About this test
The real Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) is a computer-based test with 90 multiple-choice questions (80 scored and 10 unscored) completed in 1 hour and 50 minutes. This free practice test reproduces that experience: 90 questions, the same timer, and questions distributed across the four knowledge domains in the exact proportions of the official content outline that took effect January 6, 2026.
Every attempt draws a fresh randomized set from our question bank, so you can retake the exam as many times as you like without memorizing answer positions. When you finish, you get an overall score, a per-domain breakdown to show where to focus, and a step-by-step explanation for every question: each one backed by a cited source.
New to the material? Work through our 2026 PTCB study guide first, then reinforce it with the top 200 drugs list and the pharmacy abbreviations and sig codes reference.
What's in the question bank
| Topic | Questions in bank |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | 19 |
| Brand Generic | 13 |
| Storage | 10 |
| Interactions | 10 |
| Lasa | 10 |
| High Alert | 10 |
| Abbreviations | 10 |
| Reporting | 10 |
Sample questions with answers
These 8 questions come straight from the 235-question bank the timed test above draws from. Work each one before you open the answer: recalling it cold is what moves it into long-term memory.
1. A patient taking lisinopril reports a persistent, dry, nagging cough. This side effect is most characteristic of which drug class?
- A.Beta blockers
- B.Calcium channel blockers
- C.Angiotensin II receptor blockers
- D.ACE inhibitors
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. ACE inhibitors
A dry, nonproductive cough is a well-known class effect of ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril and typically resolves after the drug is stopped. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) like losartan act on the same pathway but are far less likely to cause cough, which is why they are often used as a substitute.
2. Within an NDC, the middle (product code) segment identifies which set of characteristics?
- A.The package size and container type
- B.The manufacturer's corporate identity
- C.The lot number and expiration date
- D.The specific strength, dosage form, and formulation
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. The specific strength, dosage form, and formulation
The product code identifies a specific strength, dosage form, and formulation for a particular firm. Package size and type belong to the third segment, and lot numbers and expiration dates are never part of the NDC at all.
3. The iPLEDGE REMS program for isotretinoin exists primarily to prevent which outcome?
- A.Hepatotoxicity in elderly patients
- B.Abuse and diversion of isotretinoin
- C.QT prolongation when combined with antibiotics
- D.Fetal exposure resulting in severe birth defects (embryo-fetal toxicity)
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Fetal exposure resulting in severe birth defects (embryo-fetal toxicity)
The stated goal of the iPLEDGE REMS is to mitigate the risk of embryo-fetal toxicity, because isotretinoin causes life-threatening severe birth defects if taken during pregnancy. The program has restricted isotretinoin distribution since 2005 and was approved as a REMS in 2010.
4. Which class of drugs appears on the ISMP List of High-Alert Medications in Acute Care Settings?
- A.Neuromuscular blocking agents such as succinylcholine, rocuronium, and vecuronium
- B.Proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole
- C.HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors such as atorvastatin
- D.Topical antifungals such as clotrimazole
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Neuromuscular blocking agents such as succinylcholine, rocuronium, and vecuronium
Neuromuscular blocking agents are on the acute care high-alert list because accidental administration to a patient who is not mechanically ventilated causes paralysis and death. The list also includes classes such as insulin, opioids, antithrombotics, and concentrated electrolytes. PPIs, statins, and topical antifungals are not high-alert classes.
5. Which sig abbreviation indicates that a medication should be taken four times a day?
- A.QD
- B.QOD
- C.Q4H
- D.QID
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. QID
QID (quater in die) means four times a day. QD means daily, QOD means every other day, and Q4H means every 4 hours, which would actually produce six doses across a full 24-hour period rather than four.
6. Synthroid is a brand name for which generic drug?
- A.Liothyronine
- B.Levothyroxine
- C.Methimazole
- D.Propylthiouracil
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Levothyroxine
Synthroid is a brand of levothyroxine, a synthetic T4 thyroid hormone used to treat hypothyroidism. Methimazole and propylthiouracil are antithyroid drugs used for the opposite problem (hyperthyroidism), and liothyronine is synthetic T3, a different thyroid hormone product.
7. A pharmacy stocks the same manufacturer's lisinopril 10 mg tablets in both a 100-count bottle and a 1,000-count bottle. Which part of the NDC will be different between the two bottles?
- A.The labeler code
- B.The package code
- C.The product code
- D.Nothing; both bottles share an identical NDC
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. The package code
The package code, the final segment, identifies package sizes and types, so two container sizes of the identical product carry different package codes. The labeler and product codes stay the same because the firm, drug, strength, dosage form, and formulation are unchanged.
8. What is a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS)?
- A.An FDA-required risk management program that uses safety strategies beyond the approved labeling to manage a drug's serious risks
- B.A voluntary manufacturer coupon program for high-cost drugs
- C.A DEA program for tracking controlled substance distribution
- D.A state-run prescription drug monitoring database
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. An FDA-required risk management program that uses safety strategies beyond the approved labeling to manage a drug's serious risks
Under Section 505-1 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, FDA may require a manufacturer to implement a REMS when necessary to ensure a drug's benefits outweigh its risks. A REMS may include a Medication Guide, a communication plan, elements to assure safe use, and an implementation system.
Ready for the full timed run? Scroll back up and start the PTCB Practice Test, or browse every free PTCB quiz by exam domain.
Key concepts to know
How the 2026 PTCE is weighted
Medications makes up 35% of the exam, Patient Safety & Quality Assurance 23.75%, Order Entry & Processing 22.5%, and Federal Requirements 18.75%. This practice test uses the same proportions: 32 medication questions, 21 patient safety, 20 order entry, and 17 federal requirements.
Scoring on the real exam
The PTCE is reported as a scaled score from 1,000 to 1,600, with 1,400 required to pass. Only 80 of the 90 questions are scored; the 10 unscored pilot questions are never identified. Practice-test percentages don't convert directly to scaled scores, but consistently scoring above 80% here is a strong readiness signal.
Timing strategy
110 minutes for 90 questions gives you roughly 73 seconds per question. Answer everything: there is no penalty for guessing. Flag calculation-heavy questions and return to them after banking the quick recall questions.
PTCB Practice Test: FAQ
Is this PTCB practice test really free?
Yes, the full 90-question practice exam is completely free, with instant scoring and detailed explanations for every question. No sign-up required.
Does this match the real 2026 PTCE format?
It mirrors the real exam's structure: 90 multiple-choice questions in 110 minutes, weighted to the official PTCE content outline effective January 6, 2026 (Medications 35%, Patient Safety & QA 23.75%, Order Entry & Processing 22.5%, Federal Requirements 18.75%). The real exam is administered at Pearson VUE test centers.
What score do I need to pass the real PTCE?
You need a scaled score of 1,400 on a scale of 1,000 to 1,600. PTCB doesn't publish a fixed percentage equivalent, but most candidates aim to score 80%+ on full-length practice exams before test day.
Are the questions the same every time?
No, each attempt draws a fresh randomized selection from our question bank and shuffles answer positions, so every retake is a genuinely new exam.
Official sources checked
This quiz's content and explanations are built from and cross-checked against primary sources. Verify current exam facts directly with PTCB.