NHA and the ExCPT Exam
The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) is the certifying body that administers the ExCPT (Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians), one of two nationally recognized pathways to earn CPhT certification.
Exam Tip
NHA administers the ExCPT with 120 questions across 3 domains (largest = Dispensing Process at 55%). Both ExCPT and PTCE lead to CPhT. NHA accepts 1,200 hours work experience as eligibility.
What Is the NHA?
The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) is a national certification agency for healthcare workers. Founded in 1989, NHA offers certification exams for over 10 allied health professions, including pharmacy technicians through the ExCPT (Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians).
NHA vs. PTCB Comparison
| Feature | NHA (ExCPT) | PTCB (PTCE) |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1989 | 1995 |
| Accreditation | NCCA-accredited | NCCA-accredited |
| Exam name | ExCPT | PTCE |
| Questions | 120 (100 scored + 20 pretest) | 90 (80 scored + 10 pretest) |
| Time | 2 hours 10 minutes | 1 hour 50 minutes |
| Passing score | 390 (200-500 scale) | 1400 (1000-1600 scale) |
| Domains | 3 | 4 |
| Testing vendor | PSI | Pearson VUE |
| Work experience path | 1,200 hours in 3 years | 500 hours in 3 years |
| Exam fee | ~$117-129 | ~$129 |
| Renewal fee | ~$69/2 years | ~$49/2 years |
ExCPT Exam Domains (NHA)
| Domain | Weight | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Overview and Laws/Regulations | 25% | Federal/state pharmacy law, DEA, HIPAA, OBRA-90, certification |
| Dispensing Process | 55% | Rx processing, calculations, compounding, billing, inventory |
| Drugs and Drug Therapy | 20% | Drug classifications, Top 200 drugs, OTC, supplements |
NHA Eligibility Pathways
| Pathway | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Training program | Complete an approved pharmacy technician program within the past 5 years |
| Work experience | 1,200+ hours of supervised pharmacy work within the past 3 years |
| Both | Must have high school diploma or GED for either pathway |
Certification Maintenance
- 20 CE hours every 2 years
- At least 1 hour in pharmacy law
- Renewal fee approximately $69
- Can complete CE online or in-person
Exam Alert
Understanding the NHA and ExCPT is foundational to the Overview and Laws/Regulations domain. Know the eligibility requirements, exam structure (3 domains, 120 questions), and that both NHA and PTCB lead to the same CPhT credential recognized nationwide.
Study This Term In
Related Terms
CPhT (Certified Pharmacy Technician)
CPhT (Certified Pharmacy Technician) is the nationally recognized credential earned by passing either the ExCPT (administered by NHA) or the PTCE (administered by PTCB), demonstrating competency in pharmacy technician knowledge and skills.
Controlled Substance Schedules
Controlled substance schedules are the DEA's five-tier classification system (Schedule I through Schedule V) that categorizes drugs based on their accepted medical use, abuse potential, and likelihood of causing dependence.
Pharmacy Calculations
Pharmacy calculations are the mathematical operations pharmacy technicians must perform to accurately process prescriptions, including dosage conversions, day supply calculations, concentration and dilution problems, and percentage calculations.
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