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Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) Exam

The Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) Exam is PTCB's computer-based exam that active PTCB CPhTs must pass — along with a supervisor Competency Attestation — to earn the Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT®) credential: 75 multiple-choice questions (60 scored, 15 unscored) in a 2-hour sitting on sterile compounding (USP <797>), passable with a scaled score of 1,400 out of 1,000–1,600, delivered year-round either online-proctored or in person at Pearson VUE test centers.

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Questions75 multiple-choice questions: 60 scored and 15 unscored (unscored questions randomly placed throughout the exam and not identified)

Testing time2 hours total (5-minute tutorial, 1 hour 50-minute exam, 5-minute post-exam survey)

ScoringPassing scaled score of 1,400; unofficial pass/fail result shown on screen immediately after the post-exam survey

Exam feeUSD 199 total: USD 50 application fee (nonrefundable, one-time per one-year CSPT Candidacy Window) + USD 149 exam fee; each exam attempt requires a new application and payment

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Exam overview

What to know before choosing your prep

Who runs it: PTCB
Category: Pharmacy Technician Certification
Current version: CSPT Exam republished November 1, 2023 with updated content reflecting the recent revision to USP <797>; published content outline is CSPT Content Outline v1.0 (December 2017)
Where it applies: United States — national
Exam languages: English
Score scale: 1,000–1,600 (scaled)
Testing provider: Pearson VUE
Format: Computer-based, multiple-choice only; administered either through live online proctored testing (available 24/7) or in person at more than 1,400 Pearson VUE test centers nationwide, including more than 100 military bases
Availability: Year-round by appointment; approved candidates receive a one-year Candidacy Eligibility Window and, after the authorization-to-schedule email, 90 days to schedule and take the exam; online-proctored sessions run 24/7
Results: Unofficial pass/fail result displayed on screen immediately after the post-exam survey; official results posted to the PTCB Account within three weeks (PTCB cannot expedite results)
Credential validity: Not applicable as a score-validity window; passing earns the CSPT credential, which must be recertified every year
Remote testing: Available

Exam structure

75 multiple-choice items (60 scored, 15 unscored) across four knowledge domains: Sterile Compounding Procedures (53%), Facilities and Equipment (22%), Medications and Components (17%), and Handling, Packaging, Storage, and Disposal (8%); a published exam medications list and references list accompany the outline

Where rules vary

U.S. national certification exam for advanced pharmacy-technician practice: administered at Pearson test centers 'nationwide' (including military bases) with uniform content nationwide; eligibility is limited to active PTCB CPhTs with documented U.S. sterile-compounding work experience or PTCB-recognized training.

Eligibility

Must hold an active PTCB CPhT credential and qualify under one of two pathways — Pathway 1: completion of or enrollment in a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program for the CSPT Program AND one year of full-time continuous compounded sterile preparation (CSP) work experience; Pathway 2: three years of full-time continuous CSP work experience within the last 8 years — and within the one-year candidacy window submit the CSPT Competency Attestation Form completed by a qualified supervisor in addition to passing the exam

Retake policy

Limited to two exam attempts per 12-month candidacy window with no wait period between them; a candidate who fails twice must wait until the end of the candidacy window (however much time remains) to reapply, and a new CSPT Competency Attestation Form is required for each 12-month candidacy window; every attempt requires a new application and payment, and a failed candidate must wait for the official score report before reapplying (Retake Policy v1.2, March 2025)