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There are two ways to become a certified Pharmacy Technician – through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Check your state to see which form of certification is accepted. The PTCB and the NHA both require the taking of an exam prior to certification.

The PTCE Exam is 110 minutes long and consists of 90 questions arranged into four knowledge domains, including Medications, Federal Requirements, Patient Safety and Quality Assurance and Order Entry and Processing.

Candidates taking the ExCPT are given two hours to answer 120 multiple choice questions. The test focuses on four general areas: Overview and Laws, Drugs and Drug Therapy, Dispensing Process and Medication Safety and Quality Assurance.

For complete practice of actual exam topics, check out the Pharmacy Technician Practice Exam Kit with 750 questions and fully explained answers, written by instructors in pharmacy technician studies, former FDA reviewers and subject matter experts in pharmacy.

Pharmacy Law and Regulation

1.	Which of the following is used to report medication quality problems?
		a. FDA Form 79
		b. DEA Form 222
		c. MedWatch Form
		d. Shipment receipt
The MedWatch Form can be obtained from the FDA to report serious adverse events, quality problems or product use errors associated with FDA regulated products. The form is used to voluntarily report medication problems to the FDA. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Pharmacy Law and Regulation

2.	How many refills are allowed on CIII drugs?
		a. 5
		b. 3
		c. 1
		d. 0
CIII drugs can have up to 5 refills and are refillable up to 6 months. Some examples of CIII drugs include Vicodin and Xanax. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Medication Order Entry, Interpretation and the Fill Process

3.	A 60 day supply for a prescription for Colace 100 mg capsule taken bid should be filled with ___.
		a. 30 capsules
		b. 60 capsules
		c. 120 capsules
		d. 180 capsules
The correct answer is 120 capsules because the prescription is for a 60 day supply and directions are one capsule twice daily (bid). In other words, 1 x 2 x 60 = 120. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Medication Order Entry, Interpretation and the Fill Process

4.	A PRN order is an order for a medication that is used on a(n) ________ basis in a hospital.
		a. regular
		b. everyday
		c. as-needed
		d. nightly
PRN is a medical term that means “as needed.” PRN orders are requests for mediation that is not used on a routine basis. Instead PRN medications are used only when the patient needs it, such when Phenergan is used for nausea and vomiting. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Pharmacology for Technicians

5.	Pharmacy technicians can refer to the _______ Book to find out of if two drugs are equivalent.
		a. Blue
		b. Orange
		c. Green
		d. White
The primary reference for therapeutic equivalence is the FDA's Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, commonly known as the Orange Book. It is the official source that provides standards, which dictate drug equivalence. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Pharmacology for Technicians

6.	What is the nature of a drug idiosyncrasy?
		a. It is an unexpected response to medication.
		b. It is an expected response to medication.
		c. It is a planned response to medication.
		d. It is a unique response to medication.
Unexpected responses to medications are called idiosyncrasies or idiosyncratic effects. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Compounding Procedures and Safety

7.	Before, after, and throughout each shift, pharmacy technicians should wash their hands with an anti-microbial agent for at least _____.
		a. 10 seconds
		b. 30 seconds
		c. 60 seconds
		d. 120 seconds
Pharmacy technicians should always wash their hands for at least 30 seconds, allowing the friction and antimicrobial agent to thoroughly clean the hands and arms. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Compounding Procedures and Safety

8.	Which of the following defines a solvent?
		a. The solution
		b. The active ingredient
		c. The solution plus a solute
		d. The larger part of a solution
The larger part of a solution is called the “solvent.” A solvent is a substance, usually a liquid, that dissolves another substance to make a solution. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Calculations

9.	A physician order for a 120 mg dose of Gentamycin 40mg/mL should be filled with ______ of Gentamycin.
		a. 80 mL
		b. 5 mL
		c. 3 mL
		d. 60 mL
The correct answer is 3 mL because for every 1 mL of Gentamycin medication there are 40 mg. 40 mg x 3 equals 120 mg, which is the same as desired dose of 120 mg. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Calculations

10.	There are ______ ounces (oz.) in a pound (lb).
		a. 4
		b. 6
		c. 8
		d. 16
There are 16 ounces in a pound. This is a common conversion that is used when weighing material on a scale. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Anatomy and Physiology

