PTCE Exam Prep Free practice test →

Free PTCE Practice Questions

10 free, exam-style Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) (PTCE) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free PTCE practice test to study every exam domain.

These 10 free PTCE questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.

Domain 3: Patient Safety and Quality Assurance

Question 1

A pharmacy stocks both morphine 2 mg/mL and hydromorphone 2 mg/mL on the same shelf. What is the primary safety concern?

  1. The identical concentrations create confusion since both are available as 2 mg/mL vials
  2. A mix-up between these look-alike vials could cause a fatal overdose due to potency differences
  3. Morphine and hydromorphone have different storage requirements that could affect stability
  4. Both medications require a DEA 222 form which increases the risk of documentation errors
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - A mix-up between these look-alike vials could cause a fatal overdose due to potency differences

Question 2

A prescriber writes an order for '5.0 mg' of a medication. This is considered a dangerous practice because:

  1. The dose is too low
  2. The trailing zero could cause the dose to be read as 50 mg
  3. The decimal point is not allowed in prescriptions
  4. The medication is not available in 5 mg strength
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - The trailing zero could cause the dose to be read as 50 mg

Question 3

A pharmacy technician is processing a prescription and notices the patient is allergic to sulfa drugs. The new prescription is for sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. The technician should:

  1. Fill the prescription since the allergy is to 'sulfa' not 'sulfamethoxazole'
  2. Alert the pharmacist about the potential sulfa allergy conflict
  3. Tell the patient not to take the medication
  4. Change the medication to a fluoroquinolone
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Alert the pharmacist about the potential sulfa allergy conflict

Question 4

A prescription reads 'Take ii tabs PO QID.' The technician dispenses a 30-day supply of 120 tablets. The correct quantity should be:

  1. 120 tablets
  2. 180 tablets
  3. 240 tablets
  4. 60 tablets
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - 240 tablets

Domain 4: Order Entry and Processing

Question 5

The Sig code 'ii gtt OS TID' means:

  1. 2 drops in the right eye three times daily
  2. 2 drops in the left eye three times daily
  3. 2 drops in both eyes three times daily
  4. 2 drops in the left ear three times daily
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - 2 drops in the left eye three times daily

Question 6

Epinephrine 1:1,000 contains how many mg per mL?

  1. 0.01 mg/mL
  2. 0.1 mg/mL
  3. 1 mg/mL
  4. 10 mg/mL
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - 1 mg/mL

Question 7

A 44-pound child needs amoxicillin 40 mg/kg/day divided BID. The suspension is 400 mg/5 mL. What volume is each dose?

  1. 2.5 mL
  2. 5 mL
  3. 7.5 mL
  4. 10 mL
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - 5 mL

Question 8

An IV of 500 mL D5W is ordered to infuse over 4 hours using a 15 gtt/mL drop factor. What is the flow rate in drops per minute?

  1. 21 gtt/min
  2. 25 gtt/min
  3. 31 gtt/min
  4. 42 gtt/min
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - 31 gtt/min

Question 9

Using a U-100 syringe with U-500 insulin would result in:

  1. The correct dose being delivered
  2. A fivefold overdose
  3. A fivefold underdose
  4. No difference in dosing
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - A fivefold overdose

Question 10

A medication has an expiration date of 08/2026. The last day this medication can be dispensed is:

  1. August 1, 2026
  2. July 31, 2026
  3. August 31, 2026
  4. September 1, 2026
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - August 31, 2026

The rest of the PTCE blueprint

The PTCE exam also covers these domains. Drill them in the full free practice test:

Ready for the real thing?

Practice hundreds more PTCE questions with instant scoring, weak-area drills, and full exam simulations.

Start the free practice test See pricing