2024 Edition

Pharmacy Technician Certification Test

This Free Pharmacy Technician Certification Practice Test will give you an idea of the types of questions and sections on your actual exam.

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Pharmacy Law and Regulation

1.	The retail provisions of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 require all of the following EXCEPT:
		a. Limit on 30 day supply
		b. Daily sale limits
		c. Placement of product for direct customer access
		d. Use of sale logbooks
The CMEA requires the placement of the regulated products out of direct access by customers. Other requirements include customer ID verification and employee training. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

2.	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.

3.	A patient presents a prescription written for a CII drug that is written by a physician assistant. Can a pharmacy fill this prescription?
		a. No; the physician assistant is not a doctor.
		b. No; unless the prescription is signed by a doctor.
		c. Yes; as long as the PA has a current DEA number for CII medication.
		d. Yes; as long as the doctor signs the prescription.
A physician assistant is authorized to practice medicine as part of a healthcare team with a physician. Prescribing medication is within the scope of a PA's practice. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Medication Order Entry, Interpretation and the Fill Process

4.	How many tablets would be needed to fill a prescription for a 90 day supply of Metform 500 mg with BID dosing?
		a. 500 tablets
		b. 200 tablets
		c. 180 tablets
		d. 100 tablets
The correct answer is 180 tables because 1 tablet taken twice daily (bid) for 90 days or 1 x 2 x 90 = 180. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

5.	A prescription for Methocarbamol 500mg is written for a quantity of 120 tablets. If the directions are written for 1 tab po qid, the days supply should be transcribed as ___ days.
		a. 30
		b. 60
		c. 90
		d. 120
The correct answer is 30 days. The directions are take 1 tablet (1 tab) by mouth (PO) four times daily (QID). 120 divided by 4 = 30. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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6.	A prescription written for Novolog 70/30 with a note of IDDM should prompt the pharmacy technician to enter _______ as the patient's condition.
		a. Insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus
		b. Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus
		c. Insulin dependent Diabetes Medication
		d. Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Medication
The pharmacy technician should enter Insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus as the patient's condition. IDDM is the medical terminology for Insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Pharmacology for Technicians

7.	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.

8.	Which of the following brand name products may have pseudoephedrine as an ingredient?
		a. Sudafed
		b. Claritin-D
		c. Benadryl
		d. All of the above
		e. Both a and b
Both Sudafed and Claritin-D have used pseudoephedrine as an ingredient. Benadryl does not use it as an ingredient. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

9.	What is the study of the history and origin of drugs called?
		a. Pharmacogenetics
		b. Pharmacodynamics
		c. Pharmacognosy
		d. Pharmacogenomics
Pharmacognosy is the study of the history and origin of drugs. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Compounding Procedures and Safety

10.	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.

11.	Which of the following defines a solution?
		a. The active ingredient
		b. The ingredient used with a solvent
		c. The solvent plus a solute
		d. Solvent, solute and solution
A solution is composed of a solute and solvent. In other words, the larger portion of the entire solution along with an ingredient makes up a solution. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

12.	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.

Calculations

13.	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.

14.	How many units are in 1 mL of insulin?
		a. 100
		b. 10
		c. 50
		d. 5
There are a total of 100 units of insulin in 1 mL of insulin. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

15.	A doctor's order for medication for a 75 pound patient was submitted to an inpatient pharmacy. The adult dose is 500 mg. What is the correct dose for a child?
		a. 100 mg
		b. 250 mg
		c. 300 mg
		d. 500 mg
250 mg is the result, when Clark's Rule is used to calculate the dose. Clark's Rule is appropriate because the scenario provided the child's weight and adult dose. The calculation is 75 pounds divided by 150 pounds, multiplied by the adult dose. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Anatomy and Physiology

16.	Which of the following is a primary organ associated with digestion?
		a. Spleen
		b. Tonsils
		c. Esophagus
		d. Appendix
The esophagus is the option that is a primary organ of the digestive system. Spleen, tonsils, and appendix are all categorized as accessory organs. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

17.	The human heart is comprised of ____ chambers.
		a. one
		b. two
		c. three
		d. four
The human heart is comprised of four chambers. The upper two chambers are the right and left atria and the lower two chambers are the right and left ventricles. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

18.	Drug permeability is generally better on the scalp and behind the ears than on the arm, legs and back. Why?
		a. The skin is thinner in the scalp area.
		b. The scalp area is better hydrated.
		c. The skin is thinner on the arms, legs and back.
		d. The skin has more hair follicles to form as a route of medication.
Drug permeability is generally better on the scalp and behind the ears than on the arm, leg or back due to different skin thickness. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Inventory Management and Quality Assurance

19.	A ______ resistant container helps protect contents from the effects of exposure to light, which can alter the medication, causing it to be ___________.
		a. dark , stronger
		b. light, weaker
		c. dark, less therapeutic
		d. light, less therapeutic
		e. Both b and d
Light resistant containers, such as amber vials, help protect medication from the effects of exposure to light. Light-resistant medications can become altered and possibly less therapeutic, when exposed to light. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

20.	While working in a pharmacy, a technician can locate storage requirements for a particular drug in which of the following resources?
		a. United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary
		b. Taber's Medical Dictionary
		c. Davis' Drug Guide
		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.

