PTCE Pharmacy Tech Practice 20 practice questions and answers 2026. Tap an option to test yourself — you'll see the correct answer and a plain-English explanation for every question. Free, no login.
Q21You receive an order for a medication that needs to be stored at 5°C. What is this temperature in Fahrenheit?
✓ Correct answer: B. 41°F
Answer: 41°F To solve, know the following formula: $$F = \frac{9C}{5} + 32$$ Replace the C with 5: $$F = \frac{9(5)}{5} + 32$$ Simplify the fraction: $$F = 9 + 32$$ Add 32 to 9: $$F = 41$$ or 41°F
Q22Which of the following is not a necessary step when preparing a medication order in a pharmacy?
✓ Correct answer: C. Checking the patient's insurance coverage
Answer: Checking the patient's insurance coverage Although confirming insurance coverage is important for billing purposes, it is not a necessary step directly involved in the preparation of a medication order. Essential steps include verifying the patient's medication history, reviewing the medication order for possible drug interactions, and confirming the dosage form and strength of the medication.
Q23Which of the following criteria does not determine whether a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) is required for a medication?
✓ Correct answer: B. The cost of the medication
Answer: The cost of the medication The cost of a medication is not a determining factor for requiring a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). REMS are mandated by the FDA for certain medications that have serious safety concerns, to ensure that the benefits of the medication outweigh the risks. Specific conditions or requirements that make REMS necessary are evaluated by the FDA to protect patient safety.
Q24In what formulation is the medication Azithromycin typically found?
✓ Correct answer: A. Oral suspension
Answer: Oral suspension Azithromycin, an antibiotic used to treat various types of infections, is often found in multiple formulations. However, it is commonly provided as an oral suspension to facilitate dosing in children or individuals who have difficulty swallowing tablets or capsules. Tablets and capsules are also available but are not as commonly prescribed for pediatric use. Topical gel formulations are not typical for Azithromycin as it is mainly used in oral form to treat infections.
Q25What is the maximum allowable beyond-use-date (BUD) for nonsterile, aqueous oral formulations?
✓ Correct answer: D. 14 days refrigerated
Answer: 14 days refrigerated Nonsterile, aqueous oral formulations have a maximum BUD of 14 days when refrigerated to ensure the product's safety and effectiveness. Nonsterile nonaqueous products have a maximum BUD of 6 months, while topical or mucosal liquid products that contain water have a maximum BUD of 30 days.
Q26If a prescriber allows a generic substitution but the pharmacy still dispenses the brand name product because it is cheaper, which DAW code should be used?
✓ Correct answer: A. DAW 7
Answer: DAW 7 The code DAW 7 is used when a prescriber allows a generic substitution but the pharmacy dispenses the brand name product because it is cheaper. The code DAW 1 is used when a prescriber requests a brand name product to be dispensed. DAW 2 is used when a patient requests a brand name product to be dispensed. DAW 4 is used when a pharmacy does not have a generic drug in stock and dispenses the brand name product instead.
Q27USP <800> defines specific standards for handling hazardous drugs in healthcare settings to ensure worker safety. According to these standards, what is the maximum allowable concentration of a hazardous drug in an ISO Class 7 environment?
✓ Correct answer: C. Not more than 352,000 particles
Answer: Not more than 352,000 particles According to USP <800>, to ensure the safety of healthcare workers handling hazardous drugs, specific particle limits are established for different ISO classifications of cleanrooms. For an ISO Class 7 environment, the maximum allowable concentration of airborne particles is 352,000 particles per cubic meter of air. ISO Class 4: Not more than 352 particles ISO Class 5: Not more than 3520 particles ISO Class 7: Not more than 352,000 particles ISO Class 8: Not more than 3,520,000 particles
Q28Which of the following statements regarding prescription label requirements is not accurate?
✓ Correct answer: C. The pharmacy technician is responsible for approving the final content of the prescription label.
Answer: The pharmacy technician is responsible for approving the final content of the prescription label. The final approval of the content on the prescription label must be done by a licensed pharmacist, not a pharmacy technician. Prescription labels are required to include specific information such as the patient's name, drug name, dosage instructions, and the pharmacy's contact information. Labels for controlled substances also need to include a warning statement about the risks of transferring the medication to others, as per legal requirements.
Q29In a pharmacy, labels for prescriptions must include certain information to ensure patient safety. Which of the following is NOT typically required on a prescription label?
✓ Correct answer: C. Prescriber's address
Answer: Prescriber's address Labels for prescriptions typically include the patient's name, medication dosage, and expiration date, but the prescriber's address is not generally required. Including this specific information helps ensure the correct medication is administered to the intended patient, while the prescriber's identity is verified by name and license number.
Q30Which of the following tasks are pharmacy technicians not authorized to perform when ensuring proper medication storage?
✓ Correct answer: B. Determining proper storage conditions for a new medication
Answer: Determining proper storage conditions for a new medication Determining the proper storage conditions for new medications is within a pharmacist's scope of practice. Pharmacy technicians can assist with medication storage by placing medications in appropriate storage areas, organizing medications by expiration date, and maintaining inventory records.
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