Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) practice quiz

Question 1

Metformin is classified as which type of medication?

Accepted Answer

Biguanide antidiabetic

Answer

Beta-blocker

Answer

ACE inhibitor

Answer

Calcium channel blocker

Question 2

A patient is taking warfarin (Coumadin) and is started on amiodarone (Cordarone). What is the primary concern?

Accepted Answer

Increased risk of bleeding due to elevated INR

Answer

Decreased effect of amiodarone due to enzyme induction by warfarin in the liver

Answer

Increased risk of seizures due to a drop in the sodium level of the blood

Answer

Decreased risk of bleeding due to a reduced INR and slower clearance of the warfarin

Question 3

Which of the following dosage forms is designed to dissolve under the tongue without chewing or swallowing?

Accepted Answer

Sublingual tablet

Answer

Extended-release capsule

Answer

Chewable tablet

Answer

Enteric-coated tablet

Question 4

Sertraline (Zoloft) belongs to which therapeutic class of medications?

Accepted Answer

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)

Answer

Benzodiazepine

Answer

Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)

Answer

Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA)

Question 5

A technician notices that a prescription for omeprazole 20 mg reads "take on an empty stomach." Why is this instruction important?

Accepted Answer

It works best taken before a meal switches on the acid pumps

Answer

Food increases omeprazole absorption

Answer

Taking omeprazole with food causes hypoglycemia

Answer

Omeprazole is degraded by stomach acid

Question 6

Which of the following is a common adverse effect of lisinopril (Prinivil/Zestril) that the technician should counsel patients about?

Accepted Answer

Persistent dry cough

Answer

Excessive hair growth

Answer

Muscle spasms

Answer

Yellowing of the skin

Question 7

Hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin) is a combination product classified under which DEA schedule?

Accepted Answer

Schedule II

Answer

Schedule V

Answer

Schedule IV

Answer

Schedule III

Question 8

Under HIPAA, a pharmacy technician may disclose a patient's prescription information to which of the following WITHOUT patient authorization?

Accepted Answer

Law enforcement officials with a valid court order

Answer

Another patient asking about their neighbor's prescriptions

Answer

The patient's employer requesting drug information

Answer

A pharmaceutical sales representative

Question 9

Which federal law requires pharmacies to maintain records of all controlled substances received, dispensed, or disposed for a minimum of two years?

Accepted Answer

Controlled Substances Act (CSA)

Answer

Fair Packaging and Labeling Act

Answer

Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA)

Answer

HIPAA Privacy Rule

Question 10

A technician is sorting new controlled substance stock by DEA schedule. Which of these products belongs in Schedule V?

Accepted Answer

Pregabalin (Lyrica)

Answer

Zolpidem (Ambien)

Answer

Buprenorphine (Subutex)

Answer

Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Question 11

A patient drops off a prescription for a controlled substance. The prescription has no refill written on it. How many times can this prescription be refilled?

Accepted Answer

No refills are permitted

Answer

Up to 5 times within 6 months

Answer

Unlimited refills for one year

Answer

Up to 3 times within 6 months

Question 12

Under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), which of the following is a pharmacy required to do when receiving a drug shipment?

Accepted Answer

Verify the product identifier on each package and case

Answer

Perform laboratory testing on every incoming product

Answer

Store the drug in a quarantined area for 30 days

Answer

Reject all shipments from wholesalers not licensed in the pharmacy's state

Question 13

A pharmacy technician is helping with controlled substance records. Which document must be completed when Schedule II controlled substances are received from a distributor?

Accepted Answer

DEA Form 222

Answer

DEA Form 224

Answer

DEA Form 106

Answer

DEA Form 41

Question 14

A pharmacist asks a technician to prepare a medication for a patient who is allergic to sulfa drugs. Which of the following medications would require an allergy alert?

Accepted Answer

Celecoxib (Celebrex)

Answer

Metformin (Glucophage)

Answer

Atorvastatin (Lipitor)

Answer

Lisinopril (Zestril)

Question 15

The medication name hydralazine is frequently confused with which of the following drugs?

Accepted Answer

Hydrochlorothiazide

Answer

Haloperidol

Answer

Hydroxychloroquine

Answer

Hydromorphone

Question 16

Insulin is classified as a high-alert medication. Which of the following is the MOST important reason for this classification?

