PTCB vs ExCPT 2026: 1,400 vs 390 Scores + Free Test

November 2, 2026 · Alex S. · reviewed by Hana N., Quality Reviewer · how we write

The PTCE has 90 questions and a passing scaled score of 1,400 on a 1,000-1,600 scale. The ExCPT lists 100 scored and 20 pretest items and passes at 390 on a 200-500 scale.

PTCB and NHA both award a credential called CPhT, but they are different exams with different rules. PTCB's PTCE has 90 questions and a passing scaled score of 1,400 on a 1,000-1,600 scale. NHA's ExCPT lists 100 scored plus 20 pretest items and a passing scaled score of 390 on a 200-500 scale.

PTCE and ExCPT in one table

	PTCB (PTCE)	NHA (ExCPT)
Questions	90 (80 scored, 10 unscored)	120 (100 scored, 20 pretest)
Exam time	1 hour 50 minutes (2 hours with tutorial and survey)	2 hours 10 minutes
Passing score	1,400 scaled	390 scaled
Score scale	1,000-1,600	200-500
Where you test	In person at Pearson test centers	PSI testing center or live remote proctoring
Official result	Typically within three weeks	Within 48 hours (PSI or remote)
Training route	PTCB-recognized program (or finished within 60 days of applying), or a pharmacy degree	Training program completed within the last 5 years
Work route	At least 500 hours as a pharmacy technician	At least 1,200 hours of supervised pharmacy work in one year, within the last 3 years
Retakes	No wait for attempts 2 and 3, 6 months before attempt 4, then proof of preparation	30 days between attempts; after the third attempt, one year after each repeated failure
Renewal	Every 2 years	Every 2 years, 20 CE hours (1 pharmacy law, 1 patient safety)
Fee	$129	Listed in the NHA online shop

The scores cannot be compared

A 1,400 and a 390 sit on different scales, so neither tells you how close you are on the other exam. Neither body gives a percent-correct equivalent for its passing score. NHA says its cut score came from a 2024 standard-setting study using a modified Angoff method, with the raw cut score transformed to 390 out of 500.

Time per question

This is our arithmetic from the listed times. The PTCE allows about 73 seconds per question (110 minutes for 90). The ExCPT allows about 65 seconds per item (130 minutes for 120). Both figures include the unscored items.

How the content is divided

The PTCE has four domains, and Medications is the largest at 35%. The ExCPT test plan lists five domains by scored items out of 100: Dispensing Process (43), Role, Responsibilities, and General Duties (15), Laws (15), Medication and Patient Safety and Quality Assurance (14), and Drugs and Drug Therapy (13). The biggest ExCPT block covers processing and dispensing prescriptions, including calculations and compounding, while the biggest PTCE block covers the medications themselves.

A note on the ExCPT question count

NHA's certification page calls the ExCPT a "100-question" exam. Its test plan gives 100 scored items plus 20 pretest items, so the full exam has 120.

Choosing between the two

Neither exam body decides which credential your state board of pharmacy or your employer accepts. Ask them before you register, then pick the exam whose eligibility route, schedule and format fit you.

Frequently asked questions

Are both exams nationally accredited?

PTCB states that its CPhT Program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). NHA states that all of its exams are NCCA-accredited.

Which exam is harder?

Neither PTCB nor NHA publishes a difficulty comparison, and the two use different scoring scales, so no official source can answer that.

Do I need a training program for either one?

No. PTCB offers a work-experience route (500 hours) and NHA offers one too (1,200 hours of supervised pharmacy work), alongside the training routes.

How long does certification last?

Both credentials must be renewed every 2 years.

Official sources

Checked against the sources above on November 2, 2026. Exam bodies change fees and rules: confirm on the official page before you register.

PTCB vs ExCPT 2026: Side-by-Side Exam Comparison