Understanding your ExCPT scores
If you’re working toward becoming a certified pharmacy technician, you’ve likely come across the ExCPT, or Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians. As you get ready for test day or await your results, having a clear understanding of what the ExCPT certification is, the ExCPT passing score, and how the exam is evaluated can greatly boost your confidence and help you prepare more effectively.
Let’s explore how the ExCPT is structured, how scoring works, and what achieving a passing score means for your pharmacy technician career.
What is the ExCPT exam?
The ExCPT is a nationally recognized certification exam for Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT) in the United States, administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Alongside the PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) exam, the ExCPT certification serves as a key credential for those seeking to become certified pharmacy technicians.
The ExCPT evaluates your grasp of pharmaceutical knowledge and your ability to work safely and professionally in a pharmacy environment. The exam covers four primary domains:
- Overview and Laws
- Drugs and Drug Therapy
- Dispensing Process
- Medication Safety and Quality Assurance
To earn the ExCPT certification, candidates must complete a two-hour exam consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions. The content assesses your readiness to perform essential pharmacy technician duties with accuracy and attention to patient safety. Utilizing resources like practice tests can help you familiarize yourself with the exam structure and improve your chances of success on the official certification assessment.
What is a passing score?
The ExCPT uses a scaled scoring system that ranges from 200 to 500, with official passing scores set at 390 or higher. Meeting the ExCPT passing score is required to be awarded a passing status on the exam.
Here’s what this means for candidates:
- The ExCPT pass rate is not based on reaching a certain number of correctly answered questions.
- Instead, your raw score, the number of questions you answer correctly, is converted to a scaled score within the 200–500 range.
- This scaled scoring method adjusts for any variations in difficulty between test versions, ensuring fairness and reliability of the ExCPT pass rate for all examinees.
Because the scaled scoring system accounts for test difficulty, you may achieve the ExCPT passing score even if you answer a different number of questions correctly compared to others. This process helps maintain consistent standards and credibility when determining the ExCPT pass rate across testing periods.
How is the exam scored?
Your final ExCPT passing score is determined by two main factors:
(1) The difficulty level of the questions selected for your exam.
(2) The number of correct answers you achieve on the ExCPT practice test or the actual exam.
Because not every candidate receives the same set of questions, the NHA uses a statistical technique known as equating. This process ensures that every ExCPT passing score is fair and comparable across all test versions, regardless of question variation. Taking an ExCPT practice test beforehand can familiarize you with varying levels of difficulty, helping you understand how your performance will be evaluated against these standards.
When do you get your results?
Unofficial results are typically available immediately after the ExCPT exam, so you’ll know your ExCPT pass rate right away.
Official results and certification are generally emailed within two business days. This timely process ensures you can quickly verify your ExCPT pass rate and move forward in your pharmacy career.
What is the ExCPT pass rate?
In 2024, the ExCPT pass rate was 62%, and has remained just above 60% over the past 3 years. See below a table of ExCPT pass rates from 2022 onward.
ExCPT exam year | ExCPT exams administered | ExCPT exams passed | ExCPT pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
2022 | 13,390 | 8,570 | 64% |
2023 | 15,609 | 9,834 | 63% |
2024 | 16,519 | 10,241 | 62% |
Wrapping up
The ExCPT is considered a challenging but achievable certification exam. If you’ve devoted time to reviewing essential concepts, practicing with sample ExCPT questions, and understanding the exam format, reaching the required ExCPT passing score becomes much more attainable. While earning a score of 390 may seem daunting at first, thorough preparation and a positive mindset put success within reach.
Keep in mind that certification represents more than just a number. It’s a crucial step toward a rewarding healthcare career, where your skills, knowledge, and collaboration with other professionals can make a difference in patients’ lives.
