PHARMACY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION
EXAM ACTUAL PREP QUESTIONS AND WELL
REVISED ANSWERS - LATEST AND COMPLETE
UPDATE WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS –
ASSURES PASS
1. A patient presents a prescription for amoxicillin 500 mg, one capsule orally
every 8 hours for 10 days. The pharmacy only has 250 mg capsules. How
many capsules should be dispensed?
A) 20
B) 30
C) 60
D) 40
Rationale: The patient needs 500 mg per dose, which is two 250 mg capsules
per dose. Three times daily for 10 days: 2 × 3 × 10 = 60 capsules.
2. Which federal law requires pharmacists to counsel patients on new
prescriptions?
A) Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
B) Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1990
C) Poison Prevention Packaging Act
D) Controlled Substances Act
Rationale: OBRA 1990 mandates pharmacists to offer counseling to
Medicaid patients and ensure proper medication use.
3. A pharmacy technician notices that a prescription for warfarin appears to be
twice the usual dose. What is the appropriate first action?
A) Fill as written
B) Call the patient
, C) Verify with the prescriber
D) Adjust the dose according to protocol
Rationale: High-alert medications like warfarin require prescriber
verification to prevent adverse events.
4. Which of the following medications is classified as a Schedule II controlled
substance?
A) Diazepam
B) Alprazolam
C) Oxycodone
D) Lorazepam
Rationale: Oxycodone is Schedule II due to high potential for abuse with
accepted medical use.
5. A patient is receiving an intravenous infusion of vancomycin. Which
monitoring parameter is most critical?
A) Blood pressure
B) Renal function and trough levels
C) Heart rate
D) Electrolytes
Rationale: Vancomycin is nephrotoxic and requires therapeutic drug
monitoring to avoid toxicity.
6. What is the generic name of Lipitor?
A) Simvastatin
B) Pravastatin
C) Atorvastatin
D) Rosuvastatin
Rationale: Atorvastatin is the active ingredient in Lipitor, a statin used to
lower cholesterol.
,7. Which auxiliary label is appropriate for a prescription of tetracycline
capsules?
A) Take with grapefruit juice
B) Avoid sunlight while taking this medication
C) May cause drowsiness
D) Refrigerate after opening
Rationale: Tetracyclines can cause photosensitivity; patients should avoid
prolonged sun exposure.
8. A patient reports an allergic reaction to penicillin. The prescription is for
amoxicillin. What is the safest action?
A) Fill the prescription
B) Contact the prescriber to discuss alternatives
C) Give a lower dose
D) Administer an antihistamine with it
Rationale: Cross-reactivity between penicillin-class drugs can cause severe
reactions; prescriber consultation is required.
9. The term “b.i.d.” on a prescription means:
A) Every 6 hours
B) Twice daily
C) Three times daily
D) As needed
Rationale: b.i.d. is an abbreviation for “bis in die,” meaning twice daily.
10.Which route of administration bypasses first-pass metabolism?
A) Oral
B) Rectal
C) Intravenous
D) Enteral
, Rationale: IV administration delivers the drug directly into systemic
circulation, bypassing hepatic first-pass metabolism.
11.A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for metformin 500 mg tablet,
“take one tablet t.i.d. with meals.” How many tablets are needed for a 30-day
supply?
A) 30
B) 60
C) 90
D) 120
Rationale: t.i.d. means three times daily; 3 × 30 = 90 tablets.
12.Which of the following is a high-alert medication that requires verification
before dispensing?
A) Acetaminophen
B) Insulin
C) Loratadine
D) Omeprazole
Rationale: Insulin carries high risk of patient harm if dosed incorrectly and
requires verification.
13.A prescription reads: “Prednisone 20 mg, 5 mg tabs, take 4 tablets daily x 7
days.” How many tablets should be dispensed?
A) 20
B) 25
C) 28
D) 35
Rationale: 4 tablets/day × 7 days = 28 tablets.
14.Which of the following best describes the “beyond-use date” for a
compounded sterile preparation?