11.	Epilepsy is caused by excessive ______ activity within the brain.
		a. chemical
		b. hormone
		c. blood flow
		d. electrical
Excessive electrical activity within the brain can cause seizures. Grand mal seizures involve convulsions and can include unconsciousness. Petit mal seizures do not involve convulsions but may include periods of stupor. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Anatomy and Physiology

12.	Which age ranges defines a neonate?
		a. Birth to 1 month
		b. 1 month to 1 year
		c. 1 year to 5 years
		d. 6 years to 12 years
A neonate is a newborn baby who is 1 month old or less. After a baby reaches the age of 1 month, it is then considered an “infant.” Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Inventory Management and Quality Assurance

13.	While working in a pharmacy, a technician can locate storage requirements for a particular drug in which resource?
		a. Taber's Medical Dictionary
		b. Davis' Drug Guide
		c. United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary
		d. Manufacturer invoice
The United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary provides standards for storage. Details such as light, ventilation, sanitation, and temperature are also provided. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Inventory Management and Quality Assurance

14.	Augmentin suspension should be _________ and it will last for ___________ days.
		a. stored at room temperature, 30
		b. stored at room temperature, 14
		c. refrigerated, 10
		d. refrigerated, 7
Augmentin suspension should be refrigerated and it lasts for ten days. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Medication Administration

15.	The seven rights of medication include all of the following EXCEPT_______________.
		a. route
		b. gender
		c. time
		d. drug
The seven rights of medication include the right patient, dose, time, route, technique, drug and documentation. Gender is not one of the seven rights. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Medication Administration

16.	After administering a drug, the time when the body first starts to respond to the medication is called:
		a. Plateau
		b. Peak plasma level
		c. Onset of action
		d. Drug half-life
The onset of action is the time after a drug administration in which the body initially responds to the medication. Some drugs may have a rapid onset of action but a short half-life, while others may have a slower onset, but their effects last longer. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Professionalism

17.	A patient asks a pharmacy technician if it is okay to drink grapefruit juice every day while taking a Coumadin. A pharmacy technician should _______.
		a. tell the patient that grapefruit is contraindicated while taking Coumadin.
		b. tell the patient that grapefruit is ok.
		c. refer the patient to a pharmacist.
		d. tell the patient to call his doctor.
Even though the pharmacy technician may know the answer to a patient's question, the pharmacy technician should refer the patient to a pharmacist because pharmacy technicians are not allowed to counsel patients on drug interactions. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Professionalism

18.	What should countertops in I.V. rooms be cleaned with?
		a. Iodine
		b. Iodide
		c. 70% Isopropyl Alcohol
		d. 90% Isopropyl Alcohol
Isopropyl Alcohol should be used to clean countertops, as well as the laminar flood hood, and gloves in between I.V. admixtures. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Equipment

19.	Laminar flow hoods require ________ filters for use.
		a. HEPA
		b. water
		c. humidifier
		d. double
HEPA filters should be used with laminar flow hoods Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Equipment

20.	Which scales are sensitive enough to measure a 650 mg to 120 g?
		a. Class A balance
		b. Class B balance
		c. Electronic scale
		d. Household scale
The ability to accurately balance product is extremely important in compounding. The Class B balance measures 650 mg to 120 g. The Class A balance is only required to be sensitive enough to measure 120 mg to 15 g. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Billing and Reimbursement

21.	Medicare ___ provides prescription coverage.
		a. Part A
		b. Part B
		c. Part C
		d. Part D
Medicare Part D provides prescription drug coverage. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Billing and Reimbursement

22.	What three components are needed to bill a pharmacy claim?
		a. Member ID number, BIN, and PCN
		b. The patient's insurance card, BIN, and PCN
		c. Member ID number, BIN, and Condor Code
		d. The patient's name, date of birth, and phone number
In order to bill a patient's insurance you must have the BIN and PCN to ensure proper routing of the claim as well as the member ID number to identify patient specific benefits. Even if the patient does not have their card, benefit information can still be obtained if they are able to provide these three key pieces of information. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

PTCB - Pharmacy Tech Practice Test