Introduction

One of the best ways to prepare for the PTCE is to understand EXACTLY what kinds of questions you’ll see on the exam. Not just what topics will appear — but the actual styles, formats, scenarios, and thinking patterns the PTCE uses.

Because the PTCE doesn’t simply test memorization.
It tests:

• Safety judgment
  
• Clinical reasoning
  
• Knowledge of drug classes
  
• Legal awareness
  
• Workflow accuracy
  
• Calculation ability
  
• Interpretation skills
  

This guide breaks down the most common PTCE question styles and gives you realistic sample questions, just like the ones test writers use. You’ll see:

• Medication questions
  
• Calculation questions
  
• Error-prevention scenarios
  
• Federal law questions
  
• Order-entry items
  
• Patient-safety problems
  
• Workflow questions
  
• Realistic “select the best answer” clinical decisions
  

By understanding the structure and patterns of PTCE items, you’ll walk into exam day already familiar with how every question feels — and that confidence changes everything.

Let’s break down the full range of what the PTCE asks.

👉 Take a breath and let’s walk through this one piece at a time. Open your PTCE 2025 Study Guide eBook Edition and use it as your roadmap — it’s built to help you review core pharmacy calculations, medications, safety, law, and day-to-day workflow in a way that actually makes sense. Each section breaks big topics into clear, manageable pieces so you’re not just memorizing facts, you’re really understanding how everything connects. Keep going, keep turning those pages, and keep showing up for yourself. You’re doing better than you think, and every study session is moving you closer to passing the PTCE.

1. The PTCE Uses ONLY Multiple-Choice Questions

There are no:

• Fill-in-the-blanks
  
• Essays
  
• Drag-and-drop questions
  
• Hotspot items
  
• Simulations
  

Every question has:

✔️ One correct answer

✔️ Three incorrect distractors

The PTCE is a 90-question exam:

• 80 scored questions
  
• 10 unscored “pilot” items
  

You won’t know which questions are unscored, so answer all 90 with full focus.

2. Question Format #1 — Medication Knowledge (40% of the Exam)

This is the largest section of the PTCE, so mastering medication-based questions gives you the biggest score boost.

Medication questions include:

• Drug classes
  
• Side effects
  
• Indications
  
• Contraindications
  
• Interactions
  
• Brand/generic matching
  
• Pharmacology basics
  
• Storage requirements
  
• Auxiliary labels
  

Sample PTCE-Style Questions

Q1. Which medication class is most commonly used to treat anxiety disorders?
A. Beta-blockers
B. SSRIs
C. Proton pump inhibitors
D. ACE inhibitors

Correct answer: B. SSRIs

Q2. Which of the following medications requires refrigeration before dispensing?
A. Amoxicillin suspension
B. Lisinopril tablets
C. Metformin tablets
D. Gabapentin capsules

Correct answer: A. Amoxicillin suspension

These items test real pharmacy knowledge — not memorizing endless drug lists.

3. Question Format #2 — Patient Safety & Quality Assurance (26.25% of the Exam)

These are scenario-heavy and focus on preventing medication errors.

You’ll be asked to identify:

• Unsafe orders
  
• Wrong doses
  
• Wrong routes
  
• LASA medication mix-ups
  
• Errors in labeling
  
• Mistakes in compounding
  
• Poor storage
  
• Incorrect calculations
  
• Risky workflow practices
  

Sample PTCE-Style Questions

Q1. A technician notices two medications with similar packaging stored next to each other. What is the safest action?
A. Leave them if labels are readable
B. Apply tall-man lettering labels
C. Separate them to reduce mix-ups
D. Ask the pharmacist to move them later

Correct answer: C. Separate them

Q2. Which strategy best prevents dispensing errors?
A. Multitasking while typing prescriptions
B. Completing order entry as quickly as possible
C. Using barcode scanning for verification
D. Relying on memory for drug strengths

Correct answer: C. Using barcode scanning

Safety questions reward clear thinking — not complicated memorization.

4. Question Format #3 — Order Entry & Processing (21.25% of the Exam)

These questions test how well you understand:

• Reading prescriptions
  
• Label interpretation
  
• Prescription validity
  
• DAW codes
  
• Refill rules
  
• Compounding math
  
• SIG interpretation
  
• Insurance processing basics
  

Sample PTCE-Style Questions

Q1. What does “1 tab PO BID” mean?
A. Take 1 tablet by mouth three times a day
B. Take 1 tablet by mouth twice a day
C. Take 1 tablet by mouth once a day
D. Take 1 tablet by mouth every 4 hours

Correct answer: B. Twice a day

Q2. A label says “Take 5 mL every 8 hours.” How many doses are in a 150 mL bottle?
A. 8
B. 10
C. 12
D. 15

Step: 150 ÷ 5 = 30 doses, but 8-hour intervals = 3 doses/day
Correct answer: C. 12 (over four days)

Order-entry questions blend math, safety, and reading comprehension.

