ExCPT Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam 2026:
Comprehensive NHA Practice Test — Pharmacology, Pharmacy Law,
Medication Safety, Prescription Processing, Compounding &
Inventory Management — 190 Multiple-Choice Questions with
Answers & Detailed Rationales
DOMAIN 1: ROLE, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND GENERAL DUTIES (28 Questions)
Question 1
A pharmacy technician receives a call from a patient requesting the name of the medication
they picked up last week because they forgot. What is the most appropriate action?
A. Provide the medication name after verifying the patient's date of birth
B. Tell the patient you cannot disclose that information without the pharmacist's approval
C. Ask the patient to come to the pharmacy in person with identification
D. Transfer the call to the pharmacist for verification
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Medication information disclosure requires pharmacist involvement;
technicians should route clinical inquiries to the pharmacist for proper HIPAA-compliant
handling and patient safety.
Question 2
Which task is within the scope of practice for a certified pharmacy technician?
A. Counseling a patient on new medication side effects
,B. Performing a final verification of a filled prescription
C. Compounding a sterile intravenous admixture
D. Resolving a drug interaction alert with the prescriber
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Sterile compounding may be performed by trained technicians under
pharmacist supervision; counseling, final verification, and clinical intervention are
pharmacist-only responsibilities.
Question 3
A patient approaches the counter and asks to speak with "the person in charge." The
pharmacist is on the phone with a prescriber. What should the technician do?
A. Tell the patient the pharmacist is unavailable and offer to take a message
B. Inform the pharmacist discreetly and ask the patient to wait briefly
C. Attempt to resolve the patient's concern independently
D. Ask another patient in line if they can wait longer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Patient inquiries about management should be escalated promptly; discreet
notification respects patient privacy while ensuring the pharmacist can address concerns
appropriately.
Question 4
Which activity best describes the technician's role in inventory management?
,A. Deciding which therapeutic alternatives to stock based on cost
B. Monitoring stock levels and notifying the pharmacist of shortages
C. Negotiating contracts with pharmaceutical wholesalers
D. Approving emergency drug orders without pharmacist review
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Technicians monitor inventory and communicate needs to pharmacists;
formulary decisions and purchasing contracts require pharmacist or management
authorization.
Question 5
A pharmacy technician is asked by a coworker to look up a patient's address in the pharmacy
system for a personal matter. What is the technician's best response?
A. Provide the information since the coworker is a pharmacy employee
B. Refuse and explain that accessing patient information without a work purpose violates
HIPAA
C. Look up the information but do not write it down
D. Ask the pharmacist for permission before providing the address
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Accessing protected health information without a legitimate treatment,
payment, or operations purpose violates HIPAA regardless of employment status.
Question 6
, Which of the following is a non-clinical duty typically assigned to pharmacy technicians?
A. Evaluating the appropriateness of a prescribed antibiotic
B. Processing insurance claims and resolving rejections
C. Adjusting a medication dose based on renal function
D. Authorizing refills for controlled substances
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Insurance processing is an administrative function within technician scope;
clinical evaluation, dose adjustment, and controlled substance authorization require
pharmacist judgment.
Question 7
A pharmacy technician notices that a fellow technician consistently arrives late and leaves
medications unattended on the counter. What is the appropriate first step?
A. Report the behavior directly to the store manager
B. Confront the coworker publicly to correct the behavior
C. Document the incidents and discuss concerns with the supervising pharmacist
D. Ignore the behavior since it does not affect patient care
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Unattended medications pose a safety and diversion risk; technicians should
report concerns through the chain of command, starting with the supervising pharmacist.
Comprehensive NHA Practice Test — Pharmacology, Pharmacy Law,
Medication Safety, Prescription Processing, Compounding &
Inventory Management — 190 Multiple-Choice Questions with
Answers & Detailed Rationales
DOMAIN 1: ROLE, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND GENERAL DUTIES (28 Questions)
Question 1
A pharmacy technician receives a call from a patient requesting the name of the medication
they picked up last week because they forgot. What is the most appropriate action?
A. Provide the medication name after verifying the patient's date of birth
B. Tell the patient you cannot disclose that information without the pharmacist's approval
C. Ask the patient to come to the pharmacy in person with identification
D. Transfer the call to the pharmacist for verification
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Medication information disclosure requires pharmacist involvement;
technicians should route clinical inquiries to the pharmacist for proper HIPAA-compliant
handling and patient safety.
Question 2
Which task is within the scope of practice for a certified pharmacy technician?
A. Counseling a patient on new medication side effects
,B. Performing a final verification of a filled prescription
C. Compounding a sterile intravenous admixture
D. Resolving a drug interaction alert with the prescriber
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Sterile compounding may be performed by trained technicians under
pharmacist supervision; counseling, final verification, and clinical intervention are
pharmacist-only responsibilities.
Question 3
A patient approaches the counter and asks to speak with "the person in charge." The
pharmacist is on the phone with a prescriber. What should the technician do?
A. Tell the patient the pharmacist is unavailable and offer to take a message
B. Inform the pharmacist discreetly and ask the patient to wait briefly
C. Attempt to resolve the patient's concern independently
D. Ask another patient in line if they can wait longer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Patient inquiries about management should be escalated promptly; discreet
notification respects patient privacy while ensuring the pharmacist can address concerns
appropriately.
Question 4
Which activity best describes the technician's role in inventory management?
,A. Deciding which therapeutic alternatives to stock based on cost
B. Monitoring stock levels and notifying the pharmacist of shortages
C. Negotiating contracts with pharmaceutical wholesalers
D. Approving emergency drug orders without pharmacist review
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Technicians monitor inventory and communicate needs to pharmacists;
formulary decisions and purchasing contracts require pharmacist or management
authorization.
Question 5
A pharmacy technician is asked by a coworker to look up a patient's address in the pharmacy
system for a personal matter. What is the technician's best response?
A. Provide the information since the coworker is a pharmacy employee
B. Refuse and explain that accessing patient information without a work purpose violates
HIPAA
C. Look up the information but do not write it down
D. Ask the pharmacist for permission before providing the address
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Accessing protected health information without a legitimate treatment,
payment, or operations purpose violates HIPAA regardless of employment status.
Question 6
, Which of the following is a non-clinical duty typically assigned to pharmacy technicians?
A. Evaluating the appropriateness of a prescribed antibiotic
B. Processing insurance claims and resolving rejections
C. Adjusting a medication dose based on renal function
D. Authorizing refills for controlled substances
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Insurance processing is an administrative function within technician scope;
clinical evaluation, dose adjustment, and controlled substance authorization require
pharmacist judgment.
Question 7
A pharmacy technician notices that a fellow technician consistently arrives late and leaves
medications unattended on the counter. What is the appropriate first step?
A. Report the behavior directly to the store manager
B. Confront the coworker publicly to correct the behavior
C. Document the incidents and discuss concerns with the supervising pharmacist
D. Ignore the behavior since it does not affect patient care
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Unattended medications pose a safety and diversion risk; technicians should
report concerns through the chain of command, starting with the supervising pharmacist.
