You passed your PTCE exam.
Here's exactly what to do in the next 7 days to start your career as a CPhT.
Confirm your credential — and check your state's registration rules
Passing the PTCE makes you a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) nationally through PTCB — log into your PTCB account to confirm your certification shows as active. But unlike some national certifications, most states also require pharmacy technicians to separately register or hold a license with their state board of pharmacy before you can legally work. Rules and timing vary widely by state, so this is the step to check first, before you apply anywhere.
Tip:Add “CPhT” directly after your name on your resume and LinkedIn headline — recruiters and pharmacy managers filter for it specifically, and it signals you're credentialed before they read a word further.
Find your first job
Pharmacy technicians work in retail chain pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, mail-order and specialty pharmacies, and long-term care pharmacies. Retail chains hire in the highest volume and are usually the fastest way in; hospital and specialty roles typically pay more but often want some experience first.
General job boards
Indeed and LinkedIn list the largest volume of pharmacy technician openings — filter for “CPhT” or “certified” to skip listings for uncertified trainee roles.
Retail chain career pages
CVS Health, Walgreens, Walmart, and grocery-chain pharmacies hire CPhTs directly and often list openings before they hit general job boards — check “careers” on each chain's site for stores near you.
Hospital system career pages
Hospital pharmacies typically pay more than retail and often prefer certified technicians — search “[your hospital system] careers pharmacy technician.”
Pro tip: Apply broadly in your first search — retail, hospital, mail-order, and long-term care pharmacies all hire CPhTs, and hospital or specialty settings often pay more once you have experience.
What to have ready before your first shift
Most employers require all of these before you can start:
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Background check requirements vary by state and by whether you'll handle controlled substances — confirm what your employer and state board require before your start date.
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Non-Slip Shoes
Required at most pharmacies. Comfort matters on long, mostly-standing shifts.
Compression Socks
Most techs swear by these after a full day on their feet at the counter.
Pharmacy Technician Drug Reference Guide
A fast lookup for generic/brand names, classifications, and indications on the job.
Scientific Calculator
For dosage, days-supply, and dilution calculations at the bench.
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What to expect your first week
Stay sharp on the job
New CPhTs who keep reviewing drug names, interactions, and calculations perform better in their first 90 days. Our practice questions are still here whenever you want a refresher.
Back to Practice Tests →