The pill maker certification test was divided into four stages.
The first stage tested one's knowledge of medicinal herbs. The second stage was to gauge one's affinity.
Anyone could pass those two stages as long as they met the passing conditions.
The third stage was a written examination, which tested one's theory of medicine. Only the top one hundred candidates would advance to the next stage while the rest were eliminated.
The final stage was a practical test in which the candidates would have to make pills on the spot. Only the top twenty candidates would be accepted as official pill makers and be awarded the embroidered dragon robe.
Those who passed the test were level one pill makers. If they wanted to continue to advance, they would have to wait.
The level two test was a completely separate one that was held once every three years, while the level three test was once every five years.
