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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 fulfill one of the following eligibility pathways:
Pathway 1: Completion of a PTCB-Recognized Medication History Education/Training Program and at least 6 months of experience conducting medication histories and/or similar experiences of patient-focused communication (such as intake of new patients/prescriptions and answering patient questions).*
Pathway 2: At least 12 months of full-time experience conducting medication histories and/or similar experiences of patient-focused communication (such as intake of new patients/prescriptions and answering patient questions).*
*Approximately 50% of time spent in work activities should involve patient-focused communication (e.g., intake of new patients/prescriptions, answering patient questions). The intention of the requirement is that pharmacy technicians with full-time work experience in community pharmacies and/or work experience in ambulatory/hospital roles focused on taking medication histories will meet the spirit of the requirement.
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.
Educational Requirement
One of the eligibility pathways for this certificate program includes completing a PTCB- Recognized Medication History Education/Training Program. PTCB Recognized Education/Training Programs meet the curriculum requirements as documented by PTCB.
View a list of PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Programs for the Medication History Certificate.
Please note that additional PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Programs for Medication History will be added to the list as they become available.
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 Medication History 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.
Candidates are required to complete and upload the Supervisor Attestation Form for the PTCB Medication History Certificate Program at the time of application submission.
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
Be sure to review the content outline as part of your exam preparation.
| Concepts/Terminology of Medication History (45%) |
| Definitions of key terms in the medication history process (e.g., medication allergy vs. medication intolerance, medication adherence) |
| Translation between patient-friendly terms and medical terminology |
| Adherence metrics and differences between primary and secondary nonadherence |
| Common vaccinations and vaccination schedules |
| Patient Safety and Quality Assurance Strategies (55%) |
| Types of prescription/medication errors (e.g., abnormal doses, incorrect quantity, incorrect strength, incorrect drug, incorrect route of administration, incorrect directions, wrong timing, missing dose, misinterpretation of drug concentration) |
| Potential impact of medication errors, including look-alike/sound-alike medications (e.g., ampicillin/amoxicillin) |
| Patient factors that influence the ability to report medication information accurately and adhere to prescribed dosing schedules |
| HIPAA and best practices to maintain patient confidentiality during patient conversations |
| Techniques or devices to assist with safe and consistent home medication use (e.g., pill boxes, medication calendars, medication alarms) |
| Procedures to verify patient identity, including appropriate identifiers and knowledge of limitations for different identifiers |
