Pharmacy Technician Certification PTCE Exam Version 6
Practice exam for Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) under Medical and Dental School Certification Exams (Licensing Exams). 5 sample questions.
Sample Questions
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Question 1
In the event of a public health emergency, it may become necessary to extend medication:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: During a public health emergency, regulatory agencies may authorize the extension of medication expiration dates to ensure continued availability of critical drugs when supply is limited or production is disrupted, as these dates reflect the period during which a drug is guaranteed to remain stable and effective under specified storage conditions, and stability testing or real-world data may support safe use beyond the original date, whereas destruction dates are administrative deadlines for disposing of unused or expired stock, patent dates are legal protections for intellectual property, and marketing dates refer to when a drug is authorized for sale, none of which are extended for public health reasons.
Rationale: During a public health emergency, regulatory agencies may authorize the extension of medication expiration dates to ensure continued availability of critical drugs when supply is limited or production is disrupted, as these dates reflect the period during which a drug is guaranteed to remain stable and effective under specified storage conditions, and stability testing or real-world data may support safe use beyond the original date, whereas destruction dates are administrative deadlines for disposing of unused or expired stock, patent dates are legal protections for intellectual property, and marketing dates refer to when a drug is authorized for sale, none of which are extended for public health reasons.
Question 2
Which of the following is a primary environmental factor that may affect a medication's stability?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Environmental factors such as humidity, temperature, and light directly influence the chemical and physical stability of medications during storage and handling, with humidity exposure causing hydrolysis, clumping, or degradation of active ingredients, especially in solid dosage forms like tablets or powders, while pH level is relevant in formulation but not typically an external environmental factor for stored medications unless in liquid form, and active ingredient quantity and salt form are intrinsic properties determined during manufacturing, not environmental factors.
Rationale: Environmental factors such as humidity, temperature, and light directly influence the chemical and physical stability of medications during storage and handling, with humidity exposure causing hydrolysis, clumping, or degradation of active ingredients, especially in solid dosage forms like tablets or powders, while pH level is relevant in formulation but not typically an external environmental factor for stored medications unless in liquid form, and active ingredient quantity and salt form are intrinsic properties determined during manufacturing, not environmental factors.
Question 3
Which of the following auxiliary labels should be used with a prescription label for minocycline?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Minocycline, a tetracycline-class antibiotic, causes photosensitivity, increasing the risk of severe sunburn or skin reactions upon exposure to ultraviolet light, necessitating a warning to avoid excessive sunlight or use protective measures, while refrigeration is not required as it is stored at room temperature, drowsiness is not a common side effect, and discoloration of urine or feces is not typical, though minocycline may cause pigmentation of skin, nails, or teeth with prolonged use, making the sunlight exposure warning the most clinically relevant.
Rationale: Minocycline, a tetracycline-class antibiotic, causes photosensitivity, increasing the risk of severe sunburn or skin reactions upon exposure to ultraviolet light, necessitating a warning to avoid excessive sunlight or use protective measures, while refrigeration is not required as it is stored at room temperature, drowsiness is not a common side effect, and discoloration of urine or feces is not typical, though minocycline may cause pigmentation of skin, nails, or teeth with prolonged use, making the sunlight exposure warning the most clinically relevant.
Question 4
Which of the following tasks may be performed by a pharmacy technician?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Pharmacy technicians are permitted to assist with administrative tasks like contributing to policy and procedure manuals under pharmacist supervision, which does not involve clinical judgment, whereas suggesting OTC medications, recommending alternative therapies based on lab results, or interpreting pharmacokinetic data require clinical assessment and decision-making, which are reserved for pharmacists or prescribers, making policy assistance the only appropriate task within a technician’s non-clinical role.
Rationale: Pharmacy technicians are permitted to assist with administrative tasks like contributing to policy and procedure manuals under pharmacist supervision, which does not involve clinical judgment, whereas suggesting OTC medications, recommending alternative therapies based on lab results, or interpreting pharmacokinetic data require clinical assessment and decision-making, which are reserved for pharmacists or prescribers, making policy assistance the only appropriate task within a technician’s non-clinical role.
Question 5
A patient presents the following prescription: Pred Forte ophthalmic drops Instill 1 drop in both eyes q.i.d. Disp. 1 bottle If loteprednol ophthalmic drops are selected during order entry, which type of error would occur?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pred Forte contains prednisolone acetate, a potent corticosteroid, while loteprednol is a different corticosteroid with distinct chemical structure, potency, and indications, so substituting one for the other without prescriber authorization constitutes a wrong drug error, as the specific medication prescribed was not dispensed, whereas adherence relates to patient compliance, a contraindication would require a patient-specific condition making loteprednol unsafe, and high-alert errors involve drugs with severe harm potential like insulin, not this substitution.
Rationale: Pred Forte contains prednisolone acetate, a potent corticosteroid, while loteprednol is a different corticosteroid with distinct chemical structure, potency, and indications, so substituting one for the other without prescriber authorization constitutes a wrong drug error, as the specific medication prescribed was not dispensed, whereas adherence relates to patient compliance, a contraindication would require a patient-specific condition making loteprednol unsafe, and high-alert errors involve drugs with severe harm potential like insulin, not this substitution.