PTCB Practice Test 2026: 50 Free PTCE Questions + Answers

Correct answer: A. H2 receptor antagonist

H2 receptor antagonists, including famotidine and cimetidine, share the suffix "-tidine". PPIs end in "-prazole", beta blockers in "-olol", and calcium channel blockers in "-dipine".

From practice test 3 of our PTCB study guide (question 69). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: A. 30 mg

One grain equals 60 mg, so 0.5 grain is 0.5 x 60 = 30 mg. The 60 mg option represents 1 grain, not 0.5 grain.

From practice test 16 of our PTCB study guide (question 44). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: C. A new prescription is required from the prescriber because Schedule II medications cannot be refilled

Schedule II controlled substances cannot be refilled under federal law; a new prescription is required for each fill. The fact that the patient is nearly out of medication does not create a refill right.

From practice test 10 of our PTCB study guide (question 42). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: C. They have a narrow therapeutic index and can cause severe, life-threatening toxicity if the dose is incorrect.

Chemotherapy agents cause severe toxicity in normal tissues at doses near the therapeutic range, so small dosing or preparation errors can be life-threatening. They require special handling and independent double checks, but they are not all intravenous and are not given by physicians exclusively.

From practice test 3 of our PTCB study guide (question 18). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: A. Glucose eater because it helps lower blood glucose

Glucophage combines gluco (glucose) with phage (to eat), indicating the drug's glucose-lowering effect. It does not produce glucose, bind dietary sugar in the mouth, or work as an insulin carrier.

From practice test 12 of our PTCB study guide (question 67). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: C. Working from the back of the hood toward the front, avoiding reaching across open containers

Working from the back of the hood toward the front ensures that cleaner areas are prepared first and that hands and supplies never pass over an open sterile product. This maintains unidirectional airflow and prevents contamination from the operator's body.

From practice test 3 of our PTCB study guide (question 59). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: B. A new prescription is required because Schedule II medications cannot be refilled

Schedule II prescriptions cannot be refilled, so a new prescription from the prescriber is required for each additional supply. Transferring a Schedule II prescription for a refill is not permitted.

From practice test 13 of our PTCB study guide (question 63). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: B. The prescription may be refilled twice more, but no fill may occur after July 15

Federal law permits Schedule III, IV, and V prescriptions to be refilled no more than five times within six months from the date written. With three fills already used, only two refills remain, and the prescription expires on July 15.

From practice test 14 of our PTCB study guide (question 80). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: D. Transcription

Transcription is the step where the order is entered into the pharmacy computer system, so wrong selections from a drop-down menu and misread frequencies are transcription failures. Prescribing created the original order, while dispensing and administration occur after the order is transcribed.

From practice test 7 of our PTCB study guide (question 78). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: C. Metformin

Metformin is considered weight neutral and may cause modest weight loss, unlike sulfonylureas, which tend to cause weight gain. It is a first-line agent for type 2 diabetes in many patients. This makes it the appropriate medication to discuss for a patient concerned about weight gain.

From practice test 5 of our PTCB study guide (question 79). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: D. The patient signs a written authorization permitting the disclosure

Disclosures for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations require the patient's written authorization. A lawsuit request is not a TPO purpose, and the attorney's request or a notarized letter does not substitute for the patient's authorization.

From practice test 6 of our PTCB study guide (question 68). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: B. Contact the prescriber to ask whether the generic is clinically appropriate for this patient.

Product/Service Not Covered commonly means the plan will pay for a generic alternative. The pharmacy should ask the prescriber whether a switch is appropriate; resubmitting an unchanged claim will not change the outcome.

From practice test 9 of our PTCB study guide (question 63). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: D. It may be transferred only once, and only if it has not already been transferred

A Schedule II prescription may be transferred between pharmacies only once, and the transferring pharmacy must not have previously transferred it. Both pharmacies must record the transfer.

From practice test 11 of our PTCB study guide (question 18). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: D. Because the desired strength equals the higher strength, so the 10% solution can be used without mixing.

When the target strength equals one of the available strengths, no mixture is needed; the solution of that strength should be used directly. Alligation is only for targets strictly between the two source strengths.

From practice test 3 of our PTCB study guide (question 65). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: C. Collect the prescription and confirm it contains the required patient, prescriber, drug, strength, quantity, directions, and date

The receipt stage is for collecting and checking the prescription's required elements, not judging therapy or starting preparation. Entering data and counting are later workflow stages.

From practice test 10 of our PTCB study guide (question 36). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: C. Document the cough and alert the pharmacist; the prescriber may switch the patient to losartan, an ARB.

A dry cough is a characteristic adverse effect of ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril and should be reported to the pharmacist, who can recommend switching to an ARB like losartan, which does not cause this cough. The technician must not recommend cough suppressants, dose adjustments, or independent medication changes.

From practice test 14 of our PTCB study guide (question 29). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: C. Later generations generally have expanded gram-negative coverage while retaining clinically useful gram-positive activity.

