THE ULTIMATE PTCB (PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION) PRACTICE EXAM: QUESTIONS,
ANSWERS, AND IN-DEPTH RATIONALES
Question 1
A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for amoxicillin 500 mg capsules. The prescription
directions read: "Take 1 capsule by mouth three times daily for 10 days." How many capsules should the
technician dispense?
A) 30 capsules
B) 20 capsules
C) 15 capsules
D) 45 capsules
Answer: A) 30 capsules
Rationale: The prescription is for 1 capsule three times daily (TID) for 10 days. Calculate: 1 capsule × 3
times/day × 10 days = 30 capsules. The technician should dispense 30 capsules to cover the full course of
therapy. This is a common calculation that pharmacy technicians must perform accurately to ensure
patients receive the correct quantity of medication.
Question 2
Which of the following is the brand name for metformin?
A) Glucophage
B) Glucotrol
C) Glucagon
D) Glucovance
Answer: A) Glucophage
Rationale: Metformin is the generic name for Glucophage, a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes
mellitus. Glucotrol is the brand name for glipizide; Glucagon is a hormone used to treat severe
hypoglycemia; Glucovance is a combination of metformin and glyburide. Pharmacy technicians must be
familiar with both generic and brand names of commonly prescribed medications.
Question 3
A pharmacy technician is preparing a medication that requires reconstitution. Which of the following is
the correct term for the liquid used to dissolve a powdered medication?
A) Diluent
,B) Elixir
C) Suspension
D) Tincture
Answer: A) Diluent
Rationale: A diluent is the liquid used to dissolve or dilute a powdered medication during reconstitution.
Common diluents include sterile water, normal saline, and specific reconstitution solutions provided by
the manufacturer. Elixirs are clear, sweetened hydroalcoholic solutions; suspensions are liquid
preparations with undissolved particles; tinctures are alcoholic solutions of plant extracts.
Question 4
Which of the following DEA schedule classifications indicates medications with the highest potential for
abuse?
A) Schedule I
B) Schedule II
C) Schedule III
D) Schedule IV
Answer: A) Schedule I
Rationale: Schedule I drugs have the highest potential for abuse and no accepted medical use in the
United States. Examples include heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. Schedule II drugs have a high potential for
abuse but have accepted medical uses (e.g., morphine, oxycodone). Schedule III and IV drugs have
progressively lower abuse potential. Pharmacy technicians must be familiar with DEA schedules for
controlled substance handling.
Question 5
A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for a Schedule III controlled substance. How many refills
are permitted for this medication under federal law?
A) No refills
B) Up to 5 refills within 6 months
C) Up to 6 refills within 12 months
D) Unlimited refills
Answer: B) Up to 5 refills within 6 months
Rationale: Under federal law, Schedule III and IV controlled substances may be refilled up to 5 times
within 6 months from the date of the prescription. Schedule II substances have no refills. Schedule V
substances may have refills as indicated on the prescription. Pharmacy technicians must verify refill limits
when processing controlled substance prescriptions.
Question 6
, Which of the following is the correct conversion for 1 tablespoon (tbsp)?
A) 5 mL
B) 10 mL
C) 15 mL
D) 30 mL
Answer: C) 15 mL
Rationale: One tablespoon (tbsp) is equal to 15 milliliters (mL). One teaspoon (tsp) is equal to 5 mL. One
ounce (oz) is equal to 30 mL or 2 tablespoons. Pharmacy technicians must know these common
conversions for accurate medication dosing and patient counseling.
Question 7
A patient's prescription is for 30 tablets of lisinopril 10 mg. The technician should select which of the
following National Drug Code (NDC) numbers?
A) The NDC number for lisinopril 10 mg tablets
B) The NDC number for lisinopril 20 mg tablets
C) The NDC number for enalapril 10 mg tablets
D) The NDC number for lisinopril 10 mg capsules
Answer: A) The NDC number for lisinopril 10 mg tablets
Rationale: The NDC number is a unique identifier for each medication product, including the specific
drug, strength, dosage form, and manufacturer. The technician must select the NDC that matches the
prescribed medication (lisinopril 10 mg tablets). Using an incorrect NDC could result in dispensing the
wrong medication, strength, or dosage form. NDC numbers are essential for inventory management and
billing.
Question 8
Which of the following is a high-alert medication that requires special handling and double-checking?
A) Metformin
B) Lisinopril
C) Heparin
D) Amoxicillin
Answer: C) Heparin
Rationale: Heparin is a high-alert medication due to its narrow therapeutic index and the potential for
serious harm if dosed incorrectly. High-alert medications require special safeguards, including double-
checking by two technicians or pharmacists, clear labeling, and standardized dosing protocols.
Metformin, lisinopril, and amoxicillin are not typically considered high-alert medications, though they
still require careful handling.
