(USA) Tire and Battery Service Advisor
Walmart
Eau Claire, WI
The Muse
Café Associate
Walmart
Clive, IA
The Muse
Maintenance Custodian Associate
Walmart
Ellicott City, MD
The Muse
Retail Customer Service Associate
Walmart
El Paso, TX
The Muse
PRODUCE/CLERK
Kroger
Bowling Green, OH
Official resources
Exam structure, fee, passing score, both eligibility pathways, and the two-year renewal cycle.
The four knowledge domains with their exact weights, and the sub-topics inside each — the best study-allocation document PTCB publishes.
External resources and benchmarks
Neutral wage and employment data for the role.
Questions people ask before choosing this path
What percentage do I need to pass the PTCE?
There is no percentage. PTCB reports a scaled score, and the passing standard is 1,400 on a range of 1,000 to 1,600. Scaled scoring accounts for differences in form difficulty, so a fixed number of correct answers does not map to a fixed scaled score.
How long is the PTCE?
The exam itself is 1 hour and 50 minutes, but plan for 2 hours: there is a 5-minute tutorial before it and a 5-minute survey after it.
Do I need to complete a training program first?
Not necessarily. PTCB offers two routes — completing a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program, or documenting equivalent pharmacy technician work experience of at least 500 hours.
What does certification cost?
$129 covers both the CPhT certification application and the exam. Budget beyond that for renewal, since PTCB requires CPhTs to recertify every two years.