About this test
This 45-question practice exam is a half-length version of the real PTCE, keeping the same pacing (about 73 seconds per question) and the same domain proportions as the official 2026 content outline. It's ideal for a focused study session, a quick readiness check between full-length attempts, or building exam stamina early in your prep.
Questions are drawn fresh from the full question bank on every attempt, and each answer comes with a source-cited explanation, so a wrong answer becomes a mini-lesson rather than a mystery.
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. Lantus (insulin glargine) is best described as which type of insulin?
- A.Rapid-acting insulin
- B.Short-acting (regular) insulin
- C.Long-acting (basal) insulin
- D.Intermediate-acting (NPH) insulin
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Long-acting (basal) insulin
Insulin glargine is a long-acting (basal) insulin that provides a steady background level of insulin over roughly 24 hours. Rapid-acting insulins such as lispro are given at meals to cover food, so they serve a very different purpose from basal insulin.
2. Before measuring each dose of an amoxicillin oral suspension, the patient or caregiver should do what?
- A.Shake the bottle well to distribute the drug evenly
- B.Warm the bottle to room temperature in hot water
- C.Add extra water to thin the liquid
- D.Let the bottle stand until the powder settles
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Shake the bottle well to distribute the drug evenly
A suspension contains undissolved drug particles that settle between uses, so it must be shaken well before every dose to mix the medication evenly; skipping this step causes underdosing early in the bottle and overdosing later. Letting the powder settle is the opposite of the correct technique.
3. Under 21 CFR 1306.05, which of the following is NOT federally required on a controlled substance prescription?
- A.The full name and address of the patient
- B.The patient's date of birth
- C.The drug name, strength, dosage form, and quantity prescribed
- D.The name, address, and DEA registration number of the practitioner
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. The patient's date of birth
Federal law requires a controlled substance prescription to be dated and signed on the day issued and to include the patient's full name and address, the drug name, strength, dosage form, quantity prescribed, directions for use, and the practitioner's name, address, and DEA registration number. A patient date of birth is not among the elements listed in 21 CFR 1306.05, although states or insurers may require it.
4. At pickup, a patient mentions that the blood pressure medication started last week has been causing tongue swelling and trouble breathing at night. Beyond urging immediate medical attention for active symptoms, what should the technician do in the pharmacy?
- A.Note the comment in the patient profile and finish ringing up the sale
- B.Suggest an over-the-counter antihistamine to control the swelling
- C.Tell the patient to stop the medication without involving the pharmacist
- D.Alert the pharmacist right away, because a suspected adverse drug event requires pharmacist intervention
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Alert the pharmacist right away, because a suspected adverse drug event requires pharmacist intervention
Tongue swelling and breathing difficulty suggest angioedema, a serious adverse drug event, and ADEs are listed in PTCE area 3.3 as requiring pharmacist intervention. The pharmacist evaluates the reaction, contacts the prescriber, and may submit a MedWatch report to FDA. A technician recommending an OTC product or advising discontinuation would be practicing outside their role.
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. Glipizide (Glucotrol) lowers blood glucose by stimulating the pancreas to release insulin. As a sulfonylurea, which side effect must be monitored most closely?
- A.Weight loss
- B.Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- C.Lactic acidosis
- D.Increased potassium
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Because sulfonylureas like glipizide push the pancreas to secrete insulin regardless of the current glucose level, hypoglycemia is their most important side effect to monitor. Lactic acidosis is instead a rare risk associated with the biguanide metformin, not with sulfonylureas.
7. A patient taking metformin extended-release tablets calls, worried after seeing what looks like a whole tablet in their stool. What is the appropriate response based on the product labeling?
- A.Tell them to start crushing the tablets so they absorb
- B.Advise them to double the next dose to compensate
- C.Reassure them this can be normal: the inactive shell may pass in the feces while the drug has already been absorbed, and the tablets must still be swallowed whole
- D.Tell them the medication is defective and must be returned
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Reassure them this can be normal: the inactive shell may pass in the feces while the drug has already been absorbed, and the tablets must still be swallowed whole
Metformin ER labeling notes the inactive ingredients may occasionally be eliminated in the feces as a soft mass resembling the original tablet, and that the tablet must be swallowed whole, never crushed, cut, or chewed. Crushing is the dangerous distractor because it destroys the extended-release matrix and dumps the full dose at once.
8. A prescriber phones in an emergency oral prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance. Under federal law, the prescriber must deliver a written, signed prescription to the pharmacy within how many days?
- A.24 hours
- B.3 days
- C.7 days
- D.30 days
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. 7 days
Under 21 CFR 1306.11(d), an emergency oral Schedule II prescription must be limited to the quantity needed for the emergency period, and the prescriber must deliver a written, signed prescription marked 'Authorization for Emergency Dispensing' to the pharmacy within 7 days. If the written prescription is not received, the pharmacist must notify DEA.
Ready for the full timed run? Scroll back up and start the 45-Question Practice Exam, or browse every free PTCB quiz by exam domain.
Key concepts to know
When to use the half-length exam
Early in prep, use this exam to find your weakest domain, then drill that domain's section quiz. In the final two weeks, switch to the full 90-question exam to build endurance for the real 110-minute sitting.
Same weighting, smaller dose
The 45 questions keep the official proportions: 16 medications, 11 patient safety, 10 order entry, and 8 federal requirements, so your per-domain results are still meaningful.
45-Question Practice Exam: FAQ
How is this different from the 90-question exam?
It's exactly half the length (45 questions in 55 minutes) with the same domain weighting and question style. Use it for shorter study sessions; use the 90-question version for full exam simulation.
Is 45 questions enough to know if I'm ready?
It's a good readiness signal per domain, but before booking your exam we recommend at least two or three full 90-question attempts, since stamina over 110 minutes is part of the challenge.
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.