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PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (PTCE) practice questions

205 free questions with answers and explanations.

Practice test
  1. 51.A pharmacy technician is performing a final check on a prescription for a pediatric patient. The prescription reads 'Amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL, give 5 mL PO TID for 10 days.' The child weighs 20 kg. The usual pediatric dose for this condition is 20-40 mg/kg/day divided every 8 hours. Is the prescribed dose appropriate?Medications
  2. 52.A patient presents a prescription for 'Lisinopril 10 mg #30, take 1 tablet by mouth daily.' The patient reports having a persistent dry cough since starting the medication. Which drug class is Lisinopril, and what is the appropriate action for the technician?Medications
  3. 53.A pharmacy technician is preparing a sterile intravenous admixture. After donning appropriate garb, the technician notices a small tear in one of their sterile gloves. What is the MOST appropriate action?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  4. 54.A pharmacy technician is processing a prescription for a patient with hypertension. The prescription is for 'Lisinopril 20 mg, take 1 tablet daily.' The patient reports experiencing a persistent dry cough since starting the medication. Which of the following is the most appropriate action for the technician to take?Medications
  5. 55.A pharmacy technician is preparing a sterile intravenous admixture in a laminar airflow workbench (LAFW). Which of the following actions is critical to maintain the sterility of the compounding environment?Medications
  6. 56.A patient presents a prescription for 'Warfarin 2 mg, take 1 tablet by mouth daily.' The patient also mentions they have started taking St. John's Wort for mood support. What is the most significant concern regarding this combination?Medications
  7. 57.A pharmacy technician is preparing to compound a topical cream containing 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide. The prescription requires 60 grams of the cream. How much triamcinolone acetonide powder is needed?Medications
  8. 58.A pharmacy technician is reviewing a patient's medication profile and notes that the patient is prescribed both Warfarin (an anticoagulant) and Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, an antibiotic). What is the MOST significant concern regarding this combination?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  9. 59.A patient is prescribed 'Diltiazem CD 180 mg, take 1 capsule daily.' The patient asks if they can cut the capsule in half because it is difficult to swallow. How should the pharmacy technician advise the patient?Medications
  10. 60.A pharmacy technician is assigned to conduct a daily inspection of the medication storage area. During the inspection, they find a vial of insulin that has been stored outside the refrigerator at room temperature for an unknown duration. The expiration date on the vial is still several months away. What is the MOST appropriate action for the technician to take?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  11. 61.A pharmacy technician is entering a prescription for 'warfarin 5 mg, take 1 tablet daily'. The patient's profile also shows they recently started taking 'amiodarone 200 mg, take 1 tablet daily' for an arrhythmia. Which of the following best describes the potential drug interaction between these two medications?Medications
  12. 62.A pharmacy technician is preparing a patient's medication for discharge. The patient's profile indicates a known severe allergy to penicillin. The new prescription is for 'Amoxicillin 500 mg TID'. What is the MOST appropriate action for the technician to take?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  13. 63.A pharmacy technician is reviewing a prescription for 'Insulin Glargine 10 units subcutaneously once daily at bedtime.' The patient asks if they should shake the vial vigorously before drawing up the dose. What is the correct instruction for handling Insulin Glargine?Medications
  14. 64.A pharmacy technician is tasked with preparing a medication for a patient. The prescription states 'acetaminophen 500 mg, take 2 tablets by mouth every 6 hours as needed for pain.' The technician pulls a bottle labeled 'acetaminophen 325 mg.' What is the MOST appropriate action for the technician to take?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  15. 65.A pharmacy technician is preparing a compounded sterile product (CSP) in a laminar airflow workbench (LAFW). Which of the following is the most critical step to perform immediately before beginning the compounding process inside the LAFW?Medications
  16. 66.A pharmacy technician is preparing a non-sterile compound that requires the use of a Class A prescription balance. According to USP <1176> 'Prescription Balances and Volumetric Apparatus,' what is the minimum weighable quantity for a Class A balance with a sensitivity requirement of 6 mg and a maximum acceptable error of 5%?Medications
  17. 67.A pharmacy technician is tasked with preparing a sterile ophthalmic solution. Which of the following is a critical characteristic that must be ensured for this type of compound?Medications
  18. 68.A patient calls the pharmacy inquiring about a new prescription for 'levothyroxine 100 mcg daily.' They ask if they can take it with their morning coffee and breakfast. What is the most important counseling point regarding the administration of levothyroxine?Medications
  19. 69.A pharmacy technician is responsible for documenting medication errors and near misses. Which of the following is the PRIMARY purpose of documenting these events?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  20. 70.A pharmacy technician is preparing to compound a non-sterile oral solution. The master formulation record specifies 'Purified Water, USP' as a solvent. What is the primary characteristic of Purified Water, USP, that makes it suitable for this purpose?Medications
  21. 71.A pharmacy technician is reviewing a patient's medication profile and notes that the patient is prescribed 'Tamsulosin 0.4 mg daily' for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 'Sildenafil 50 mg as needed' for erectile dysfunction. The technician recognizes a potential drug interaction. What is the MOST likely adverse effect if these medications are taken concurrently?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  22. 72.A pharmacy technician is preparing a non-sterile compound using a Class A torsion balance. The minimum weighable quantity (MWQ) for this balance is 120 mg. If the prescription calls for 10 mg of an active ingredient, what is the smallest amount of diluent that must be used to ensure an accurate weighing?Medications
  23. 73.A pharmacy technician is performing a final check on a prescription for a pediatric patient. The prescription is for 'amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL, take 5 mL by mouth three times daily'. The child's weight is 20 kg. The recommended pediatric dose for amoxicillin is 20-40 mg/kg/day divided every 8 hours. Is the prescribed dose appropriate for this child?Medications
