ExCPT NHA Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam 2026:
Professional Practice Test — Medications, Pharmacy Law, Patient
Safety, Prescription Processing & Pharmacy Operations — 190
Multiple-Choice Questions with Answers & Detailed Rationales
Domain 1: Role, Responsibilities, and General Duties of the Pharmacy Technician (Questions
1–29)
Question 1
A pharmacy technician is working at a community pharmacy when a patient asks for advice
about which over-the-counter medication to take for their acid reflux. What is the most
appropriate action for the technician to take?
A. Recommend omeprazole since it is available OTC
B. Refer the patient to the pharmacist for consultation
C. Suggest an antacid and document the interaction
D. Provide a handout on GERD management
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Technicians cannot provide clinical recommendations; referring to the
pharmacist ensures safe patient care within scope of practice.
Question 2
Which of the following tasks is within the legal scope of practice for a pharmacy technician in
most states?
A. Counseling a patient on new medication side effects
B. Performing the final therapeutic check on a prescription
C. Entering prescription data into the computer system
D. Verifying drug interactions with prescribers
,Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Data entry is a core technician responsibility; counseling and final therapeutic
verification are pharmacist-only duties.
Question 3
A pharmacy technician notices that the pharmacy's automated dispensing cabinet is
showing a medication expiry date that differs from the physical stock. What should the
technician do?
A. Ignore the discrepancy since the system is usually accurate
B. Remove the medication and restock it later without reporting
C. Investigate the discrepancy and report it to pharmacy leadership
D. Adjust the system date to match the physical stock
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Discrepancies between ADC data and physical stock must be investigated and
reported to maintain accuracy and patient safety .
Question 4
Which organization is responsible for accrediting pharmacy technician training programs?
A. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
B. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
C. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
D. National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)
,Correct Answer: B
Explanation: ASHP, in collaboration with ACPE, accredits pharmacy technician education and
training programs .
Question 5
A pharmacy technician is preparing to take the ExCPT certification exam. Which of the
following best describes the purpose of this credential?
A. It licenses the technician to practice in all 50 states
B. It verifies entry-level knowledge and skills for pharmacy technicians
C. It replaces the need for state registration
D. It authorizes independent pharmacy ownership
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The ExCPT certifies that an entry-level technician has demonstrated required
knowledge and skills; state licensure is separate .
Question 6
Which of the following is a general duty of a pharmacy technician in a hospital setting?
A. Ordering medications for the entire hospital
B. Performing sterile compounding preparation
C. Conducting medication therapy management
D. Diagnosing patient conditions
Correct Answer: B
, Explanation: Sterile compounding is a core technician function in hospital pharmacy under
pharmacist supervision .
Question 7
A pharmacy technician receives a call from a patient requesting a refill on a medication that
has no refills remaining. What is the appropriate action?
A. Tell the patient they must see their doctor
B. Process the refill anyway since it's a maintenance medication
C. Inform the patient the pharmacist will need to contact the prescriber
D. Transfer the prescription to another pharmacy
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Technicians cannot authorize refills; the pharmacist must contact the prescriber
to obtain a new prescription.
Question 8
Which of the following best describes the technician's role in medication reconciliation?
A. The technician performs the final clinical review
B. The technician gathers medication history and reports discrepancies
C. The technician prescribes necessary medication changes
D. The technician counsels the patient on all medications
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Technicians assist by collecting medication histories and identifying
discrepancies for pharmacist review .
Professional Practice Test — Medications, Pharmacy Law, Patient
Safety, Prescription Processing & Pharmacy Operations — 190
Multiple-Choice Questions with Answers & Detailed Rationales
Domain 1: Role, Responsibilities, and General Duties of the Pharmacy Technician (Questions
1–29)
Question 1
A pharmacy technician is working at a community pharmacy when a patient asks for advice
about which over-the-counter medication to take for their acid reflux. What is the most
appropriate action for the technician to take?
A. Recommend omeprazole since it is available OTC
B. Refer the patient to the pharmacist for consultation
C. Suggest an antacid and document the interaction
D. Provide a handout on GERD management
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Technicians cannot provide clinical recommendations; referring to the
pharmacist ensures safe patient care within scope of practice.
Question 2
Which of the following tasks is within the legal scope of practice for a pharmacy technician in
most states?
A. Counseling a patient on new medication side effects
B. Performing the final therapeutic check on a prescription
C. Entering prescription data into the computer system
D. Verifying drug interactions with prescribers
,Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Data entry is a core technician responsibility; counseling and final therapeutic
verification are pharmacist-only duties.
Question 3
A pharmacy technician notices that the pharmacy's automated dispensing cabinet is
showing a medication expiry date that differs from the physical stock. What should the
technician do?
A. Ignore the discrepancy since the system is usually accurate
B. Remove the medication and restock it later without reporting
C. Investigate the discrepancy and report it to pharmacy leadership
D. Adjust the system date to match the physical stock
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Discrepancies between ADC data and physical stock must be investigated and
reported to maintain accuracy and patient safety .
Question 4
Which organization is responsible for accrediting pharmacy technician training programs?
A. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
B. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
C. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
D. National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)
,Correct Answer: B
Explanation: ASHP, in collaboration with ACPE, accredits pharmacy technician education and
training programs .
Question 5
A pharmacy technician is preparing to take the ExCPT certification exam. Which of the
following best describes the purpose of this credential?
A. It licenses the technician to practice in all 50 states
B. It verifies entry-level knowledge and skills for pharmacy technicians
C. It replaces the need for state registration
D. It authorizes independent pharmacy ownership
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The ExCPT certifies that an entry-level technician has demonstrated required
knowledge and skills; state licensure is separate .
Question 6
Which of the following is a general duty of a pharmacy technician in a hospital setting?
A. Ordering medications for the entire hospital
B. Performing sterile compounding preparation
C. Conducting medication therapy management
D. Diagnosing patient conditions
Correct Answer: B
, Explanation: Sterile compounding is a core technician function in hospital pharmacy under
pharmacist supervision .
Question 7
A pharmacy technician receives a call from a patient requesting a refill on a medication that
has no refills remaining. What is the appropriate action?
A. Tell the patient they must see their doctor
B. Process the refill anyway since it's a maintenance medication
C. Inform the patient the pharmacist will need to contact the prescriber
D. Transfer the prescription to another pharmacy
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Technicians cannot authorize refills; the pharmacist must contact the prescriber
to obtain a new prescription.
Question 8
Which of the following best describes the technician's role in medication reconciliation?
A. The technician performs the final clinical review
B. The technician gathers medication history and reports discrepancies
C. The technician prescribes necessary medication changes
D. The technician counsels the patient on all medications
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Technicians assist by collecting medication histories and identifying
discrepancies for pharmacist review .
