Nationally Certified Multi-Skilled Pharmacy Technician
CIP Code: 51.0805 • 125 questions • 2.5 hours • Passing score: 70% • Annual renewal
Overview
This credential validates multi-skilled readiness to support retail, hospital, and specialty pharmacy operations. Certified Pharmacy Technicians process and fill prescriptions, perform calculations, manage inventory and procurement, support sterile/non-sterile compounding awareness, uphold medication safety and quality standards, and coordinate billing and insurance workflows under pharmacist supervision.
- Nationally recognized Multi-Skilled Stackable
- Listed in the NHWCA National Registry for employer verification
- Annual renewal: $199 • 10 CEU • No lapse (CPR not required)
Why Multi-Skilled?
NHWCA’s multi-skilled model verifies competence across dispensing, calculations, quality systems, compounding awareness, inventory, and payer workflows—so pharmacies can staff one certified professional who flexes across windows, bench, IV room support, and billing roles.
Job Description
A Pharmacy Technician processes and fills prescriptions, calculates doses and day supplies, selects appropriate devices and labeling, assists with sterile/non-sterile compounding per policy (USP <795>/<797>/<800> awareness), performs inventory and ordering, manages cold chain and recalls, supports third-party billing and prior authorizations, and maintains documentation and QA logs.
Qualifications (choose one)
- Graduate of a pharmacy technician or allied health program; or
- Trained on the job by an accredited retail/hospital pharmacy; or
- Experience: 3 months verifiable pharmacy operations experience.
State registration/licensure may be required. All candidates must meet age, ID, and conduct requirements per the NHWCA Candidate Handbook.
Exam Structure & Timing
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Question Count | 125 multiple-choice (100 scored + 25 pilot) |
| Time Limit | 2.5 hours (150 minutes) |
| Passing Score | 70% or higher |
| Delivery | Online or approved testing site, proctored, closed-book |
| Question Style | Scenario-based and knowledge-based items |
Exam Domains & Weighting
| Domain | Weight | Approx. Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription Processing & Data Entry | 20% | ~25 |
| Pharmacy Calculations (dilutions, concentrations, days’ supply) | 20% | ~25 |
| Medication Safety & Quality Systems | 20% | ~25 |
| Compounding Basics & USP Awareness (<795>/<797>/<800>) | 15% | ~19 |
| Inventory, Procurement & Cold Chain | 10% | ~12 |
| Billing, Insurance & Prior Authorizations | 15% | ~19 |
Totals reflect 100 scored items; 25 pilot items do not affect score.
Practice Questions (10)
Included with registration inside the candidate portal. These do not affect your score but mirror the style and depth of the live exam.
Renewal
- Cycle: Annual
- Requirements: $199 • 10 CEU • No lapse (CPR not required)
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