Later-generation cephalosporins (e.g., third and fourth generations) have progressively greater gram-negative coverage while retaining substantial gram-positive activity. First-generation cephalosporins are more active against gram-positive organisms and have limited gram-negative coverage, so the other statements are incorrect.

From practice test 13 of our PTCB study guide (question 21). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: C. It is a payment activity that falls within the treatment, payment, or operations exception.

Verifying coverage and processing claims are payment functions under the treatment, payment, or operations exception, so no written authorization is needed. The other choices overstate the exception or incorrectly describe PHI.

From practice test 8 of our PTCB study guide (question 45). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: B. Wear the outer glove over the gown cuff and the inner glove under the gown.

For hazardous drugs, the inner glove is worn first, then the gown, then the outer glove is placed over the gown cuff. This prevents hazardous drug particles from contacting the skin or clothing.

From practice test 10 of our PTCB study guide (question 85). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: B. TEGretol and Toprol

TEGretol, carbamazepine, and Toprol, metoprolol, are a recognized ISMP Look-Alike Sound-Alike pair because their names look and sound nearly identical. Pharmacy staff must verify the indication and dose before dispensing either drug.

From practice test 14 of our PTCB study guide (question 65). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: B. 13.1 mL/hr

The dose is 5 mcg/kg/min times 70 kg, which is 350 mcg/min. The concentration is 400 mg per 250 mL, or 1,600 mcg/mL. Dividing 350 mcg/min by 1,600 mcg/mL gives 0.21875 mL/min, and multiplying by 60 gives 13.125, or 13.1 mL/hr.

From practice test 8 of our PTCB study guide (question 75). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: C. Remove the gown and don a fresh one, because the front of the gown is the side that faces the compounding area and must not contact noncritical surfaces.

The front of the gown is the part exposed to the compounding area; once it contacts a noncritical surface it is considered contaminated and the gown must be replaced. Wiping, turning, or continuing does not restore the barrier.

From practice test 2 of our PTCB study guide (question 88). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: D. It blocks COX enzymes and thereby reduces the production of prostaglandins that cause pain and inflammation

Ibuprofen is an NSAID that inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, decreasing prostaglandin synthesis and reducing pain and inflammation. Mast cell stabilization and histamine release describe a different mechanism, not NSAIDs.

From practice test 14 of our PTCB study guide (question 12). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: B. Availability

Redundant systems and disaster recovery plans support availability by ensuring authorized users can access ePHI when needed. Confidentiality limits access, and integrity ensures information has not been altered or destroyed.

From practice test 7 of our PTCB study guide (question 21). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: A. Refrigerator temperature at time of check: _ °F

An audit checklist should record the observed value, such as the actual temperature, rather than a yes or no judgment. Only the written number provides trend data for detecting drift. Asking whether the temperature was in range gives no record of how far off it was.

From practice test 14 of our PTCB study guide (question 49). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: C. A Schedule II prescription may be transferred once, and both the transferring and receiving pharmacies must record the transfer

A Schedule II prescription may be transferred only once, and both pharmacies must document the transfer. Multiple transfers and transfers with no record violate DEA requirements, and a total prohibition is incorrect because transfer is permitted once.

From practice test 10 of our PTCB study guide (question 24). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: A. Double gloves, a disposable low-permeability gown with closed front, and a fit-tested NIOSH-approved mask.

Hazardous drug compounding requires double gloves, a disposable low-permeability gown with a closed front, and a fit-tested NIOSH-approved mask or respirator. A standard surgical mask and single gloves do not provide adequate protection.

From practice test 11 of our PTCB study guide (question 69). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: B. Availability

Availability ensures that authorized users can access ePHI when needed. Confidentiality and integrity serve different goals, and anonymity is not part of the CIA triad.

From practice test 16 of our PTCB study guide (question 19). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: D. The conversion factor is upside down; the correct factor is 1000 mcg / 1 mg.

The factor is inverted, so the milligram unit does not cancel and the result has meaningless units of mg² per mcg.

From practice test 11 of our PTCB study guide (question 51). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: A. 50 gtt/min

Drops per minute = (400 mL x 15 gtt/mL) / (2 hours x 60 min/hour) = 6,000 / 120 = 50 gtt/min.

From practice test 11 of our PTCB study guide (question 4). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: D. The claim rejects immediately with "M/I Person Code."

Person code 01 identifies the cardholder, but the patient is a dependent child and should be billed with person code 03. The payer's eligibility system will not match the daughter's date of birth to person code 01, so the claim rejects.

From practice test 13 of our PTCB study guide (question 35). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: A. Ask the pharmacist whether the route is appropriate for this formulation

Amoxicillin oral suspension is formulated for oral administration, not for use in the ear. The pharmacist must determine whether the prescriber intended an otic product or a different route.

From practice test 7 of our PTCB study guide (question 72). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: A. Right dose

The right dose is the correct quantity of medication to be administered. Calculating that half of a 50 mg tablet equals the ordered 25 mg directly addresses the right dose, not the patient, drug, or route.

