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PTCB (PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS
LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam) — 250 Practice Questions
250 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
SECTION 1: MEDICATIONS (Questions 1-88)
1. A pharmacy technician is assisting a patient who asks for the brand name of the
medication with the generic name "lisinopril." Which response is correct?
A. "The brand name is Zestril or Prinivil."
B. "The brand name is Lotensin."
C. "The brand name is Norvasc."
D. "The brand name is Vasotec."
Answer: A
Rationale: Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor available under the brand names Zestril and
Prinivil. Lotensin is the brand for benazepril, Norvasc is amlodipine, and Vasotec is enalapril.
Pharmacy technicians must know both generic and brand names of common medications.
2. A prescription is written for "Prozac 20 mg once daily." What is the generic name of
this medication?
A. Sertraline
B. Citalopram
C. Fluoxetine
D. Paroxetine
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Answer: C
Rationale: Prozac is the brand name for fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
(SSRI) used for depression, OCD, and bulimia. Sertraline is Zoloft, citalopram is Celexa, and
paroxetine is Paxil.
3. A patient is currently taking lisinopril and is prescribed losartan. The pharmacy
technician should recognize this as which type of therapeutic concern?
A. Therapeutic duplication
B. Drug-disease contraindication
C. Drug-nutrient interaction
D. Therapeutic equivalence
Answer: A
Rationale: Both lisinopril (ACE inhibitor) and losartan (ARB) are used to treat hypertension
and work on the renin-angiotensin system. This represents therapeutic duplication — a
patient taking two medications with the same therapeutic effect from the same class. The
technician should bring this to the pharmacist's attention.
4. Which of the following is a common side effect of selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs)?
A. Sedation
B. Sexual dysfunction
C. Weight loss
D. Bradycardia
Answer: B
Rationale: Sexual dysfunction (decreased libido, delayed ejaculation, anorgasmia) is a
common side effect of SSRIs. While some SSRIs can cause sedation or weight changes,
sexual dysfunction is among the most frequently reported adverse effects.
5. A medication is prescribed with the route "SL." What does this abbreviation
indicate?
A. Sublingual
B. Subcutaneous
C. Sustained release
D. Solution
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Answer: A
Rationale: "SL" is the abbreviation for sublingual, meaning the medication is placed under
the tongue for absorption through the mucosal membranes. Subcutaneous is "SQ" or "SC,"
sustained release is "SR," and solution is "Sol."
6. A patient brings in a prescription for "metformin 500 mg BID." How many tablets
will the patient take in a 30-day supply?
A. 30 tablets
B. 60 tablets
C. 90 tablets
D. 120 tablets
Answer: B
Rationale: BID means twice daily, so the patient takes 2 tablets per day. Over 30 days: 2 ×
30 = 60 tablets.
7. A patient is prescribed warfarin. Which over-the-counter medication should the
pharmacy technician warn the patient about due to a potential drug interaction?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Ibuprofen
C. Diphenhydramine
D. Loratadine
Answer: B
Rationale: Ibuprofen (and other NSAIDs) can increase the risk of bleeding when taken with
warfarin, a blood thinner. While acetaminophen can also interact, NSAIDs have a more
significant bleeding risk. Drug interactions are a key area of medication knowledge.
8. Which of the following is an example of a high-alert medication that requires special
handling and monitoring?
A. Amoxicillin
B. Insulin
C. Cetirizine
D. Omeprazole
Answer: B
Rationale: Insulin is a high-alert medication because errors in dosing can cause significant
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patient harm, including severe hypoglycemia. High-alert medications are those that bear a
heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when used in error.
9. A pharmacy technician is preparing a prescription for "amoxicillin 400 mg/5 mL,
take 10 mL PO BID." How many milligrams does the patient receive per dose?
A. 400 mg
B. 800 mg
C. 200 mg
D. 1,000 mg
Answer: B
Rationale: The concentration is 400 mg per 5 mL. The patient takes 10 mL per dose, which
is 2 × 5 mL. Therefore, 400 mg × 2 = 800 mg per dose.
10. The abbreviation "HS" on a prescription indicates that the medication should be
taken:
A. In the morning
B. With food
C. At bedtime
D. As needed
Answer: C
Rationale: "HS" stands for hora somni, meaning at bedtime. "AM" is morning, "AC" is
before meals, "PC" is after meals, and "PRN" is as needed.
11. A patient is prescribed a medication that requires refrigeration. Which temperature
range is appropriate for refrigerated storage of medications?
A. 15°C to 25°C
B. 2°C to 8°C
C. -20°C to -10°C
D. 25°C to 30°C
Answer: B
Rationale: Refrigerated medications should be stored at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F). Room
temperature is typically 15°C to 25°C, and frozen storage is below 0°C. Proper storage is
essential for drug stability.
