Free PTCE Practice Questions

✅ Correct Answer: B: 30 capsules

Multiply the dose frequency by the days of therapy: 1 capsule per dose x 3 doses per day x 10 days = 30 capsules. The technician should verify the quantity against the prescribed directions and count 30 capsules to cover the full 10-day course of therapy.

Reference: PTCB PTCE Blueprint Ch. 5 (Pharmacy Calculations)

✅ Correct Answer: B: Take the tablet two times per day

b.i.d. comes from the Latin "bis in die" and means twice a day. Common sig codes on the PTCB PTCE include q.d. (once daily), t.i.d. (three times daily), q.i.d. (four times daily), and p.r.n. (as needed). Because abbreviations can be misread, ISMP recommends writing "twice daily" on patient labels, but on the exam b.i.d. always means twice a day.

Reference: PTCB PTCE Blueprint Ch. 1 (Pharmacy Fundamentals and Sig Codes)

✅ Correct Answer: A: Schedule II

Oxycodone is a Schedule II controlled substance: it has a high potential for abuse, has a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions, and may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence (21 CFR 1308.12). Other Schedule II opioids include morphine, hydromorphone, fentanyl, and oxymorphone. Products combining codeine with a non-opioid such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol No. 3) fall in Schedule III.

Reference: DEA 21 CFR Part 1308; PTCB PTCE Blueprint Ch. 7 (Federal Requirements and Controlled Substances)

✅ Correct Answer: B: Increased INR with an increased risk of bleeding

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole inhibits CYP2C9, the enzyme that clears S-warfarin, and can displace warfarin from protein binding sites. This potentiates warfarin, raising the INR and significantly increasing bleeding risk (FDA boxed information for the combination). The technician should alert the pharmacist, who will typically consult the prescriber about closer INR monitoring or a warfarin dose adjustment during and after the antibiotic course.

Reference: FDA prescribing information; PTCB PTCE Blueprint Ch. 3 (Dosing Forms and Drug Interactions)

✅ Correct Answer: A: Atorvastatin

Lipitor is the brand name for atorvastatin, one of the most widely dispensed statins and a staple of Top 200 drug lists. Related generics: simvastatin (Zocor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and pravastatin (Pravachol). The technician should know both brand and generic names to match prescriptions, avoid look-alike mix-ups, and counsel on therapeutic duplication.

Reference: USP Dictionary and FDA Orange Book; PTCB PTCE Blueprint Ch. 2 (Drug Classes and Top 200 Drugs)

✅ Correct Answer: B: 10 mL

One teaspoon equals 5 mL, so 2 teaspoons equal 10 mL. Other household conversions the PTCB PTCE expects: 1 tablespoon = 15 mL = 3 teaspoons, 1 fluid ounce = 30 mL, 1 cup = 8 ounces = 240 mL, and 1 pint = 480 mL. Supplying a properly sized dosing device (oral syringe or cup) helps patients measure the correct volume.

Reference: PTCB PTCE Blueprint Ch. 5 (Pharmacy Calculations)

✅ Correct Answer: B: Add the first, third, and fifth digits, then double the sum of the second, fourth, and sixth digits; the last digit of the combined total must equal the seventh digit (check digit)

A DEA number contains two letters (the first indicates registrant type, such as A or B for practitioners, and the second is the first letter of the prescriber's last name) followed by seven digits. To validate it, add digits 1, 3, and 5; add digits 2, 4, and 6 and multiply that sum by two; add the two results together. The last digit of the total must equal the seventh digit (the check digit). If it does not match, the technician should flag the prescription for pharmacist review. A number that passes the check is not proof of legitimacy, so the pharmacist verifies controlled substance orders as required by 21 CFR 1301.

Reference: DEA 21 CFR Part 1301; PTCB PTCE Blueprint Ch. 6 (Order Entry and Prescription Processing)

✅ Correct Answer: A: Insulin

Insulin is on the ISMP List of High-Alert Medications: it has a narrow therapeutic index, and dosing or product mix-ups (such as confusing rapid-acting with long-acting insulin or units with mL) can cause severe hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Other high-alert categories include opioids, anticoagulants, chemotherapy agents, and concentrated electrolytes. Pharmacies reduce risk with independent double checks, careful storage, tall-man lettering, and clear labeling.

Reference: ISMP List of High-Alert Medications; PTCB PTCE Blueprint Ch. 4 (Patient Safety and Quality Assurance)

✅ Correct Answer: C: No refills are permitted; a new prescription is required for each fill

Under 21 CFR 1306.12, a prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance may not be refilled. The prescriber must issue a new written, electronic, or (with limited exceptions) oral prescription for each fill. By contrast, Schedule III, IV, and V prescriptions may be refilled up to five times within six months, after which a new prescription is required. The technician must also check the C-II prescription for all required elements before dispensing.

Reference: DEA 21 CFR Section 1306.12; PTCB PTCE Blueprint Ch. 7 (Federal Requirements and Controlled Substances)

✅ Correct Answer: B: Clarify the intended medication with the pharmacist and complete an independent double check before dispensing

HydrALAZINE (an antihypertensive vasodilator) and hydrOXYzine (an antihistamine used for itching and anxiety) are look-alike, sound-alike (LASA) drugs. Confusing them has caused serious patient harm, so ISMP and USP guidance calls for tall-man lettering (hydrALAZINE vs. hydrOXYzine), storing the pair apart, and performing independent double checks before dispensing. The technician should never guess: verify the intended drug with the pharmacist and make sure the product matches the verified order.

Reference: ISMP and USP LASA guidance; PTCB PTCE Blueprint Ch. 4 (Patient Safety and Quality Assurance)