EXAM ACTUAL PREP QUESTIONS AND WELL
REVISED ANSWERS - LATEST AND COMPLETE
UPDATE WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS –
ASSURES PASS
1. A patient presents a prescription for amoxicillin 500 mg, one capsule orally
every 8 hours for 10 days. The pharmacy only has 250 mg capsules. How
many capsules should be dispensed?
A) 20
B) 30
C) 60
D) 40
Rationale: The patient needs 500 mg per dose, which is two 250 mg capsules
per dose. Three times daily for 10 days: 2 × 3 × 10 = 60 capsules.
2. Which federal law requires pharmacists to counsel patients on new
prescriptions?
A) Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
B) Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1990
C) Poison Prevention Packaging Act
D) Controlled Substances Act
Rationale: OBRA 1990 mandates pharmacists to offer counseling to
Medicaid patients and ensure proper medication use.
3. A pharmacy technician notices that a prescription for warfarin appears to be
twice the usual dose. What is the appropriate first action?
A) Fill as written
B) Call the patient
, C) Verify with the prescriber
D) Adjust the dose according to protocol
Rationale: High-alert medications like warfarin require prescriber
verification to prevent adverse events.
4. Which of the following medications is classified as a Schedule II controlled
substance?
A) Diazepam
B) Alprazolam
C) Oxycodone
D) Lorazepam
Rationale: Oxycodone is Schedule II due to high potential for abuse with
accepted medical use.
5. A patient is receiving an intravenous infusion of vancomycin. Which
monitoring parameter is most critical?
A) Blood pressure
B) Renal function and trough levels
C) Heart rate
D) Electrolytes
Rationale: Vancomycin is nephrotoxic and requires therapeutic drug
monitoring to avoid toxicity.
6. What is the generic name of Lipitor?
A) Simvastatin
B) Pravastatin
C) Atorvastatin
D) Rosuvastatin
Rationale: Atorvastatin is the active ingredient in Lipitor, a statin used to
lower cholesterol.
,7. Which auxiliary label is appropriate for a prescription of tetracycline
capsules?
A) Take with grapefruit juice
B) Avoid sunlight while taking this medication
C) May cause drowsiness
D) Refrigerate after opening
Rationale: Tetracyclines can cause photosensitivity; patients should avoid
prolonged sun exposure.
8. A patient reports an allergic reaction to penicillin. The prescription is for
amoxicillin. What is the safest action?
A) Fill the prescription
B) Contact the prescriber to discuss alternatives
C) Give a lower dose
D) Administer an antihistamine with it
Rationale: Cross-reactivity between penicillin-class drugs can cause severe
reactions; prescriber consultation is required.
9. The term “b.i.d.” on a prescription means:
A) Every 6 hours
B) Twice daily
C) Three times daily
D) As needed
Rationale: b.i.d. is an abbreviation for “bis in die,” meaning twice daily.
10.Which route of administration bypasses first-pass metabolism?
A) Oral
B) Rectal
C) Intravenous
D) Enteral
, Rationale: IV administration delivers the drug directly into systemic
circulation, bypassing hepatic first-pass metabolism.
11.A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for metformin 500 mg tablet,
“take one tablet t.i.d. with meals.” How many tablets are needed for a 30-day
supply?
A) 30
B) 60
C) 90
D) 120
Rationale: t.i.d. means three times daily; 3 × 30 = 90 tablets.
12.Which of the following is a high-alert medication that requires verification
before dispensing?
A) Acetaminophen
B) Insulin
C) Loratadine
D) Omeprazole
Rationale: Insulin carries high risk of patient harm if dosed incorrectly and
requires verification.
13.A prescription reads: “Prednisone 20 mg, 5 mg tabs, take 4 tablets daily x 7
days.” How many tablets should be dispensed?
A) 20
B) 25
C) 28
D) 35
Rationale: 4 tablets/day × 7 days = 28 tablets.
14.Which of the following best describes the “beyond-use date” for a
compounded sterile preparation?
