Pharmacy Technician Certification
Review and Practice Exam
Lacher, Barbara;
,Preface ..................................................................................................... iv
Acknowledgments ........................................................................................ v
CHAPTER 1 Preparing for the Exam and Taking the Test.................................1
CHAPTER 2 Pharmacy Calculations Review ..................................................9
CHAPTER 3 Pharmacology Review ............................................................ 35
CHAPTER 4 Sterile and Nonsterile Compounding ......................................... 75
CHAPTER 5 Medication Safety................................................................ 101
CHAPTER 6 Pharmacy Law and Quality Assurance..................................... 115
CHAPTER 7 Medication Dosage Forms, Routes of Administration,
and Drug Usage .................................................................. 131
CHAPTER 8 Processing Medication Orders and Prescriptions ....................... 149
CHAPTER 9 Pharmacy Inventory Management .......................................... 171
CHAPTER 10 Billing/Reimbursement and Information Systems ..................... 185
APPENDIX A Practice Exam 1 + Answers .................................................... 205
APPENDIX B Practice Exam 2 + Answers.................................................... 219
INDEX ................................................................................................................................... 231
iii
, CHAPTER
1
PREPARING
FOR THE
EXAM AND
TAKING THE
TEST
Learning Outcomes You are not alone if you face upcoming examinations
with dread and anxiety. Most people do. But exams
After completing this chapter, you will serve a purpose. They are intended to test your knowl-
be able to edge, not your patience and endurance. Tests are
helpful to others who are attempting to determine your
■ Discuss basic study and review skills understanding and knowledge of specific areas. Tests
for objective tests. also help you to understand what areas you are compe-
tent in and what areas require focus in terms of your
■ List basic strategies for taking
own learning and development.
objective tests.
This chapter reviews preparation tips and test-taking
■ Define common trouble areas in strategies. It concludes with a section on how to deal
taking objective tests and describe with the anxiety most of us feel prior to an examination.
how to manage them.
■ Recognize test anxiety and define TYPES OF EXAMINATIONS
common relaxation techniques.
There are two basic types of examinations. The first
is the objective examination. Objective examinations
include multiple-choice, true/false, and matching ques-
tions. Objective examinations are designed to test your
ability to recognize, rather than recall, facts and infor-
mation. The second type is the essay examination.
Essay examinations are tests for which respondents
give long, written answers. They provide the opportu-
nity for respondents to organize their knowledge, inte-
grate materials, and express themselves. The two kinds
of tests require different skill sets. Because your exam
will be objective multiple choice, this chapter focuses
on techniques to help you perform at your best on this
type of examination.
1
, Pharmacy Technician Certification Review and Practice Exam
2
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS You do not want to be late for the exam because you got
lost. Estimate how long it will take you to get to the test
A multiple-choice question usually begins with an center. You may even want to do a test drive. Find out
incomplete sentence or question, known as a stem. The where parking is available, or make a trial run on public
stem is followed by a series of choices for completing transportation.
the sentence or answering the question, known as Be sure you understand the scope of the exam. In
responses. The responses are usually lettered a, b, c, and other words, how long is it and what material will it
d. Typically, there are four, sometimes five, responses cover? What materials, if any, can you bring with you?
to choose from. You complete the sentence or answer
the question by choosing the correct or best response.
For example, a typical multiple-choice question will EXAM PREPARATION BASICS
look like this:
(Stem) The capital of Illinois is: Time Management
(Responses) Every busy person needs a schedule. But planning
a. Springfield your study schedule, you first need a thorough under-
b. Chicago standing of how you study. Answer these basic ques-
c. Rockford tions about yourself:
d. St. Louis When is the best time of day for me to study?
Generally, the directions are to pick the one best How do I best learn?
response. However, the directions vary, so read the If you are unsure of the answers to these ques-
directions and the stem carefully. You may be instructed tions, you may want to monitor yourself for a week.
to pick the incorrect option or to pick more than one Develop a time chart and follow your activities. Are
option. There are also questions that present the stem there any times of the day when you are more produc-
as a complete statement. Key words to note in the stem tive than others? Think about how you learn, too. What
are the subject of the question and any qualifiers or tasks help you learn? Do you learn best by doing or by
adjectives that further define the best answer. reading? Some people find reading aloud to be a helpful
memorization technique. This kind of self-knowledge
PREPARATION FOR will guide you in developing your study schedule. Even
though family and work responsibilities may take most
OBJECTIVE EXAMS of your time, try to use your most productive time of
the day for your studies.
You may be fresh out of the classroom with recent expe-
rience in preparing for and taking objective exams, or Work Habits
you might not have taken an exam in quite some time.
Whatever the case, it’s always useful to review good Get Organized
study skills. This section reviews some basic study and
test preparation techniques. Design a workplace to be productive. Find a place that
allows you to work efficiently with a minimum number
The first step is to go to the Pharmacy Technician of distractions. Also ensure that you have enough
Certification Board ─ PTCB.org ─ and complete all the space to spread your work out, if required. Organize
necessary steps in registering to take the exam. Next, your workspace so that you have quick and easy access
check all the pre-requisite requirements. Once you have to everything you need.
registered to take the exam and completed the prepara- Make a “To Do” List
tion, make sure you look at the What to Bring section.
Double check the date, time, and place of the exam. Mark Keep a running list of all projects and assignments that
your calendar and be sure to find the location in advance. are due. This will help ensure that you don’t forget about
Review and Practice Exam
Lacher, Barbara;
,Preface ..................................................................................................... iv
Acknowledgments ........................................................................................ v
CHAPTER 1 Preparing for the Exam and Taking the Test.................................1
CHAPTER 2 Pharmacy Calculations Review ..................................................9
CHAPTER 3 Pharmacology Review ............................................................ 35
CHAPTER 4 Sterile and Nonsterile Compounding ......................................... 75
CHAPTER 5 Medication Safety................................................................ 101
CHAPTER 6 Pharmacy Law and Quality Assurance..................................... 115
CHAPTER 7 Medication Dosage Forms, Routes of Administration,
and Drug Usage .................................................................. 131
CHAPTER 8 Processing Medication Orders and Prescriptions ....................... 149
CHAPTER 9 Pharmacy Inventory Management .......................................... 171
CHAPTER 10 Billing/Reimbursement and Information Systems ..................... 185
APPENDIX A Practice Exam 1 + Answers .................................................... 205
APPENDIX B Practice Exam 2 + Answers.................................................... 219
INDEX ................................................................................................................................... 231
iii
, CHAPTER
1
PREPARING
FOR THE
EXAM AND
TAKING THE
TEST
Learning Outcomes You are not alone if you face upcoming examinations
with dread and anxiety. Most people do. But exams
After completing this chapter, you will serve a purpose. They are intended to test your knowl-
be able to edge, not your patience and endurance. Tests are
helpful to others who are attempting to determine your
■ Discuss basic study and review skills understanding and knowledge of specific areas. Tests
for objective tests. also help you to understand what areas you are compe-
tent in and what areas require focus in terms of your
■ List basic strategies for taking
own learning and development.
objective tests.
This chapter reviews preparation tips and test-taking
■ Define common trouble areas in strategies. It concludes with a section on how to deal
taking objective tests and describe with the anxiety most of us feel prior to an examination.
how to manage them.
■ Recognize test anxiety and define TYPES OF EXAMINATIONS
common relaxation techniques.
There are two basic types of examinations. The first
is the objective examination. Objective examinations
include multiple-choice, true/false, and matching ques-
tions. Objective examinations are designed to test your
ability to recognize, rather than recall, facts and infor-
mation. The second type is the essay examination.
Essay examinations are tests for which respondents
give long, written answers. They provide the opportu-
nity for respondents to organize their knowledge, inte-
grate materials, and express themselves. The two kinds
of tests require different skill sets. Because your exam
will be objective multiple choice, this chapter focuses
on techniques to help you perform at your best on this
type of examination.
1
, Pharmacy Technician Certification Review and Practice Exam
2
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS You do not want to be late for the exam because you got
lost. Estimate how long it will take you to get to the test
A multiple-choice question usually begins with an center. You may even want to do a test drive. Find out
incomplete sentence or question, known as a stem. The where parking is available, or make a trial run on public
stem is followed by a series of choices for completing transportation.
the sentence or answering the question, known as Be sure you understand the scope of the exam. In
responses. The responses are usually lettered a, b, c, and other words, how long is it and what material will it
d. Typically, there are four, sometimes five, responses cover? What materials, if any, can you bring with you?
to choose from. You complete the sentence or answer
the question by choosing the correct or best response.
For example, a typical multiple-choice question will EXAM PREPARATION BASICS
look like this:
(Stem) The capital of Illinois is: Time Management
(Responses) Every busy person needs a schedule. But planning
a. Springfield your study schedule, you first need a thorough under-
b. Chicago standing of how you study. Answer these basic ques-
c. Rockford tions about yourself:
d. St. Louis When is the best time of day for me to study?
Generally, the directions are to pick the one best How do I best learn?
response. However, the directions vary, so read the If you are unsure of the answers to these ques-
directions and the stem carefully. You may be instructed tions, you may want to monitor yourself for a week.
to pick the incorrect option or to pick more than one Develop a time chart and follow your activities. Are
option. There are also questions that present the stem there any times of the day when you are more produc-
as a complete statement. Key words to note in the stem tive than others? Think about how you learn, too. What
are the subject of the question and any qualifiers or tasks help you learn? Do you learn best by doing or by
adjectives that further define the best answer. reading? Some people find reading aloud to be a helpful
memorization technique. This kind of self-knowledge
PREPARATION FOR will guide you in developing your study schedule. Even
though family and work responsibilities may take most
OBJECTIVE EXAMS of your time, try to use your most productive time of
the day for your studies.
You may be fresh out of the classroom with recent expe-
rience in preparing for and taking objective exams, or Work Habits
you might not have taken an exam in quite some time.
Whatever the case, it’s always useful to review good Get Organized
study skills. This section reviews some basic study and
test preparation techniques. Design a workplace to be productive. Find a place that
allows you to work efficiently with a minimum number
The first step is to go to the Pharmacy Technician of distractions. Also ensure that you have enough
Certification Board ─ PTCB.org ─ and complete all the space to spread your work out, if required. Organize
necessary steps in registering to take the exam. Next, your workspace so that you have quick and easy access
check all the pre-requisite requirements. Once you have to everything you need.
registered to take the exam and completed the prepara- Make a “To Do” List
tion, make sure you look at the What to Bring section.
Double check the date, time, and place of the exam. Mark Keep a running list of all projects and assignments that
your calendar and be sure to find the location in advance. are due. This will help ensure that you don’t forget about
