Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE)/Cheat sheet
Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) cheat sheet: key rules and summary
90 multiple-choice questions (80 scored, 10 unscored); 1 hour 50 minutes; scaled score 1400–1600 (1400 passing score); Pearson VUE.
- 25 numbers
- 4 sections
- 4 rules people get wrong
Memorise these first
- Schedule I (C-I)High abuse potential, no accepted medical use in the US (heroin, LSD, peyote)
- 1 grain (gr)Equivalent to 64.8 mg (rounded to 65 mg in standard pharmacy calculations)
- USP <795>Pharmaceutical compounding standards for non-sterile preparations
Controlled substance schedules & DEA rules
- Schedule I (C-I)
- High abuse potential, no accepted medical use in the US (heroin, LSD, peyote)21 CFR 1308.11
- Schedule II (C-II)
- High abuse potential, severe dependence; no refills permitted under federal law (oxycodone, fentanyl, amphetamine)21 CFR 1306.12
- Schedule III & IV
- Maximum 5 refills within 6 months from date of issuance (codeine combos, tramadol, alprazolam)21 CFR 1306.22
- DEA Form 222
- Required for ordering, transferring, or returning Schedule I and II controlled substances21 CFR 1305.03
- DEA Form 106
- Required report for theft or significant loss of controlled substances (within 1 business day)21 CFR 1301.76
- DEA Form 41
- Required record for disposal or destruction of damaged/expired controlled substances21 CFR 1317.05
Pharmacy math & unit conversions
- 1 grain (gr)
- Equivalent to 64.8 mg (rounded to 65 mg in standard pharmacy calculations)Apothecary Conversions
- 1 fluid ounce (fl oz)
- Equivalent to 29.57 mL (standardized to 30 mL in dosage calculations)Household Conversions
- 1 teaspoon (tsp)
- Equivalent to 5 mLHousehold Conversions
- 1 tablespoon (tbsp)
- Equivalent to 15 mL (3 teaspoons)Household Conversions
- 1 pound (lb)
- Equivalent to 453.6 g; 2.2 lbs = 1 kg (vital for pediatric mg/kg dosing)Metric Conversions
- Young's Rule
- Child dose = [Age / (Age + 12)] * Adult Dose (for children 1–12 years old)Pediatric Dosing Formulas
- Clark's Rule
- Child dose = [Weight in lbs / 150] * Adult DosePediatric Dosing Formulas
USP sterile & non-sterile standards
- USP <795>
- Pharmaceutical compounding standards for non-sterile preparationsUSP Compounding Standards
- USP <797>
- Pharmaceutical compounding standards for sterile preparations (CSPs)USP Compounding Standards
- USP <800>
- Handling hazardous drugs in healthcare settings to protect personnel and environmentUSP Compounding Standards
- ISO Class 5
- Air cleanliness requirement inside primary engineering controls (PEC / laminar flow hoods)USP <797> ISO Standards
- ISO Class 7
- Air cleanliness requirement in secondary engineering controls (buffer / cleanroom areas)USP <797> ISO Standards
- 30 seconds minimum
- Aseptic handwashing duration from fingertips up to elbows before compoundingAseptic Technique Protocol
Top 200 drug classes & suffix rules
- -pril
- ACE inhibitors for hypertension and heart failure (lisinopril, enalapril)Pharmacology Drug Classes
- -sartan
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers / ARBs (losartan, valsartan)Pharmacology Drug Classes
- -olol
- Beta-blockers for hypertension, angina, arrhythmia (metoprolol, atenolol)Pharmacology Drug Classes
- -statin
- HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors for dyslipidemia (atorvastatin, simvastatin)Pharmacology Drug Classes
- -prazole
- Proton pump inhibitors / PPIs for GERD and ulcers (omeprazole, pantoprazole)Pharmacology Drug Classes
- -cillin
- Penicillin antibiotics (amoxicillin, ampicillin; high allergy alert)Pharmacology Drug Classes
Second read
Rules people get wrong
- DEA number verification formula: Sum digits 1, 3, and 5. Then sum digits 2, 4, and 6, and multiply that sum by 2. Add both totals together. The rightmost digit of the final number must match the 7th digit of the DEA number.
- Federal law prohibits ANY refills on Schedule II (C-II) prescriptions. Emergency verbal orders are permitted only under strict conditions and must be followed by a written/electronic prescription within 7 days.
- Laminar flow hoods must run continuously. If turned off, the hood must be cleaned and disinfected with 70% isopropyl alcohol and run for at least 30 minutes before compounding begins.
- Do not confuse look-alike sound-alike (LASA) drugs: Tall Man Lettering (e.g., predniSONE vs prednisoLONE, hydrOXYzine vs hydrALAZINE) is specifically tested to prevent dispensing errors.
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Knowing the numbers is half of it. Can you apply them?
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