Accepted Answer

Errors with it can cause serious harm

Answer

It must be kept at room temperature

Answer

It is costly compared with other drugs

Answer

It requires a DEA Form 222 to order

Question 17

A technician notices that a bottle of amoxicillin suspension requires refrigeration after reconstitution. If it has been left at room temperature for 48 hours, what should the technician do?

Accepted Answer

Discard the medication and notify the pharmacist

Answer

Place it in the freezer for one hour before dispensing

Answer

Shake it vigorously and dispense it to the patient

Answer

Return it to the refrigerator and use it until the expiration date

Question 18

What is the primary purpose of tall-man lettering in pharmacy (e.g., hydrOXYzine vs. hydrALAZINE)?

Accepted Answer

To highlight the differences between look-alike drug names and reduce errors

Answer

To help the technician fill the prescription more quickly by using a standard format

Answer

To reduce the cost of printing labels by using fewer characters on each label

Answer

To meet the FDA requirement that all labels have capital letters in the drug names

Question 19

A prescription for warfarin 5 mg, one tablet daily, is written with refills. What does federal law say about the number of refills?

Accepted Answer

No federal limit; the prescriber and state law decide

Answer

No more than 5 refills within 6 months

Answer

No refills are allowed for warfarin

Answer

No more than 3 refills within 90 days

Question 20

When a pharmacy receives a prescription insurance claim rejection stating "Prior Authorization Required," what is the MOST appropriate first step?

Accepted Answer

Contact the prescriber's office to initiate the prior authorization process

Answer

Change the prescription to a different medication without the prescriber's consent

Answer

Ask the patient to pay the full cash price

Answer

Dispense the medication anyway and bill the patient

Question 21

A pharmacy uses a perpetual inventory system for controlled substances. What does this system track?

Accepted Answer

Every transaction (receipt, dispensing, and disposal) for each controlled substance in real time

Answer

Only Schedule II substances, not Schedule III–V

Answer

Only the controlled substances that are received by the pharmacy each month

Answer

The expiration dates of the controlled substances on each shelf in the pharmacy

Question 22

Which of the following OTC medications, when taken concurrently with the prescription blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin), may increase the risk of bleeding?

Accepted Answer

Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin)

Answer

Omeprazole (Prilosec)

Answer

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) at recommended doses

Answer

Loratadine (Claritin)

Question 23

What is the correct way to store nitroglycerin sublingual tablets after the bottle is opened?

Accepted Answer

In a cool, dark, tightly closed glass container at room temperature

Answer

In a plastic pill organizer on the bathroom shelf so it is easy to reach

Answer

In the original glass container, kept in the refrigerator below 40°F at all times

Answer

In a clear plastic bag in the freezer to protect it from heat and light

Question 24

A pharmacy technician is filling a prescription for levothyroxine (Synthroid) 50 mcg. The patient also takes omeprazole (Prilosec) 20 mg daily. What should the technician do?

Accepted Answer

Alert the pharmacist about a potential interaction that may affect levothyroxine absorption

Answer

Dispense both medications without comment

Answer

Refuse to fill the levothyroxine prescription

Answer

Substitute a different thyroid medication without consulting the pharmacist

Question 25

A prescription is written for "metoprolol 50 mg, take one-half tablet daily." If the pharmacy only stocks metoprolol 100 mg tablets, what is the MOST appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Contact the prescriber to request a new prescription for the correct strength

Answer

Change the prescription to metoprolol 100 mg daily without contacting anyone

Answer

Substitute metoprolol 25 mg tablets and have the patient take two daily

Answer

Dispense the 100 mg tablets and instruct the patient to split them

Question 26

A technician is told to verify a prescription for azithromycin (Zithromax) 250 mg. The directions read: "Take 2 tablets on day 1, then 1 tablet daily for 4 days." How many total tablets should be dispensed?

Accepted Answer

6 tablets

Answer

8 tablets

Answer

10 tablets

Answer

5 tablets

Question 27

A patient brings in a prescription for prednisone 10 mg with the directions "take 2 tablets daily for 5 days, then 1 tablet daily for 5 days." How many tablets should be dispensed?

Accepted Answer

15 tablets

Answer

25 tablets

Answer

20 tablets

Answer

10 tablets

Question 28

What is the generic name for the brand drug Lipitor?

Accepted Answer

Atorvastatin

Answer

Simvastatin (Zocor)

Answer

Pravastatin (Pravachol)

Answer

Rosuvastatin (Crestor)

Question 29

What is the purpose of a geometric dilution technique when compounding a powder mixture?

