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PTCB Nonsterile Compounding Certificate — Requirements & Free Practice

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PTCB Nonsterile Compounding Certificate

A PTCB assessment-based certificate recognizing knowledge and skill in compounding nonsterile dosage forms.

Licensing authority: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board

Initial by examination
Nonsterile Compounding Certificate Exam
All Of
[{"description":"Hold active PTCB CPhT Certification; existing certification is a prerequisite, without a new PTCE sitting or duplicate PTCE investigation."},{"anyOf":[{"description":"Complete a PTCB-Recognized Nonsterile Compounding Education/Training Program."},{"allOf":[{"description":"At least 12 months of full-time pharmacy-technician employment within the past eight (8) years, at least 50% devoted to independently compounding nonsterile preparations."},{"description":"Submit the Supervisor Attestation Form at application, completed by a supervisor or former supervisor who directly observed the candidate's activities."}]}]},{"description":"Apply through the PTCB Account, pay the USD 89 fee, receive application approval and authorization to schedule, and pass the Nonsterile Compounding Certificate Exam."}]
Applicability
Current official certificate requirements corroborated by the current help policy and the official announcement that a second work-experience pathway was added in 2025; exact start dates are unpublished.
Evidence Claim Ids
["nsc-eligibility","nsc-registration","nsc-adoption"]
Scheduling
Appointments at Pearson test centers or online with a live proctor; check in 30 minutes before the appointment and provide approved identification matching the PTCB Account.

Nonsterile Compounding Certificate Exam

Provider
Pearson test centers and online proctored testing
Format
Computer-based multiple-choice examination
Exam questions
Total questions: 70.
Time limit
80-minute examination within a 90-minute appointment, including a 5-minute tutorial and 5-minute post-exam survey.
Passing score
Scaled passing score 300 on a 0–400 scale.
Exam fee
USD 89 application/exam fee.
Examination outline
  • Regulations, Standards, and Guidelines (28%)
    • Regulatory terminology and acronyms
    • Standards, regulatory, and accreditation bodies
    • Pharmacy technician roles
    • Nonsterile compounding references
  • Nonsterile Compounding Processes (72%)
    • Drugs, components, and compatibility
    • Dosage forms and administration routes
    • Container closure systems and packaging
    • Compounding equipment
    • Disposable supplies
    • Reusable supplies
    • Weighing, measuring, and mixing
    • Compounding nonsterile dosage forms
    • Error prevention processes
    • Garb and PPE for HD and non-HD compounding
    • Deactivation, decontamination, cleaning, and sanitization
    • Environmental monitoring equipment
    • Quality assurance, quality control, and documentation
Examination sources