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A Step Toward Your Advanced CPhT (CPhT-Adv)
Earning this certificate takes you one step closer to becoming a PTCB Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician™ (CPhT-Adv™). Active PTCB CPhTs who have completed at least four of the certificate programs, or three certificate programs and the Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician® (CSPT®) Certification, and 3 years of work experience will be eligible to earn a CPhT-Adv credential.
Eligibility Requirements
A candidate must hold an active PTCB CPhT Certification and complete a PTCB-Recognized Hazardous Drug Management Education/Training Program.
View a list of PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Programs for the Hazardous Drug Management Certificate.
PTCB-Recognized Programs have been reviewed and found to provide learners with foundational knowledge that will help them be successful on PTCB exams. Please note that PTCB-Recognized Programs may not cover all information that appears on your exam. It is important that you review the exam content outline as part of your preparation and seek supplemental resources as needed.
Exam Fee
The fee to apply for this certificate exam is $89.
How to Apply and Schedule
- Apply by logging into your PTCB Account.
- Once your application is approved, you will receive an email with your authorization to schedule your exam.
The Hazardous Drug Management Certificate Exam is administered through online proctored testing and in-person at more than 1,400 Pearson Professional Centers nationwide, including more than 100 military on-base sites.
Prepare for Your Exam
Online Testing Requirements Overview
This quick video explains the requirements and policies for online proctored testing.
Pearson VUE Tutorial
The Pearson VUE tutorial provides a preview of the testing experience and functionality for PTCB exams.
Exam Content Outline
The Hazardous Drug Management Exam covers several knowledge areas organized into six domains. Be sure to review the exam content outline as part of your exam preparation.
| Engineering Controls (22%) |
| Features and characteristics of facilities and engineering controls that must be maintained within a healthcare environment when receiving and storing hazardous drugs. |
| Features and characteristics of facilities and engineering controls that must be maintained within a healthcare environment when manipulating (e.g., sterile and non-sterile compounding, packaging) hazardous drugs. |
| Facility Cleaning (16%) |
| Processes and procedures for deactivating, decontaminating, cleaning, and disinfecting areas where hazardous drugs are handled. |
| Procedures for responding to accidental exposure and spills of hazardous drugs. |
| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (13%) |
| Personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements when handling hazardous drugs based on the pharmacy activity (e.g., compounding, receiving). |
| Process for disposing PPE. |
| Transport & Receiving (11%) |
| Procedures and environmental requirements for transport and receiving hazardous medications. |
| Procedures for handling damaged shipping containers containing hazardous drugs. |
| Dispensing Final Dosage Forms (16%) |
| National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) criteria for defining hazardous drugs and tables listing hazardous drugs. |
| Containment supplemental engineering controls, protective medical devices, and techniques for administering hazardous drugs to patients. |
| Administrative (22%) |
| Federal regulations pertaining to the disposal of hazardous drugs. |
| Medical surveillance programs and surface wipe sampling. |
| Best practice facility standard operating procedures (SOPs), including area-specific SOPs, for the handling of hazardous drugs. |
| Hazardous drug training and competency requirements. |
On December 17, 2024, the CDC announced publication of new documents to replace the previous NIOSH List of Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings, 2016. Please note that PTCB Hazardous Drug Management Exams delivered on/after March 24, 2025 will be reflective of the following 2024 NIOSH documents:
