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Maryland Pharmacy Technician Certification 2026/2027:
The Complete Practice Q&A with Well-Elaborated
Answers & Rationales | 100% Verified Solutions |
Instant PDF Download
High-Yield Practice Questions & Detailed Rationales
The following 150 questions are modeled on the content of the PTCB and ExCPT national exams,
combined with Maryland-specific laws. Each question is followed by a verified answer and a detailed
rationale.
Federal & General Pharmacy Topics
Q1. Which federal law established the current drug scheduling system (Schedule I-V)?
A. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
B. Durham-Humphrey Amendment
C. Controlled Substances Act (CSA)
D. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA)
✅ Answer: C. Controlled Substances Act (CSA)
Rationale: The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970 created the five-schedule classification system
for controlled substances based on their potential for abuse and medical use. It also established the DEA
to enforce these regulations.
Q2. Which of the following is a Schedule II controlled substance?
A. Alprazolam (Xanax)
B. Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
C. Codeine cough syrup (Schedule III-V)
D. Dextromethorphan
✅ Answer: B. Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Rationale: Methylphenidate is a Schedule II controlled substance due to its high potential for abuse and
severe psychological or physical dependence. Alprazolam is Schedule IV.
Q3. A patient presents a prescription for oxycodone 10 mg. The prescription is missing the prescriber’s
DEA number. What should the pharmacy technician do?
A. Fill the prescription and note the missing number
B. Contact the prescriber to obtain the DEA number
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C. Refuse to fill the prescription
D. Use the prescriber’s NPI number instead
✅ Answer: B. Contact the prescriber to obtain the DEA number
Rationale: A valid prescription for a controlled substance must include the prescriber’s DEA number. The
technician should contact the prescriber’s office to obtain it.
Q4. What does OSHA primarily regulate in a pharmacy setting?
A. Drug pricing
B. Workplace safety and hazardous drug handling
C. Patient privacy
D. Prescription drug monitoring
✅ Answer: B. Workplace safety and hazardous drug handling
Rationale: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets standards for safe handling
of hazardous drugs (e.g., chemotherapy agents) and workplace safety.
Q5. A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for warfarin with a sig that reads: “Take 1 tablet
daily.” The dispensed product label should include:
A. Only the drug name and strength
B. The diagnosis code
C. A clear indication of the drug strength and the condition being treated (e.g., “For anticoagulation”)
D. The patient’s date of birth only
✅ Answer: C. A clear indication of the drug strength and the condition being treated (e.g., “For
anticoagulation”)
Rationale: Warfarin has a narrow therapeutic index and requires clear instructions. Including the
condition (e.g., “For anticoagulation”) helps ensure the patient understands the purpose and avoids
confusion.
Q6. Which law requires pharmacists to offer to counsel all Medicaid patients?
A. OBRA ’90
B. HIPAA
C. FDCA
D. DSCSA
✅ Answer: A. OBRA ’90
Rationale: The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA ’90) mandates that pharmacists offer
to counsel all Medicaid patients on their medications.
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Q7. Which of the following is not a requirement for a valid prescription in most states?
A. Patient’s full name
B. Date of issuance
C. Patient’s diagnosis code
D. Prescriber’s signature
✅ Answer: C. Patient’s diagnosis code
Rationale: A diagnosis code is not required for a prescription to be valid. However, it may be required
for insurance billing or for certain controlled substances.
Q8. A pharmacy technician is preparing a chemotherapy admixture. Which PPE is required?
A. Surgical mask
B. Chemotherapy gloves (tested for chemotherapy agents) and a closed-system transfer device
C. Regular latex gloves
D. Eye goggles only
✅ Answer: B. Chemotherapy gloves (tested for chemotherapy agents) and a closed-system transfer
device
Rationale: Handling hazardous drugs (e.g., chemotherapy) requires specialized PPE, including
chemotherapy-tested gloves and a closed-system transfer device (CSTD) to prevent exposure.
Q9. Which of the following is a brand name for the generic drug metformin?
A. Glucotrol
B. Glucophage
C. Januvia
D. Invokana
✅ Answer: B. Glucophage
Rationale: Glucophage is the brand name for metformin. Glucotrol is glipizide, Januvia is sitagliptin, and
Invokana is canagliflozin.
Q10. A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for lisinopril 10 mg with a sig of “Take one tablet
daily.” The patient’s profile shows an allergy to ACE inhibitors. The technician should:
A. Fill the prescription as written
B. Alert the pharmacist to the potential allergy
C. Substitute lisinopril with losartan
D. Refuse to fill the prescription
✅ Answer: B. Alert the pharmacist to the potential allergy
Rationale: Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor. The technician must bring the allergy alert to the pharmacist’s
attention immediately.
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Controlled Substances & DEA Regulations
Q11. Which DEA form is used to order Schedule II controlled substances?
A. DEA Form 222
B. DEA Form 222
C. DEA Form 106
D. DEA Form 41
✅ Answer: A. DEA Form 222
Rationale: DEA Form 222 (and now the electronic equivalent, DEA Form 222e) is used to order Schedule
II controlled substances. Form 106 is for theft or loss; Form 41 is for destruction.
Q12. A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for codeine 30 mg with the sig “Take one tablet
every 6 hours.” The prescription is dated 3 months ago. The technician should:
A. Fill the prescription as written
B. Check state law; in most states, controlled substance prescriptions expire after 6 months
C. Contact the patient to verify
D. Fill only a partial amount
✅ Answer: B. Check state law; in most states, controlled substance prescriptions expire after 6
months
Rationale: Federal law allows Schedule II prescriptions to be filled up to 6 months from the date written.
However, some states have shorter expiration periods. The technician should check state law.
Q13. A pharmacy receives a prescription for Adderall XR 20 mg written by a physician’s assistant (PA). In
Maryland, PAs have limited prescriptive authority. The technician should:
A. Fill the prescription
B. Verify that the PA has a valid DEA registration and is authorized to prescribe controlled substances
C. Refuse to fill
D. Call the physician to co-sign
✅ Answer: B. Verify that the PA has a valid DEA registration and is authorized to prescribe controlled
substances
Rationale: In Maryland, PAs and nurse practitioners may prescribe controlled substances if they have a
valid DEA registration and are authorized by their supervising physician.
Q14. A pharmacy technician is counting hydrocodone/acetaminophen 5/325 mg tablets. Which action
is required?
A. Count the tablets in a separate counting tray
B. Perform a “double-count” (count twice to ensure accuracy)
C. Use an automatic counting machine
D. Count only once
Maryland Pharmacy Technician Certification 2026/2027:
The Complete Practice Q&A with Well-Elaborated
Answers & Rationales | 100% Verified Solutions |
Instant PDF Download
High-Yield Practice Questions & Detailed Rationales
The following 150 questions are modeled on the content of the PTCB and ExCPT national exams,
combined with Maryland-specific laws. Each question is followed by a verified answer and a detailed
rationale.
Federal & General Pharmacy Topics
Q1. Which federal law established the current drug scheduling system (Schedule I-V)?
A. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
B. Durham-Humphrey Amendment
C. Controlled Substances Act (CSA)
D. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA)
✅ Answer: C. Controlled Substances Act (CSA)
Rationale: The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970 created the five-schedule classification system
for controlled substances based on their potential for abuse and medical use. It also established the DEA
to enforce these regulations.
Q2. Which of the following is a Schedule II controlled substance?
A. Alprazolam (Xanax)
B. Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
C. Codeine cough syrup (Schedule III-V)
D. Dextromethorphan
✅ Answer: B. Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Rationale: Methylphenidate is a Schedule II controlled substance due to its high potential for abuse and
severe psychological or physical dependence. Alprazolam is Schedule IV.
Q3. A patient presents a prescription for oxycodone 10 mg. The prescription is missing the prescriber’s
DEA number. What should the pharmacy technician do?
A. Fill the prescription and note the missing number
B. Contact the prescriber to obtain the DEA number
,2
C. Refuse to fill the prescription
D. Use the prescriber’s NPI number instead
✅ Answer: B. Contact the prescriber to obtain the DEA number
Rationale: A valid prescription for a controlled substance must include the prescriber’s DEA number. The
technician should contact the prescriber’s office to obtain it.
Q4. What does OSHA primarily regulate in a pharmacy setting?
A. Drug pricing
B. Workplace safety and hazardous drug handling
C. Patient privacy
D. Prescription drug monitoring
✅ Answer: B. Workplace safety and hazardous drug handling
Rationale: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets standards for safe handling
of hazardous drugs (e.g., chemotherapy agents) and workplace safety.
Q5. A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for warfarin with a sig that reads: “Take 1 tablet
daily.” The dispensed product label should include:
A. Only the drug name and strength
B. The diagnosis code
C. A clear indication of the drug strength and the condition being treated (e.g., “For anticoagulation”)
D. The patient’s date of birth only
✅ Answer: C. A clear indication of the drug strength and the condition being treated (e.g., “For
anticoagulation”)
Rationale: Warfarin has a narrow therapeutic index and requires clear instructions. Including the
condition (e.g., “For anticoagulation”) helps ensure the patient understands the purpose and avoids
confusion.
Q6. Which law requires pharmacists to offer to counsel all Medicaid patients?
A. OBRA ’90
B. HIPAA
C. FDCA
D. DSCSA
✅ Answer: A. OBRA ’90
Rationale: The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA ’90) mandates that pharmacists offer
to counsel all Medicaid patients on their medications.
,3
Q7. Which of the following is not a requirement for a valid prescription in most states?
A. Patient’s full name
B. Date of issuance
C. Patient’s diagnosis code
D. Prescriber’s signature
✅ Answer: C. Patient’s diagnosis code
Rationale: A diagnosis code is not required for a prescription to be valid. However, it may be required
for insurance billing or for certain controlled substances.
Q8. A pharmacy technician is preparing a chemotherapy admixture. Which PPE is required?
A. Surgical mask
B. Chemotherapy gloves (tested for chemotherapy agents) and a closed-system transfer device
C. Regular latex gloves
D. Eye goggles only
✅ Answer: B. Chemotherapy gloves (tested for chemotherapy agents) and a closed-system transfer
device
Rationale: Handling hazardous drugs (e.g., chemotherapy) requires specialized PPE, including
chemotherapy-tested gloves and a closed-system transfer device (CSTD) to prevent exposure.
Q9. Which of the following is a brand name for the generic drug metformin?
A. Glucotrol
B. Glucophage
C. Januvia
D. Invokana
✅ Answer: B. Glucophage
Rationale: Glucophage is the brand name for metformin. Glucotrol is glipizide, Januvia is sitagliptin, and
Invokana is canagliflozin.
Q10. A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for lisinopril 10 mg with a sig of “Take one tablet
daily.” The patient’s profile shows an allergy to ACE inhibitors. The technician should:
A. Fill the prescription as written
B. Alert the pharmacist to the potential allergy
C. Substitute lisinopril with losartan
D. Refuse to fill the prescription
✅ Answer: B. Alert the pharmacist to the potential allergy
Rationale: Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor. The technician must bring the allergy alert to the pharmacist’s
attention immediately.
, 4
Controlled Substances & DEA Regulations
Q11. Which DEA form is used to order Schedule II controlled substances?
A. DEA Form 222
B. DEA Form 222
C. DEA Form 106
D. DEA Form 41
✅ Answer: A. DEA Form 222
Rationale: DEA Form 222 (and now the electronic equivalent, DEA Form 222e) is used to order Schedule
II controlled substances. Form 106 is for theft or loss; Form 41 is for destruction.
Q12. A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for codeine 30 mg with the sig “Take one tablet
every 6 hours.” The prescription is dated 3 months ago. The technician should:
A. Fill the prescription as written
B. Check state law; in most states, controlled substance prescriptions expire after 6 months
C. Contact the patient to verify
D. Fill only a partial amount
✅ Answer: B. Check state law; in most states, controlled substance prescriptions expire after 6
months
Rationale: Federal law allows Schedule II prescriptions to be filled up to 6 months from the date written.
However, some states have shorter expiration periods. The technician should check state law.
Q13. A pharmacy receives a prescription for Adderall XR 20 mg written by a physician’s assistant (PA). In
Maryland, PAs have limited prescriptive authority. The technician should:
A. Fill the prescription
B. Verify that the PA has a valid DEA registration and is authorized to prescribe controlled substances
C. Refuse to fill
D. Call the physician to co-sign
✅ Answer: B. Verify that the PA has a valid DEA registration and is authorized to prescribe controlled
substances
Rationale: In Maryland, PAs and nurse practitioners may prescribe controlled substances if they have a
valid DEA registration and are authorized by their supervising physician.
Q14. A pharmacy technician is counting hydrocodone/acetaminophen 5/325 mg tablets. Which action
is required?
A. Count the tablets in a separate counting tray
B. Perform a “double-count” (count twice to ensure accuracy)
C. Use an automatic counting machine
D. Count only once