PTCB (PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS
LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam) — 250 Practice Questions
250 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
SECTION 1: MEDICATIONS (Questions 1-88)
1. A pharmacy technician is assisting a patient who asks for the brand name of the
medication with the generic name "lisinopril." Which response is correct?
A. "The brand name is Zestril or Prinivil."
B. "The brand name is Lotensin."
C. "The brand name is Norvasc."
D. "The brand name is Vasotec."
Answer: A
Rationale: Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor available under the brand names Zestril and
Prinivil. Lotensin is the brand for benazepril, Norvasc is amlodipine, and Vasotec is enalapril.
Pharmacy technicians must know both generic and brand names of common medications.
2. A prescription is written for "Prozac 20 mg once daily." What is the generic name of
this medication?
A. Sertraline
B. Citalopram
C. Fluoxetine
D. Paroxetine
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Answer: C
Rationale: Prozac is the brand name for fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
(SSRI) used for depression, OCD, and bulimia. Sertraline is Zoloft, citalopram is Celexa, and
paroxetine is Paxil.
3. A patient is currently taking lisinopril and is prescribed losartan. The pharmacy
technician should recognize this as which type of therapeutic concern?
A. Therapeutic duplication
B. Drug-disease contraindication
C. Drug-nutrient interaction
D. Therapeutic equivalence
Answer: A
Rationale: Both lisinopril (ACE inhibitor) and losartan (ARB) are used to treat hypertension
and work on the renin-angiotensin system. This represents therapeutic duplication — a
patient taking two medications with the same therapeutic effect from the same class. The
technician should bring this to the pharmacist's attention.
4. Which of the following is a common side effect of selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs)?
A. Sedation
B. Sexual dysfunction
C. Weight loss
D. Bradycardia
Answer: B
Rationale: Sexual dysfunction (decreased libido, delayed ejaculation, anorgasmia) is a
common side effect of SSRIs. While some SSRIs can cause sedation or weight changes,
sexual dysfunction is among the most frequently reported adverse effects.
5. A medication is prescribed with the route "SL." What does this abbreviation
indicate?
A. Sublingual
B. Subcutaneous
C. Sustained release
D. Solution
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Answer: A
Rationale: "SL" is the abbreviation for sublingual, meaning the medication is placed under
the tongue for absorption through the mucosal membranes. Subcutaneous is "SQ" or "SC,"
sustained release is "SR," and solution is "Sol."
6. A patient brings in a prescription for "metformin 500 mg BID." How many tablets
will the patient take in a 30-day supply?
A. 30 tablets
B. 60 tablets
C. 90 tablets
D. 120 tablets
Answer: B
Rationale: BID means twice daily, so the patient takes 2 tablets per day. Over 30 days: 2 ×
30 = 60 tablets.
7. A patient is prescribed warfarin. Which over-the-counter medication should the
pharmacy technician warn the patient about due to a potential drug interaction?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Ibuprofen
C. Diphenhydramine
D. Loratadine
Answer: B
Rationale: Ibuprofen (and other NSAIDs) can increase the risk of bleeding when taken with
warfarin, a blood thinner. While acetaminophen can also interact, NSAIDs have a more
significant bleeding risk. Drug interactions are a key area of medication knowledge.
8. Which of the following is an example of a high-alert medication that requires special
handling and monitoring?
A. Amoxicillin
B. Insulin
C. Cetirizine
D. Omeprazole
Answer: B
Rationale: Insulin is a high-alert medication because errors in dosing can cause significant
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patient harm, including severe hypoglycemia. High-alert medications are those that bear a
heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when used in error.
9. A pharmacy technician is preparing a prescription for "amoxicillin 400 mg/5 mL,
take 10 mL PO BID." How many milligrams does the patient receive per dose?
A. 400 mg
B. 800 mg
C. 200 mg
D. 1,000 mg
Answer: B
Rationale: The concentration is 400 mg per 5 mL. The patient takes 10 mL per dose, which
is 2 × 5 mL. Therefore, 400 mg × 2 = 800 mg per dose.
10. The abbreviation "HS" on a prescription indicates that the medication should be
taken:
A. In the morning
B. With food
C. At bedtime
D. As needed
Answer: C
Rationale: "HS" stands for hora somni, meaning at bedtime. "AM" is morning, "AC" is
before meals, "PC" is after meals, and "PRN" is as needed.
11. A patient is prescribed a medication that requires refrigeration. Which temperature
range is appropriate for refrigerated storage of medications?
A. 15°C to 25°C
B. 2°C to 8°C
C. -20°C to -10°C
D. 25°C to 30°C
Answer: B
Rationale: Refrigerated medications should be stored at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F). Room
temperature is typically 15°C to 25°C, and frozen storage is below 0°C. Proper storage is
essential for drug stability.