From practice test 16 of our PTCB study guide (question 2). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: C. If the brand name is remembered but not the generic, the class clue narrows the answer to a drug ending in 'sartan' and the class is angiotensin II receptor blockers

Grouping sartan drugs creates a class-based retrieval cue: remembering the suffix points to both the ARB class and the corresponding generic names, which narrows the choices on a multiple-choice question. ARBs are not interchangeable with ACE inhibitors, and the suffix identifies the class rather than concealing it.

From practice test 13 of our PTCB study guide (question 14). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: B. -cillin

Penicillins are identified by the suffix '-cillin', as in amoxicillin, ampicillin, and penicillin. '-prazole' marks proton pump inhibitors, '-statin' marks HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, and '-floxacin' marks fluoroquinolones.

From practice test 2 of our PTCB study guide (question 14). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: D. High potential for abuse and use that may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse and may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. The option stating no accepted medical use describes Schedule I, making it the closest distractor.

From practice test 13 of our PTCB study guide (question 20). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: C. Shoe covers, head and beard covers, mask, hand hygiene, gown, gloves

USP 797 garbing places hand hygiene after donning shoe covers, head and beard covers, and mask, and before donning the gown and sterile gloves. This sequence prevents transfer of skin particles and microorganisms from the hands to the gown and buffer room.

From practice test 12 of our PTCB study guide (question 25). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: B. The pharmacy must notify the FDA and all immediate trading partners that received the product

DSCSA requires a person who determines a product is illegitimate to notify the Secretary (FDA) and all immediate trading partners that received the product. The other options omit required recipients or add an inappropriate delay.

From practice test 4 of our PTCB study guide (question 38). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: B. 0.125 mL

Cross-multiplication gives 2 times x equals 0.25, so x equals 0.125 mL. The 1.25 mL option is the result of moving the decimal one place in the wrong direction.

From practice test 10 of our PTCB study guide (question 4). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: C. 125 mL/hr

Rate equals volume divided by time: 1,000 mL / 8 hours = 125 mL/hr.

From practice test 11 of our PTCB study guide (question 85). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: D. Tell the patient the coverage begins today and fill the prescription with today's date, because changing the date of service to obtain payment is fraudulent.

The date of service must be the actual dispensing date, which is today. Altering it to a date before coverage begins is fraud, and the patient's coverage is active as of today.

From practice test 9 of our PTCB study guide (question 2). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: B. The pharmacist, during final verification

During final verification, the pharmacist reviews the drug, dose, route, frequency, interactions, and the patient's full medication list. Receipt only collects the prescription, and data entry and preparation are technician steps.

From practice test 16 of our PTCB study guide (question 70). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: C. 5 mL of the 10,000 units/mL vial

5 mL multiplied by 10,000 units/mL equals 50,000 units, ten times the intended 5,000-unit dose. The 0.5 mL of the 10,000 units/mL vial and the 5 mL of the 1,000 units/mL vial both deliver exactly 5,000 units.

From practice test 3 of our PTCB study guide (question 47). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: A. Cozaar sounds like 'cozy ARB' because it fits the ARB class

The brand name Cozaar is a phonetic play on 'cozy' plus ARB, the abbreviation for angiotensin II receptor blockers. This association directly links the brand to its therapeutic class.

From practice test 13 of our PTCB study guide (question 11). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: D. NSAIDs, acetaminophen, and opioids are the three main analgesic subfamilies.

The three main analgesic subfamilies are NSAIDs, acetaminophen, and opioids. Statins, beta blockers, benzodiazepines, penicillins, cephalosporins, and sulfonamides belong to other therapeutic classes.

From practice test 11 of our PTCB study guide (question 63). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: B. Holds a valid DEA registration

A reverse distributor must hold a DEA registration to handle controlled substances for disposal. The pharmacy must verify that registration before transferring the drugs.

From practice test 7 of our PTCB study guide (question 89). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: D. Cyclosporine, an immunosuppressant

Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant that meets the NIOSH criteria for hazardous drugs. Antibiotics, antihypertensives, and proton pump inhibitors are not classified as hazardous for sterile compounding containment.

From practice test 3 of our PTCB study guide (question 81). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: B. It informs clinicians and the public about a newly identified safety concern and may include recommendations

An FDA Drug Safety Communication alerts clinicians and the public to a newly recognized drug safety risk and typically includes recommendations for use. Advisory communications do not compel a specific pharmacy to act, do not subpoena records, and do not automatically revoke approval.

From practice test 5 of our PTCB study guide (question 5). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: C. 250 mcg

0.25 mg multiplied by 1000 mcg/mg equals 250 mcg. The 2500 mcg option corresponds to 2.5 mg.

From practice test 15 of our PTCB study guide (question 16). Original question, not an official exam item.

Correct answer: C. 31 drops/min

(500 × 15) / 240 = 31.25, which rounds to 31 drops/min. The 21 drops/min result would come from a 10 drop per mL set.

From practice test 6 of our PTCB study guide (question 73). Original question, not an official exam item.