About this test
Order Entry and Processing is Domain 4 of the PTCE at 22.5% of the 2026 exam. It's the workflow domain: taking a prescription from intake to a correctly labeled, correctly billed product.
This quiz covers the outline's full list: formulas, calculations, ratios, proportions and conversions; sig codes, abbreviations and medical terminology; days supply, quantity, dose and dilution determinations; equipment and supplies for drug administration; lot numbers, expiration dates and NDC numbers; and identifying and returning dispensable, non-dispensable and expired medications.
New to the material? Work through our 2026 PTCB study guide first, then reinforce it with the PTCB Order Entry & Processing domain guide and the full pharmacy abbreviations reference.
What's in the question bank
| Topic | Questions in bank |
|---|---|
| Sig Codes | 10 |
| Days Supply | 9 |
| Billing | 8 |
| Daw Codes | 5 |
| Intake Data Entry | 4 |
| Rx Labels | 3 |
| Refills | 3 |
| Auxiliary Labels | 3 |
Sample questions with answers
These 8 questions come straight from the 50-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 technician is checking a paper prescription for a Schedule II stimulant against the DEA's content requirements in 21 CFR 1306.05. Which element is NOT federally required to appear on the prescription?
- A.The patient's date of birth
- B.The patient's full name and address
- C.The drug name, strength, and dosage form
- D.The practitioner's DEA registration number
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. The patient's date of birth
21 CFR 1306.05 requires a controlled substance prescription to be dated and signed on the day of issue and to show the patient's full name and address, the drug name, strength, dosage form, quantity, directions for use, and the practitioner's name, address, and DEA registration number. The patient's date of birth is not on the federal list, although many states and insurance plans request it.
2. A pharmacist receives a prescription over the telephone from a physician's office and hands the transcribed order to a technician for entry. Which prescription origin code applies to this order?
- A.1
- B.3
- C.2
- D.4
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. 2
Origin code 2 identifies a prescription received by telephone. Code 1 is a written prescription, code 3 is electronic, code 4 is a facsimile, and code 5 identifies a pharmacy-generated order.
3. What do the three segments of a National Drug Code (NDC) identify?
- A.The wholesaler, the strength, and the lot number
- B.The labeler, the product, and the package size
- C.The manufacturer, the DEA schedule, and the expiration date
- D.The pharmacy, the prescriber, and the drug category
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. The labeler, the product, and the package size
The NDC is a unique three-segment number that serves as the FDA's identifier for drugs: the first segment identifies the labeler (manufacturer or distributor), the second identifies the specific product including strength and dosage form, and the third identifies the package size and type. Selecting the exact NDC of the stock bottle used is essential for accurate billing and inventory.
4. At drop-off, a technician receives a paper prescription for a Schedule III cough syrup that lists the drug name and quantity but omits the strength. What should happen before this prescription is processed?
- A.Enter the most commonly dispensed strength and proceed
- B.Ask the patient which strength they took last time and enter it
- C.Dispense the lowest strength as a safety precaution
- D.Have the prescriber contacted to clarify the strength and document the clarification
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Have the prescriber contacted to clarify the strength and document the clarification
Drug strength is one of the elements a controlled substance prescription must contain under 21 CFR 1306.05, so a missing strength makes the order incomplete. The pharmacy must obtain clarification from the prescriber and document it; guessing from dispensing history or defaulting to any strength is not permitted.
5. Under DEA regulations, what are the maximum refills and time limit for a prescription written for a Schedule IV benzodiazepine?
- A.No refills are permitted; a new prescription is required each month
- B.Up to five refills within six months of the issue date
- C.Up to twelve refills within one year of the issue date
- D.Unlimited refills as long as the prescription is less than one year old
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Up to five refills within six months of the issue date
Under 21 CFR 1306.22, prescriptions for Schedule III and IV controlled substances may not be refilled more than five times, and no fill or refill may occur more than six months after the date of issue. Whichever limit is reached first ends the prescription's validity, and additional quantities require a new prescription.
6. A patient requests a refill of alprazolam from a prescription issued seven months ago that still shows two refills remaining in the system. How should the pharmacy handle this request?
- A.The refill cannot be dispensed; a new prescription is required because more than six months have passed since the issue date
- B.The refill may be dispensed because refills remain on file
- C.The refill may be dispensed if the pharmacist documents a one-time emergency
- D.The refill may be dispensed after the technician resets the refill counter
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. The refill cannot be dispensed; a new prescription is required because more than six months have passed since the issue date
Alprazolam is a Schedule IV controlled substance, and 21 CFR 1306.22 prohibits filling or refilling a Schedule III or IV prescription more than six months after its issue date, even if authorized refills remain. The prescriber must issue a new prescription before the patient can receive more medication.
7. A patient leaving on a three-week trip requests an early refill of a blood pressure medication, but the claim rejects as refill-too-soon. What is the most appropriate way to resolve the rejection?
- A.Split the prescription into several small fills to bypass the edit
- B.Cancel the claim and tell the patient nothing can be done
- C.Submit the claim under a different family member's ID
- D.Contact the insurance plan to request an early-fill or vacation override
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Contact the insurance plan to request an early-fill or vacation override
Refill-too-soon edits are controlled by the insurance plan, which typically pays a refill only after about 75-80% of the previous days supply has been used. Many plans grant documented vacation or early-fill overrides when contacted, whereas billing under another member's ID would be fraud.
8. A technician is preparing a 10-day course of metronidazole tablets. Which auxiliary label is most important to apply to this prescription?
- A.Take on an empty stomach only
- B.May discolor contact lenses
- C.Do not drink alcohol during treatment and for at least 3 days after the final dose
- D.Avoid dairy products within 2 hours of each dose
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Do not drink alcohol during treatment and for at least 3 days after the final dose
Alcohol and products containing alcohol or propylene glycol taken with metronidazole can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, headache, sweating, and flushing. Patients should avoid alcohol throughout treatment and for at least 3 days after the last dose, making this warning the priority auxiliary label.
Ready for the full timed run? Scroll back up and start the Order Entry Quiz, or browse every free PTCB quiz by exam domain.
Key concepts to know
Sig codes are free points
1 tab PO BID = one tablet by mouth twice daily. Sig questions are among the most predictable on the exam, so drill until translation is automatic, including the tricky ones: AC (before meals), HS (at bedtime), gtt (drop), and Roman numerals.
Days supply drives everything
Quantity ÷ daily use = days supply. Insulin, inhalers, and eye drops complicate it: you must convert units, actuations, or drops into days. These multi-step versions are exactly what the exam tests.
NDC anatomy
The National Drug Code has three segments: labeler-product-package (e.g., 5-4-2 in an 11-digit billing format). Know what each segment identifies and why billing systems pad to 11 digits.
Order Entry Quiz: FAQ
What is Domain 4 on the PTCE?
Order Entry and Processing: 22.5% of the 2026 exam. It covers calculations and sig codes, administration equipment and supplies, lot/expiration/NDC numbers, and return procedures for medications and supplies.
Are calculations part of this domain?
Yes, the outline places formulas, ratios, proportions, conversions, and dilution calculations in Domain 4. If math is your weak spot, pair this quiz with our dedicated Pharmacy Math practice test.
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.