Top 5 PTCB Study Guides for 2018
This article has been updated for 2024! Please click here: Top 5 PTCB Study Guides for 2024
Are you considering making the leap to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician?
If you are thinking about working as a pharmacy technician, or perhaps you’re already working in this field, earning your Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) designation will provide you with much greater job opportunities along with a higher income potential.
In fact, in many states it is also a requirement have this prestigious designation in order to work as a Pharmacy Tech.
To become a certified pharmacy technician, there are several requirements you must meet – one of which is successfully passing the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).
The PTCE is administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). The PTCB establishes the national standard for pharmacy technicians in order to improve the safety of medication and patient care.
The PTCB exam is a nationally accredited certification exam for pharmacy technicians, through which over 600,000 pharmacy technicians have been certified. Along with passing the exam, to be eligible to earn the PTCB certification you must also:
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent (such as a GED)
- Disclose any criminal and license actions or registration from a State Board of Pharmacy
- Comply with applicable policies for the PTCB Certification
After all of your hard work to complete pharmacy tech program and meeting State Board Pharmacy requirements specific to your state, your next step is to preparing to successfully pass the PTCE – hopefully on your first try!
We highly suggest a good PTCE study guide to help you pass this important exam.
Prepping with a solid, well-respected study guide or two can help make a big difference in your test score while also giving you the confidence you need as you sit to take the exam. Below we have compiled a list of the best study exam guides.
Top 5 PTCB study guides for 2018:
1. Mosby’s Review for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination, 3e by
Mosby’s Review for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination remains one of the top PTCB exam guides available.
The author, James Mizner, is an educator for pharmacy techs. You will not often find many other books written by someone who is so well regarded in this field. 
This book, in its 3rd edition contains everything you need to pass the PTCB examination on your first try.
The guide includes study materials on all of the exam content, as well as outlines, strategies, test taking-tips and digital flash cards.
Each chapter of the guide aligns with a domain knowledge required for you to know and understand. The structure of the book allows your to practice in sections – permitting you to increase your understanding in blocks of information.
Included in the exam guide are the following:
- 1,700 review questions within 17 practice exams
- 700 digital flash cards to increase your recall of facts about medicines, sound-alike drugs, and abbreviations
- 7 practice exams in the same format and knowledge domain of the exam
- Suggestions and test taking tips to increase your success rate
- Current drug info and practice procedures based on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam Blueprint from the PTCB
2. Secrets of the PTCB Exam Study Guide: PTCB Test Review for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Examination Stg Edition by
Another top PTCB exam guide is the Secrets of the PTCB Exam Study Guide book.
This study guide provides all of the content that you need to pass the exam, including practice test questions and answers with detailed explanations. What we really like are the highlighted essential summaries about the key sections of the PTCB exam. 
The guide provides the following:
- An overall review of the PTCB exam
- Hospital settings overview
- Brand name and generic medications overview
- Safety precautions overview
- Conversion guide
- Thorough practice questions and answers
All the critical information your need is provided – principles, procedures, content, and vocabulary that you should fully understand to successfully pass the test.
Click here for a free preview of the Secrets of the PTCB Exam Study Guide
3. PTCB Exam Simplified, 3rd Edition: Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam Study Guide by David A Heckman, PharmD
This updated and expanded edition of this popular exam guide covers all of the 9 knowledge areas that make up the PTCB exam.
The PTCB Exam Simplified study guide focuses on providing the key elements that are outlined on the PTCB exam blueprint. The author structured this guide to have you actually solving questions with tons of practice problems and real life examples.
Along with the practice questions, you will find full-length a practice test and practice test answer key. 
Written by a pharmacist, the guide is very effective, efficient and practical for your preparation of the PTCB exam.
Features of the book include:
- Secrets to solving almost any pharmacy math problem
- Listing of the top 300+ prescription drugs, over the counter (OTC) drugs and herbal supplements
- Simple guide to interpreting prescriptions
- Pharmacy law review
- Secrets to solving Pharmacy math problems
- Visual guides using tables, illustrations and charts to assist learning quickly
4. Complete Math Review for the Pharmacy Technician 4th Edition by William A. Hopkins, Jr., PharmD
Are you someone who has a fear of math? Many people do! If so, you should increase your skills and confidence for the many calculations and conversions techniques that you will need to know.
Why not get a book that speaks specifically on pharmacy calculations? 
The Complete Math Review for the Pharmacy Technician thoroughly covers all topics related to number that you will need to pass the exam.
Features of this math review book includes:
- Over 850 practice problems along with answers and solutions
- Over 75 questions to challenge your ability to interpret pharmaceutical package inserts
- 101 post-test questions for real-life problems
- A chapter focused on finding medication calculation errors
This book an excellent guide to boost your math skills for pharmacy calculations!
5. Flashcard Study System for the PTCB Exam: PTCB Test Practice Questions & Review for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Examination (Cards) 1 Flc Crds Edition by the PTCB Exam Secrets Test Prep Team
If you are interested in a different method of preparation for this challenging exam – this flashcard system may be the right thing for you!
Using a flashcard based system of study has proven to be a very effective method. 
Using spaced repetition with the Flashcard Study System for the PTCB Exam makes studying fun, fast and portable! You can take these flashcards with you anywhere for any amount of time – even for just a few minutes.
The flashcards provides an in-depth review of all of the sections within the PTCB exam and more.
Conclusion
Any of the top PTCB study guides for 2018 discussed above will provide you the knowledge and confidence you need to successfully pass the PTCB exam.
Keep in mind to get your CPhT credential from the PTCB, you also must:
- Have a high school diploma, or the equivalent of – such as a GED
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Provide a disclosure of any criminal actions against you and any State Board of Pharmacy registration actions or licensure actions taken in the past against your license
- Agree to comply with all the PTCB Certification rules, regulations and policies
- Pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam!
With one or two of the guides listed above, along with your determination and focus – you’re well on your way to becoming a Certified Pharmacy Technician.