How many questions are on the PTCB exam?

The two exams side by side

As of October 2026, from PTCB and NHA:

Why there's no simple percentage

Both exams have several versions, and some are a little harder than others. A scaled score evens that out, so 1,400 on the PTCE means the same thing whichever version you get. That's why neither PTCB nor NHA tells you a fixed number of questions you need right.

So don't hunt for a magic number. Aim to get comfortably more than 70% right in practice, and you'll be in a good place.

The unscored questions

On both exams, some questions are being tried out for the future and don't count. They're mixed in at random and look like all the others. You can't spot them, so give every question your best answer.

Neither PTCB nor NHA mentions taking marks off for wrong answers, so it makes sense to answer every question.

What the PTCE covers

PTCB's content outline, effective January 6, 2026, splits the exam into four areas:

• Medications: 35%
• Patient safety and quality assurance: 23.75%
• Order entry and processing, including calculations: 22.50%
• Federal requirements: 18.75%

What the ExCPT covers

NHA's test plan counts scored questions instead of percentages:

• Dispensing process, including calculations and compounding: 43
• Role, responsibilities and general duties of the technician: 15
• Laws, including controlled substances: 15
• Medication and patient safety and quality assurance: 14
• Drugs and drug therapy: 13