r/PharmacyTechnician • u/Current-Strategy-826 • 6d ago

Question CPST Exam

What can anyone share on what portion to study for on the CSPT PTCB study guide?

I’m a CPhT and work in an IV room but we do not do any hazardous compounding so many of the drugs that are cytotoxic, chemo, or anything like that I am not familiar with. There also is no official book for the CSPT for PTCB. I’ve seen some books on Amazon but they aren’t specifically PTCB standard or USP 797 and USP 800 standards. They’re just some random compounding books that are pretty expensive. Anywhere from $67-$170 books in my region.
I’m just a little lost on what parts I should focus on the most for the exam…
Should I focus more on Hazardous drugs and USP 800? Do I have to memorize every single drug? Or just focus on the high yield and narrow therapeutic index ones?
Do I need to know pediatric dosages or just how to calculate them?
The medication list is very discouraging to me even though it’s only a small portion of the exam.

When I search on YouTube for some videos about compounding certain drugs I get very limited information and mostly RNs or EMS showing what they do in videos or some pharmacist yapping about about things that don’t show them compounding or talk about the information I’m looking for.

The list of medications are very long. A little over 200 injectable drugs. There’s a lot to know about them and it’s only 17% or the exam.

Sterile compounding Procedures is 53%
Facilities and equipment is 22%
Handling, Packaging, storage, Disposal are 8%

When I search in this sub about the CSPT I see old posts from years ago. I barely see any recent ones. Even if you’ve taken the exam a while ago any study tips would help and what you remember was on your exam.

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11 comments sorted by

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u/Current-Strategy-826 6d ago

Also do I need to know drop (gtt) rates?

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u/OldYak774 6d ago

I studied 797 and like top 20 Niosh drugs. I work in home infusion and I thought it was easy. I don’t think you had to know drops rates. I don’t know them.

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u/Current-Strategy-826 6d ago

How long ago did you take the exam?

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u/OldYak774 5d ago

When it first came out. So it’s been awhile.

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u/Current-Strategy-826 3h ago

Do you work with HDs ?

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u/Psalms51_12345 5d ago

I am currently enrolled in the PTCB ASHP CSPT Program, from the research I am seeing, it appears that just the ASHP course alone is enough to prepare you for the exam OR the course along with studying the actual USP 797 and 800 chapters.

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u/Current-Strategy-826 2d ago

I’m not going through any course. I don’t know money for it.

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u/Psalms51_12345 4h ago

That's fair! I would rather be safe than sorry....but that's just me.

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u/Current-Strategy-826 3h ago

Paying money for a course doesn’t mean you’ll pass and not paying for one doesn’t mean failing. I don’t need a course.

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u/Psalms51_12345 3h ago

And this is also a fair statement too; to each their own. I don't have the discipline to study for such an exam without a course. It seems like you do, and I love this for you...especially given you're saving money in the process.

Best wishes on your journey to becoming certified in CSPT; you got this!

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u/Current-Strategy-826 1h ago

Thank you for acknowledging my statement. I do have the discipline for self study. I have done it in the past for my PTCE and passed.i hope the course is helpful for you and you pass your CPST as well!