Pharmacy technicians who want to become certified must pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) test. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) created this test to ensure pharmacy technicians adhere to the established requirements. There are 90 multiple-choice questions in the test.
According to the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, only 58% of candidates completed the certification test in 2017. By 2026, there will be a 12 percent increase in demand for pharmacy technicians, which is much faster than normal. The number of pharmacy technicians has significantly increased during the last ten years by 49%. Below is a study guide for Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination.
Study Guide For Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination
Preparing for the pharmacy technician exam might be difficult. Some people decide to create their own study guides as a way to be ready. Various PTCB study resources are easily accessible online for people who don’t want to go the additional mile. These study guides previously covered all the topics included in the exam.
Get Organized
There are a few essential things you can do to position yourself for success when it comes to preparing for pharmacy technician examinations. Create a study regimen that you will stick to. This will make it easier for you to remain on course and make sure you’re covering all the information you need to know.
Set up certain daily or weekly hours to go through pharmacy technician fundamentals. Consistency in your study habits will improve your memory retention and reduce your test-day tension. You may prevent procrastination by organizing your study strategy and strictly adhering to it.
Understand The Exam Format
Unlike other tests you’ve taken in school, the PTCE is unique. In only 90 questions, it will assess your knowledge of an entire area. All of the questions are multiple-choice, although they switch between different topics. You must be able to remember crucial information quickly. The following subjects were covered the most on the test:
- Order filling and medication filling
- Medication safety
- Pharmacology
- Laws and regulations
The test has a two-hour time limit. Therefore effectiveness and quickness are crucial. Since many of the responses would be identical, it’s vital to discover specifics.
Take Practice Tests
Never underrate the value of taking a PTCB practice test. You may obtain a sense of the test’s structure and what to expect by taking a full-length practice exam. You will learn how to use your knowledge to solve issues and grow used to the questions on the test.
Also, managing your time during the real test will be easier if you practice under time constraints. By doing this, you may avoid running out of time during the actual test.
You may develop your confidence and sharpen your test-taking techniques by taking practice exams. You may find areas where you need improvement by looking through your score after each practice test.
Review The Exam’s Syllabus
For students preparing to take the test, the PTCB gives a comprehensive summary of the subjects included in its content outline. Look through this outline and mark any subjects you need to learn more about before reading any recommended study resources. You may use this outline as a guide to choose which topics you should focus on studying and which you currently understand quite well.
Use Other Resources
People getting ready to take the pharmacy tech test have access to much information. Training manuals, pharmacological reference books, and computation manuals are a few examples. Make a note of the subjects you need to study more rigorously when you go through the content outline and past tests. Then, you might go to other sources to learn more about these topics.
Make Your Own Study Materials
You may make your own materials that will aid in your learning while you evaluate the resources offered by the pharmacy training programs and the test administration board. Making flashcards may be a helpful tool for certain individuals who want to review important ideas and test their understanding. Others find it useful to make cheat sheets with notes to go over while studying. Create tools that may assist you in continuing to review challenging topics and ideas as you prepare for the exam using what you already know about your preferred learning method.
Improve Your Mental Capacity
Before a test, you should concentrate on leading a healthy lifestyle—your chances of remembering knowledge increase if your brain is well-fed and relaxed. At least one month before the test, start eating healthier. It would help if you consumed less refined and processed meals. Increase your fiber intake, complex carbohydrates, omega-3 fatty acids, and proteins.
Consistently take water. Bring a water bottle with you everywhere you go. Aim to consume 64 ounces or more of water each day. Start moving your body. Every day, go for a power walk or a run. Develop your flexibility and strength. Passing the test also depends on your mental wellness. Consider the consequences of passing or failing as a way to reduce your tension. If you need more assistance with stress and anxiety, go to a therapist.
Form A Study Group
After a few weeks of solitary study, get your classmates together to form a study group. It is important to study in groups so that you may test one another. Additionally, you might get some study tips and methods from them. Typically, groups of two to ten people work well. Being a teacher is a productive method of learning.
Try to convey ideas to your peers as if they had no prior knowledge of pharmacy. Another technique to improve your memory is to speak things out loud. Try to spend a few hours each week meeting with your study group. You can even consider taking a practice exam in its entirety. It’s best for your learning to combine individual and group study.
Do Not Cram
Since it is effective, you begin your study regimen three months before the test. Studies demonstrate that cramming the night before seldom works. You’ll experience less tension in the days leading up to the test the earlier you begin.
Review your notes the night before the PTCE. Don’t exert too much effort. Before the test, it’s crucial to acquire eight hours of sleep before the test. Eat a healthy breakfast the morning before the test. Try meditation to reduce your stress. Review your notes again, but be proud of your level of preparation.
Become Acquainted With The Area
Find out where your testing place is and familiarize yourself with it. Be aware of any parking limitations at the location where your exam will be administered. Cell phones and GPS units may not be allowed at certain schools. Make sure you research it first. You risk being rejected and barred from taking a make-up exam if you cannot arrive on time for the test.
Go Through The Exam Procedure
Understanding the test procedure can help you know what to anticipate when you show up there. You take the test on a computer at a testing facility close to you. There are 90 questions total. However, only 80 are graded. You won’t be aware of which 10 questions are not scored. The test has a two-hour time restriction, which includes a lesson and a post-exam survey that will each take ten minutes. When registering for and scheduling the exam, candidates may request any accommodations they require.
You will see your unofficial test results on the screen as soon as you complete the post-exam survey. You’ll get your official results within two to three weeks, which you may see online using your PTCB account. You may download and print your certificate immediately if you pass the exam. A digital emblem that you can put to your email signature, social media profiles, and CV will also be sent to you through email.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Need To Know The Top 200 Drugs For PTCB?
Yes, you do. The top 200 medications are constantly assessed on the PTCB exam and will still be crucial for the PTCB test in 2022.
Is The 2022 PTCB Exam Hard?
The PTCB test may be challenging. Thus preparation is essential for success. As with any other significant test, studying in advance may significantly impact your final grade. Use the study suggestions above to ensure you feel confident on test day.
Is It Hard To Pass The Pharmacy Technician Exam?
Your performance on the PTCB exam will be influenced by several variables, such as your test-taking skills, the amount of preparation you did, and the questions you are given. The PTCE has had an average pass rate of 72% from 1995 through 2020. 70 percent of test takers in 2020 succeeded on the exam.
What Score Do You Need To Pass The PTCB?
The latest PTCB exam has a scaled passing score of 1400. The range of potential scores is from 1000 to 1600. So, if you do the math using those percentages, you get 54 percent and cannot make a convincing case.
Do Pharmacists Know Every Drug?
Pharmacists finish a university-level education to learn all there is to know about medications, including their uses, adverse effects, and interactions with other medicines. Pharmacists translate and impart this information to patients, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
References
- https://www.mometrix.com/academy/ptcb-practice-test/
- https://www.pharmapproach.com/best-preparation-strategies-for-pharmacy-tech-exams/
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-study-for-pharmacy-tech-exam
- https://rxtechexam.com/ptcb-secrets-5-tricks-to-easily-pass-the-exam-in-just-a-few-weeks/
- https://techeconomy.ng/2022/02/a-simple-study-guide-to-the-ptcb-examination/