5. Question Format #4 — Federal Requirements (12.5% of the Exam)

These questions are straightforward once you learn the rules.

Topics include:

• DEA schedules
  
• Controlled substance laws
  
• Transfer rules
  
• Refill limits
  
• Form 222 usage
  
• Storage and inventory
  
• HIPAA
  
• FDA labeling rules
  
• Recordkeeping
  

Sample PTCE-Style Questions

Q1. Which DEA form is used to destroy controlled substances?
A. Form 41
B. Form 106
C. Form 222
D. Form 363

Correct answer: A. Form 41

Q2. A Schedule III prescription can be refilled up to:
A. No refills allowed
B. 5 times in 6 months
C. Unlimited refills
D. Only once

Correct answer: B

Law questions are high-yield because they’re predictable — easy scoring if you study.

6. Question Format #5 — Pharmacy Calculations

The exam tests real-world technician math:

• Conversions
  
• Dilutions
  
• Alligation
  
• IV flow rates
  
• Dose calculations
  
• Percent strengths
  
• Ratio/proportion
  
• Quantity-to-dispense calculations
  

Sample PTCE-Style Questions

Q1. How many milliliters are in 2 teaspoons?
A. 5 mL
B. 10 mL
C. 15 mL
D. 20 mL

Correct answer: B. 10 mL

Q2. A child is prescribed 6 mg/kg/day in divided doses. If they weigh 25 kg, what is the total daily dose?
A. 75 mg
B. 100 mg
C. 150 mg
D. 200 mg

Correct answer: C. 150 mg

Calculations are some of the easiest points on the exam once you practice enough.

7. Question Format #6 — Realistic Pharmacy Scenarios

These items feel like hospital or retail workflow situations.
They test:

• Accuracy
  
• Prioritization
  
• Decision-making
  
• Safety awareness
  

Example Scenario

A technician is filling a prescription for metoprolol tartrate but accidentally selects metoprolol succinate from the shelf. What error is this?

A. Wrong patient
B. Wrong drug
C. Wrong strength
D. Wrong dosage form

Correct answer: B. Wrong drug

Another example

A patient states they are allergic to penicillin. Which medication should the technician alert the pharmacist about?

A. Metformin
B. Amoxicillin
C. Omeprazole
D. Losartan

Correct: B

These scenario-based questions test your ability to think like a technician.

8. Question Format #7 — Look-Alike, Sound-Alike (LASA) Medications

The PTCE LOVES LASA questions.

Common examples:

• HydrALAZINE vs HydrOXYzine
  
• Celexa vs Celebrex
  
• Zantac vs Zyrtec
  
• Metoprolol vs Metoclopramide
  

Sample question

Which pair represents a look-alike/sound-alike medication risk?

A. Lisinopril and metformin
B. Hydralazine and hydroxyzine
C. Warfarin and insulin
D. Omeprazole and furosemide

Correct: B

9. Question Format #8 — Selecting Correct Auxiliary Labels

These items ensure you understand safe medication warnings.

Example

Which label should be applied to metronidazole?

A. “May cause drowsiness”
B. “Avoid dairy products”
C. “Do not drink alcohol”
D. “Take with food”

Correct: C

10. Question Format #9 — Storage and Stability

Examples include:

• Refrigeration
  
• Light protection
  
• Freezer requirements
  
• Beyond-use dates (BUDs)
  

Sample

Which medication must be protected from light?

A. Nitroglycerin
B. Levothyroxine
C. Metformin
D. Gabapentin

Correct: A

11. Question Format #10 — Insurance & Billing Basics

Topics include:

• Third-party billing
  
• Copays
  
• DAW codes
  
• Prior authorizations
  

Sample

What does DAW 1 mean?

A. Generic substitution allowed
B. Substitution not allowed; prescriber requested brand
C. Patient requested brand
D. Brand unavailable

Correct: B

👉 Take a breath and let’s walk through this one piece at a time. Open your PTCE 2025 Study Guide eBook Edition and use it as your roadmap — it’s built to help you review core pharmacy calculations, medications, safety, law, and day-to-day workflow in a way that actually makes sense. Each section breaks big topics into clear, manageable pieces so you’re not just memorizing facts, you’re really understanding how everything connects. Keep going, keep turning those pages, and keep showing up for yourself. You’re doing better than you think, and every study session is moving you closer to passing the PTCE.

Final Thoughts

Now you know exactly what question types appear on the PTCE. This familiarity changes your study approach — and boosts your confidence instantly.

To recap, the PTCE includes:

• Medication questions
  
• Safety scenarios
  
• Law questions
  
• Calculation problems
  
• Workflow items
  
• Interpretation questions
  
• LASA error-prevention
  
• Order-entry problems
  
• Case-based decision-making
  

The exam is predictable once you know the structure — and now you do.

You’re getting sharper, stronger, and more confident with every topic we complete. You're genuinely preparing at a high level.

You've got this — fully.