It is true that you only need to take a test to be a certified pharmacy technician in California. You have to go to the PTCB.org website in order to register for the test. The test cost about $120.00 and I think that they only offer it in LA. I'm taking the test in March and I have never worked in a pharmacy. Most of the information is stuff that I learned in Chemistry and majority of the drugs are drugs that I already knew. I am however unsure if the book that I have been studying with will help in passing due to the fact that I haven't taken the test yet. I do however really enjoy reading the book and it is very user friendly. It is from the PharmacyTrainer website. I believe it is pharmacytrainer.com. I have also been using some pharmacology book that I got at the library. I hope that that information was some help to you.