  24. 74.A pharmacy technician is tasked with documenting a medication error that occurred. According to best practices in error reporting, which of the following details is LEAST important to include in the initial report?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  25. 75.A pharmacy technician is reviewing a prescription for 'warfarin 5 mg, take 1 tablet daily'. The patient's profile indicates they recently started taking amiodarone. What potential interaction should the technician be aware of?Medications
  26. 76.A pharmacy technician is preparing a compounded sterile product in a laminar airflow workbench (LAFW). Which of the following describes the appropriate airflow pattern within the LAFW?Medications
  27. 77.A pharmacy technician is restocking the automated dispensing cabinet (ADC). They scan a medication and the ADC indicates a mismatch. The technician visually confirms the medication in their hand is 'metoprolol 50 mg' but the ADC screen shows 'metoprolol 25 mg' as the expected item for that bin. What is the most appropriate next step?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  28. 78.A pharmacy technician is reviewing a patient's medication profile and notes a new order for 'Metformin 500 mg, take 1 tablet by mouth twice daily with meals.' What is the primary reason metformin is typically prescribed to be taken with meals?Medications
  29. 79.A pharmacy technician is tasked with preparing an intravenous (IV) admixture in a laminar airflow workbench (LAFW). During the preparation, the technician accidentally touches the tip of the syringe to the outside of the medication vial. What is the MOST appropriate action the technician should take?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  30. 80.A pharmacy technician is preparing a non-sterile cream containing a corticosteroid. What personal protective equipment (PPE) is most important to wear during this compounding process?Medications
  31. 81.A patient calls the pharmacy expressing concern about a new prescription for 'amoxicillin/clavulanate suspension'. They mention experiencing severe diarrhea with a previous antibiotic. What information should the pharmacy technician provide about this specific antibiotic?Medications
  32. 82.A pharmacy technician is preparing a non-sterile compound that requires the use of Purified Water, USP. Which of the following statements correctly describes a characteristic of Purified Water, USP?Medications
  33. 83.A pharmacy technician is preparing a sterile compound in a laminar airflow workbench (LAFW). Which of the following actions is MOST critical to prevent contamination?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  34. 84.A pharmacy technician is preparing to compound a hazardous sterile preparation. Which of the following primary engineering controls (PECs) is MOST appropriate for this task?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  35. 85.A pharmacy technician is assisting a patient who is concerned about taking 'amlodipine 5 mg daily' because they heard it can cause swelling in their legs. Which of the following is the most appropriate response?Medications
  36. 86.A pharmacy technician is preparing a non-sterile compound. Which of the following is the MOST critical environmental control for preventing contamination during non-sterile compounding?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  37. 87.A pharmacy technician is assisting a patient who is asking about over-the-counter options for heartburn. The patient mentions they are currently taking 'Omeprazole 20 mg daily' as prescribed. Which of the following statements about omeprazole is true?Medications
  38. 88.A pharmacy technician is reviewing a medication order for 'linezolid 600 mg IV every 12 hours' for a patient who is also taking 'sertraline 50 mg daily'. The technician identifies a potential drug interaction. Which of the following adverse effects is most concerning in this scenario?Medications
  39. 89.A pharmacy technician is preparing to compound a topical cream containing a corticosteroid. What personal protective equipment (PPE) is MOST important for the technician to wear to prevent absorption of the active pharmaceutical ingredient?Medications
  40. 90.A pharmacy technician is reviewing a patient's medication profile and notices a prescription for 'sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim DS, take 1 tablet by mouth twice daily'. The patient also has a listed allergy to 'sulfa drugs'. What is the most appropriate action for the technician?Medications
  41. 91.A pharmacy technician is preparing a sterile intravenous solution in a laminar airflow workbench. Which of the following components of the workbench is primarily responsible for removing particulate contaminants from the air?Medications
  42. 92.A pharmacy is implementing a new policy to reduce the risk of medication errors. The policy mandates that all prescriptions for high-alert medications must undergo an independent double-check by two separate individuals before dispensing. This strategy is an example of which type of error prevention?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  43. 93.A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for 'Ambien CR 12.5 mg at bedtime' for an elderly patient. The technician notices that the patient's profile indicates they are also taking 'Xanax 0.5 mg three times daily'. What is the MOST appropriate next action for the technician?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  44. 94.A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for 'Lisinopril 10 mg PO daily' and notices the patient's profile indicates an allergy to 'ACE inhibitors'. What is the technician's MOST appropriate immediate action?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  45. 95.A pharmacy technician is verifying a prescription for 'potassium chloride extended-release 20 mEq daily.' The patient asks if they can crush the tablet and mix it with applesauce to make it easier to swallow. What is the MOST appropriate advice the technician should provide?Medications
  46. 96.A pharmacy technician is asked to prepare a non-sterile compound that requires the use of a Class A torsion balance. The formula calls for 15 mg of a potent active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The minimum weighable quantity (MWQ) for the balance is 120 mg. Which of the following is the most appropriate action for the technician?Medications
  47. 97.A technician is preparing a non-sterile oral suspension. Which of the following auxiliary labels would be MOST important to place on the final product?Medications
  48. 98.A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for Celexa (citalopram) 20 mg daily. The technician accidentally pulls a bottle of Celebrex (celecoxib) 200 mg. Which error prevention strategy failed in this scenario?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  49. 99.A pharmacy technician notices that a patient's prescription for a controlled substance is written for an unusually high dose. What is the MOST appropriate action for the technician to take?Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  50. 100.A pharmacy technician is retrieving a medication from the automated dispensing cabinet (ADC) for a patient. The order is for 'metoprolol tartrate 50 mg PO daily'. The ADC displays 'metoprolol succinate ER 50 mg'. What is the most appropriate action for the technician?Medications