21.	A repackaged blister of atenolol 25 mg will expire ___ after the date they were repacked or at the time of the expiration date on the bottle, whichever comes first.
		a. 2 months
		b. 4 months
		c. 6 months
		d. 9 months
Expiration dates longer than 6 months for repackaged medications is not allowed. If the date of the stock bottle is less than 6 months away, then the expiration date for the repackaged medication should be the same as the stock bottle. If the date on the stock bottle is longer than 6 months, the expiration date should be no longer than 6 months from the date that the medication was repackaged. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Medication Administration

22.	Which of the following would be an acceptable route for the delivery of parental nutrition for an NPO patient?
		a. Pills
		b. intravenous
		c. Liquids only
		d. Aspirate
Nothing by mouth is represented by "NPO." NPO patients receive nutrients and vitamins intravenously. While receiving parenteral treatment, patients are not allowed to orally consume. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

23.	Which of the following is a disadvantage of taking medication through an oral route?
		a. The drug may be absorbed too rapidly.
		b. The drug may have a bad taste making it difficult to swallow.
		c. The drug is more expensive to use.
		d. All of the above.
		e. Both a and b only
Medications that are administered orally may have an unpleasant taste, making them difficult to take or swallow for some clients. While oral medications are often convenient and cost effective, they may not be used for clients who cannot swallow, those who are unconscious or those with nausea or vomiting. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

24.	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

25.	Pharmacy technicians can take phone orders for medication.
		a. True
		b. False
Pharmacy technicians are not authorized to take phone orders for prescription medication. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

26.	A patient presents to the counter and removes his shirt. He asks the pharmacy technician to look at the burn on his back, asking which over-the-counter cream he can use on it. The pharmacy technician should __________.
		a. tell the patient to report to the emergency room.
		b. provide the patient with a good recommendation.
		c. obtain a cream and help the patient apply the cream to his burn
		d. refer the patient to a pharmacist.
The pharmacy technician should refer the patient to a pharmacist. A technician may not recommend medications to patients. However, a pharmacist may counsel a patient and recommend medications. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

27.	How many times is the cart-fill process completed during the course of a day?
		a. Once
		b. Twice
		c. Three times
		d. Four times
The cart fill process is usually completed once daily. Each patient typically receives a 24-hour supply of medication in an individualized drawer, each time the cart is filled. Nurses use the cart as a storage space for each patient's medication supply. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Equipment

28.	An echocardiogram utilizes which of the following?
		a. Light rays
		b. Sound waves
		c. Ultraviolet light
		d. Radiation waves
An echocardiogram uses sound waves to create moving pictures of the heart. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

29.	What should be used to mix ingredients?
		a. Pestle and spatula
		b. Counting tray and spatula
		c. Mortar and pestle
		d. Vial and pestle
A mortar bowl and pestle should be used to mix ingredients. Both glass and wood mortars and pestles can be used. However, nowadays, glass and porcelain mortars and pestles are commonly used. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

30.	A ______ should be used to measure volumes less than 1.5 mL.
		a. Mortar
		b. Pestle
		c. Graduated cylinder
		d. Pipette
Pipettes are used to measure liquid, like graduated cylinders. However, unlike graduated cylinders, pipettes are used to measure small amounts; less than 1.5 mL can be measured with a pipette. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Billing and Reimbursement

31.	A pharmacy technician is using online billing to submit a claim to an insurance company for a refill. The insurer's website responds to the claim with a "refill too soon" rejection. What should the pharmacy technician do first?
		a. Change the refill date on the prescription.
		b. Check to see if the dose and frequency has changed on the previous prescription.
		c. Call the pharmacist.
		d. There is nothing that a pharmacy technician can do to at this point.
The first step a pharmacy technician should do is check to see if the dose and frequency on the previous prescription has changed. If the dosage or frequency was increased on the prescription, the pharmacy technician may get a dosage change override from the insurance company. Sometimes the dosage change override can be done online and sometimes a call must be made to the insurance company to have them put in the override. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

32.	A customer comes to the counter to pick up a prescription. The pharmacy technician will ask a certain number of questions. Which of the following is not part of the intake process?
		a. What is your full name?
		b. What is your height and weight?
		c. Do you have any medication allergies?
		d. May I see your insurance card?
Asking for the customer's height and weight is not typically part of the customer intake process. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

33.	What does PCN stand for?
		a. Pharmacy Control Number
		b. Physician Contact Number
		c. Processor Control Number
		d. Patient Control Number
PCN stands for processor control number. This number (which tends to actually be a series of letters) is used to direct electronic pharmacy claims. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

PTCE / ExCPT

Quality starts with who wrote the material.

Our practice exam writer

Lisa Thompson, RPht, CPht,

is an adjunct instructor in pharmacy technician studies at Barry University. She has been in the pharmacy industry for over 30 years and has been a reviewer for McGraw Hill and Elsevier in the field of pharmacy.

Domanique Culpepper, RPht, CPht,

is an instructor in pharmacy tech studies at Everest University and has worked as a pharmacy tech for over 10 years.. She is a member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

Fabian Stone, CPht,

is an adjunct instructor in pharmacy studies at the University of North Georgia.

Bradley Gillespie, PharmD,

is a registered pharmacist and director of drug development for a company working with the NIH. He is widely published on the subject of pharmacology and is a former FDA pharmacology reviewer.

There are two ways to become certified—through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and through the National Healthcare 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 consists of 90 questions and is arranged into nine knowledge domains:

- Medications
- Federal Regulations
- Patient Safety
- Quality Assurance
- Order Entry
- Order Processing

The ExCPT has 120 multiple choice questions and focuses on three general areas:

- Technician Duties
- Drug Products
- Dispensing Process

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