About this test
Sig codes are the shorthand prescribers use to communicate directions, and translating them accurately is a daily technician task the PTCE tests directly: the 2026 outline names sig codes, abbreviations, medical terminology and symbols in Domain 4.
This quiz drills the standard set (frequencies like BID/TID/QID, routes like PO/SL/PR, timing like AC/PC/HS) and (just as important for the Patient Safety domain) the ISMP error-prone abbreviations like U, IU, QD and trailing zeros that must be written out instead because they cause dangerous misreads.
New to the material? Work through our 2026 PTCB study guide first, then reinforce it with the full pharmacy abbreviations reference.
Key concepts to know
Frequencies, routes, timing
Frequencies: QD-equivalents (daily), BID (twice), TID (three times), QID (four times). Routes: PO (mouth), SL (sublingual), PR (rectal), TOP (topical). Timing: AC (before meals), PC (after meals), HS (bedtime), PRN (as needed).
The 'do not use' list
ISMP's error-prone abbreviations exist because they've caused real harm: 'U' read as zero (10-fold insulin overdose), 'QD' read as 'QID', trailing zeros (5.0 mg read as 50 mg), and 'MS' ambiguous between morphine sulfate and magnesium sulfate. The exam tests both what they mean and why they're banned.
Abbreviations Quiz: FAQ
Are sig code questions on the PTCE?
Yes, sig codes, abbreviations, and medical terminology are explicitly listed in Domain 4 (Order Entry & Processing) of the 2026 content outline, and error-prone abbreviations appear in Domain 3 (Patient Safety).
What's the most commonly confused abbreviation?
QD (daily) versus QID (four times daily) is the classic: a 4-fold dosing error from one letter, which is why ISMP says to write 'daily' instead.
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.