Free practice test

Tests

Driving testsCitizenship testsSchool and university admissionsNursing, medicine and healthEnglish and French testsTeachingMoney, law and insuranceTrades and work licencesPilots, drones, boats and radio

Countries

United StatesCanadaUnited KingdomAustraliaNew Zealand

United States · Certification exam

Advanced pharmacy technician (CPhT-Adv) and PTCB specialties

PTCB's CPhT-Adv is its credential for an advanced pharmacy technician. You need an active CPhT, at least 3 years of work as a technician within the past 8 years, and either four PTCB Assessment-Based Certificates or three plus the CSPT certification. PTCB says there's no extra fee or exam to apply.

Free practice test

Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

PTCB's pharmacy technician specialties

PTCB has four certifications (CPhT, CPhT-Adv, CSPT and CPTEd, for educators) and eleven Assessment-Based Certificates. Certificates have no acronym, don't expire and need no CE. Here they are with PTCB's figures:

CertificateActive holders, Dec. 31, 20252025 pass rate
Billing and Reimbursement2,27882%
Controlled Substances Diversion Prevention2,22875%
Hazardous Drug Management1,39766%
Immunization Administration2,53982%
Medication History3,72693%
Medication Therapy Management1,69989%
Nonsterile Compounding41383%
Point-of-Care Testing43392%
Regulatory Compliance79791%
Supply Chain and Inventory Management82660%
Technician Product Verification2,53673%

Sterile compounding and hazardous drugs

If you're looking for IV or sterile compounding certification, the PTCB credential for that work is the Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT). PTCB reports 1,911 active CSPTs at the end of 2025 and an 83% pass rate that year. The CSPT also counts toward the CPhT-Adv, in place of one certificate.

PTCB has no credential called chemo certification. Its Hazardous Drug Management certificate covers hazardous drugs, and its page cites NIOSH's list of antineoplastic (chemotherapy) and other hazardous drugs, with exams from March 24, 2025 following NIOSH's 2024 documents. You need an active CPhT and a PTCB-Recognized hazardous drug program, and the exam is $89: 55 questions online or at a Pearson VUE center.

PTCB: Hazardous Drug Management certificate ↗

How do you become an advanced pharmacy technician?

  1. Hold an active PTCB CPhT.
  2. Build up at least 3 years of work as a pharmacy technician within the past 8 years.
  3. Earn four Assessment-Based Certificates, or three plus the CSPT.
  4. Apply. There's no extra fee or exam.
  5. Renew every 2 years. PTCB's guidebook asks CPhT-Adv holders for 25 CE hours a cycle: the CPhT's 20 plus 5 in any pharmacy topic.
PTCB: CPhT-Adv ↗PTCB certification renewal requirements →
Sources: PTCB and 4 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

Explore

Everything else, in one place

OverviewPractice testWhere to learnStudy plannerHow many questionsSchedule the examCostOnline examStudy guideBecome certifiedTest datesRenewal and CEVerify a CPhTIs it hard?ResultsState rules