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United States · Certification exam

PTCB certification renewal requirements

Every 2 years you need 20 hours of continuing education and a $55 renewal application to keep your CPhT. Under PTCB's certification renewal requirements, at least 1 of those hours must be in pharmacy law and 1 in patient safety. NHA's ExCPT credential runs on the same 2-year cycle with the same 20 hours, including 1 hour of law and 1 of patient safety.

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

How to renew your PTCB certification

  1. Make sure your NABP e-Profile ID is on file and shows in your PTCB account.
  2. Finish your 20 CE hours inside your 2-year cycle. Hours from before you were certified don't count, and extra hours don't carry over.
  3. Apply in your PTCB account. You can apply from 60 days before your expiration date.
  4. Submit by 11:59 PM ET on the application deadline, the first day of your expiration month, and pay the $55 fee. After that, a $25 late fee is added.
PTCB: How to renew ↗PTCB certification cost →

Which CE meets PTCB certification renewal requirements?

Per PTCB's guidebook, CE has to cover topics in the PTCE Content Outline. These count:

  • Activities from ACPE-accredited providers marked for technicians (target audience 'T').
  • Pharmacist-level ACPE activities ('P'), up to 5 hours, if the topic is in the outline.
  • Activities from other providers, if PTCB decides the content matches the outline.
  • A relevant college course of 3 credit hours with a grade of C or better, for up to 10 hours.

Keep your own records: PTCB can audit your CE. Its CE Directory lists ACPE-accredited programs.

Free CE for pharmacy technicians

Free CE counts the same as paid CE, as long as it meets the rules above. PTCB and NHA set no rule about what CE costs: what matters is the provider, the topic and, for PTCB, the law and patient safety hours. Check that a free course is ACPE-accredited for technicians before you rely on it for PTCB renewal.

If your CPhT expires

Miss your expiration date and you're no longer certified, and you have to stop using the CPhT title. PTCB lets you reinstate within one year for $95. Reinstatement needs 20 CE hours too, but with 2 in pharmacy law instead of 1. After that year, you apply and pass the PTCE again.

PTCB certification verification →Advanced pharmacy technician (CPhT-Adv) →

Renewing NHA's ExCPT CPhT

NHA's CPhT is valid for 2 years from its issue date. You submit at least 20 CE hours related to pharmacy technician practice, including at least 1 hour of pharmacy law and 1 of patient safety, plus a renewal fee shown on NHA's site. NHA's website shows every 2 hours of CE as 1 credit, and NHA says there's no penalty for renewing early.

If it lapses, you can reinstate within 1 year with 20 hours of CE and the renewal and reinstatement fees. After a year, you retake the ExCPT.

Sources: PTCB · NHA and 3 more. Checked October 2026.

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

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