PTCB Exam Format: What’s Actually on the PTCE

How many questions are on the PTCE?

The PTCE has 90 multiple-choice questions. Of those, 80 are scored and 10 are unscored pretest questions that PTCB mixes in to test future exam content.

Pretest questions look identical to scored ones and you won’t know which is which while you’re testing — so the only reliable strategy is to answer every question as if it counts.

The 4 PTCE knowledge domains

The content outline effective January 2026 organizes the exam into four domains, each with a fixed weight:

• Medications — 35%
• Patient Safety and Quality Assurance — 23.75%
• Order Entry and Processing — 22.5%
• Federal Requirements — 18.75%

Applied to the 80 scored questions, that works out to roughly 28 Medications questions, 19 Patient Safety and Quality Assurance questions, 18 Order Entry and Processing questions, and 15 Federal Requirements questions — approximate counts derived from the published weighting, not a figure PTCB itself publishes.

Two changes are worth knowing if you studied from older material: sterile and non-sterile compounding calculations (including alligation) were removed from the outline, and DSCSA (drug supply chain security / track-and-trace) was added to the Federal Requirements domain.

How is the PTCE scored?

The PTCE uses a scaled score from 1000 to 1600. The passing score is 1400.

Because the score is scaled rather than a raw percentage, you can’t reliably back-calculate “how many I can afford to miss” from the 80 scored questions — aim to answer as many correctly as you can rather than doing that math on test day.

Cost and retakes

Each attempt costs $129. If you don’t pass, there’s no mandatory waiting period before a 2nd or 3rd attempt — you can schedule again as soon as you’re ready. After a 3rd unsuccessful attempt, PTCB requires a 6-month wait before a 4th.

What to expect on test day

The PTCE is computer-based and administered at a Pearson VUE testing center. The testing center provides a basic calculator, so you don’t need to bring your own.

Your official appointment confirmation from Pearson VUE will list the exact time allotted for your specific appointment — check that confirmation rather than relying on a general number, since appointment details can vary.

How many questions are on the PTCB exam?

90 total — 80 scored and 10 unscored pretest questions mixed in randomly throughout the exam.

What is a passing score on the PTCE?

1400, on a scaled score range of 1000–1600.

Can I retake the PTCE if I don’t pass?

Yes. There’s no waiting period before a 2nd or 3rd attempt. After a 3rd unsuccessful attempt, PTCB requires a 6-month wait before a 4th.

Is alligation still on the PTCE?

No. Sterile and non-sterile compounding calculations, including alligation, were removed from the content outline effective January 2026.

Does the PTCE cover DSCSA?

Yes. DSCSA (drug supply chain security / track-and-trace) was added to the Federal Requirements domain in the January 2026 outline.