CERTIFICATION) PRACTICE EXAM: QUESTIONS,
ANSWERS, AND IN-DEPTH RATIONALES
Question 1
A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for amoxicillin 500 mg capsules. The prescription
directions read: "Take 1 capsule by mouth three times daily for 10 days." How many capsules should the
technician dispense?
A) 30 capsules
B) 20 capsules
C) 15 capsules
D) 45 capsules
Answer: A) 30 capsules
Rationale: The prescription is for 1 capsule three times daily (TID) for 10 days. Calculate: 1 capsule × 3
times/day × 10 days = 30 capsules. The technician should dispense 30 capsules to cover the full course of
therapy. This is a common calculation that pharmacy technicians must perform accurately to ensure
patients receive the correct quantity of medication.
Question 2
Which of the following is the brand name for metformin?
A) Glucophage
B) Glucotrol
C) Glucagon
D) Glucovance
Answer: A) Glucophage
Rationale: Metformin is the generic name for Glucophage, a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes
mellitus. Glucotrol is the brand name for glipizide; Glucagon is a hormone used to treat severe
hypoglycemia; Glucovance is a combination of metformin and glyburide. Pharmacy technicians must be
familiar with both generic and brand names of commonly prescribed medications.
Question 3
A pharmacy technician is preparing a medication that requires reconstitution. Which of the following is
the correct term for the liquid used to dissolve a powdered medication?
A) Diluent
,B) Elixir
C) Suspension
D) Tincture
Answer: A) Diluent
Rationale: A diluent is the liquid used to dissolve or dilute a powdered medication during reconstitution.
Common diluents include sterile water, normal saline, and specific reconstitution solutions provided by
the manufacturer. Elixirs are clear, sweetened hydroalcoholic solutions; suspensions are liquid
preparations with undissolved particles; tinctures are alcoholic solutions of plant extracts.
Question 4
Which of the following DEA schedule classifications indicates medications with the highest potential for
abuse?
A) Schedule I
B) Schedule II
C) Schedule III
D) Schedule IV
Answer: A) Schedule I
Rationale: Schedule I drugs have the highest potential for abuse and no accepted medical use in the
United States. Examples include heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. Schedule II drugs have a high potential for
abuse but have accepted medical uses (e.g., morphine, oxycodone). Schedule III and IV drugs have
progressively lower abuse potential. Pharmacy technicians must be familiar with DEA schedules for
controlled substance handling.
Question 5
A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for a Schedule III controlled substance. How many refills
are permitted for this medication under federal law?
A) No refills
B) Up to 5 refills within 6 months
C) Up to 6 refills within 12 months
D) Unlimited refills
Answer: B) Up to 5 refills within 6 months
Rationale: Under federal law, Schedule III and IV controlled substances may be refilled up to 5 times
within 6 months from the date of the prescription. Schedule II substances have no refills. Schedule V
substances may have refills as indicated on the prescription. Pharmacy technicians must verify refill limits
when processing controlled substance prescriptions.
Question 6
, Which of the following is the correct conversion for 1 tablespoon (tbsp)?
A) 5 mL
B) 10 mL
C) 15 mL
D) 30 mL
Answer: C) 15 mL
Rationale: One tablespoon (tbsp) is equal to 15 milliliters (mL). One teaspoon (tsp) is equal to 5 mL. One
ounce (oz) is equal to 30 mL or 2 tablespoons. Pharmacy technicians must know these common
conversions for accurate medication dosing and patient counseling.
Question 7
A patient's prescription is for 30 tablets of lisinopril 10 mg. The technician should select which of the
following National Drug Code (NDC) numbers?
A) The NDC number for lisinopril 10 mg tablets
B) The NDC number for lisinopril 20 mg tablets
C) The NDC number for enalapril 10 mg tablets
D) The NDC number for lisinopril 10 mg capsules
Answer: A) The NDC number for lisinopril 10 mg tablets
Rationale: The NDC number is a unique identifier for each medication product, including the specific
drug, strength, dosage form, and manufacturer. The technician must select the NDC that matches the
prescribed medication (lisinopril 10 mg tablets). Using an incorrect NDC could result in dispensing the
wrong medication, strength, or dosage form. NDC numbers are essential for inventory management and
billing.
Question 8
Which of the following is a high-alert medication that requires special handling and double-checking?
A) Metformin
B) Lisinopril
C) Heparin
D) Amoxicillin
Answer: C) Heparin
Rationale: Heparin is a high-alert medication due to its narrow therapeutic index and the potential for
serious harm if dosed incorrectly. High-alert medications require special safeguards, including double-
checking by two technicians or pharmacists, clear labeling, and standardized dosing protocols.
Metformin, lisinopril, and amoxicillin are not typically considered high-alert medications, though they
still require careful handling.