Accepted Answer

To ensure uniform distribution of a small amount of drug throughout a larger diluent

Answer

To remove the moisture from the powder before it is mixed with the diluent

Answer

To mix equal amounts of two drugs in the first step and finish the process

Answer

To reduce the particle size of a drug before it is mixed with a base

Question 30

When compounding an ointment, which piece of equipment is used to ensure thorough mixing and uniform drug distribution?

Accepted Answer

Ointment slab and spatula

Answer

Mortar and pestle

Answer

Graduated cylinder and stirring rod

Answer

Analytical balance

Question 31

A pharmacy technician notices that a controlled substance delivery arrives with a broken seal on the case. What should the technician do?

Accepted Answer

Refuse to accept the shipment and notify the pharmacist immediately

Answer

Open the case and count the contents before deciding whether to accept it

Answer

Accept the shipment and report the broken seal only if a shortage is found

Answer

Accept the shipment and place the contents in the safe without making a record

Question 32

Under DEA regulations, who is authorized to conduct a biennial inventory of controlled substances at a pharmacy?

Accepted Answer

The registrant or a person they authorize

Answer

Any technician who works in the pharmacy

Answer

Only a DEA agent or police officer

Answer

The pharmacy intern on duty that day

Question 33

Many states require pharmacies to check the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) before dispensing controlled substances. What is the primary purpose of the PDMP?

Accepted Answer

To identify patients who may be obtaining controlled substances from multiple prescribers

Answer

To track the number of pharmacies that dispense controlled substances

Answer

To limit the amount of non-controlled medications that a patient may obtain

Answer

To set the price of controlled substances in each state across the country

Question 34

Under DEA rules, how must a pharmacy keep its DEA registration certificate?

Accepted Answer

At the registered location, open for inspection

Answer

With the payroll records at head office

Answer

Posted on the pharmacy social media page

Answer

Filed with the technician schedule each day

Question 35

In some states, pharmacy technicians are permitted to administer certain immunizations. Which of the following best describes the role of the supervising pharmacist in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

The pharmacist must be physically present on the premises during the immunization administration

Answer

The pharmacist must provide written orders for each individual patient before the vaccine is given

Answer

The pharmacist must complete the immunization training instead of the technician

Answer

The pharmacist has no role once the technician begins administering the vaccine

Question 36

A pharmacy technician overhears a pharmacist discussing a celebrity patient's prescription details with a colleague in the break room. What ethical obligation does the technician recognize?

Accepted Answer

All staff must protect patient privacy, so the technician should remind them

Answer

Confidentiality applies only to the pharmacist, and the technician has no obligation

Answer

The technician should post about it on social media to raise awareness

Answer

Confidentiality does not apply to a conversation held in a private break room

Question 37

When a pharmacy receives a drug shipment from a wholesaler, what is the first step the technician should take?

Accepted Answer

Compare the packing slip to the purchase order and verify the items received match what was ordered

Answer

Call the wholesaler to ask if the order is correct before opening any of the cases

Answer

Check the expiration dates of the items and put away the items with the nearest dates

Answer

Place the items into inventory and sign the packing slip as soon as possible

Question 38

Under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), what information is encoded in the product identifier on a prescription drug package?

Accepted Answer

National Drug Code, serial number, lot number, and expiration date in a 2D barcode

Answer

Wholesaler's name, the price and the date of the shipment in a barcode on the package

Answer

Pharmacist's name, the prescription number and the lot number in a barcode

Answer

Name of the drug, the manufacturer's name and the patient's name in a text format

Question 39

When counseling a patient about a new prescription for a statin like atorvastatin (Lipitor), which piece of advice is MOST important to communicate?

Accepted Answer

Report unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness to the prescriber promptly

Answer

Stop the medication if the patient's cholesterol numbers return to normal

Answer

Take the medication on an empty stomach, as it is poorly absorbed with food

Answer

Avoid all grapefruit juice and alcohol and take the pill at bedtime only

Question 40

A patient asks which OTC product they should take for mild heartburn that occurs occasionally. Which recommendation is MOST appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Suggest an antacid like Tums or an H2 blocker like Pepcid AC

Answer

Recommend a decongestant like pseudoephedrine

Answer

Suggest a laxative such as bisacodyl to help digestion

Answer

Advise a daily prescription proton pump inhibitor