1
CVS Pharmacy Technician Exam, CVS
Pharmacy Technician Training Program, PTCB
Certification Preparation, Complete Questions
and Answers (Graded A+)
INTRODUCTION .
This comprehensive practice examination is designed for pharmacy technicians
preparing for the CVS Pharmacy Technician Exam and the PTCB (Pharmacy
Technician Certification Board) Exam for the current training cycle. This exam covers
CVS pharmacy workflow, prescription processing, pharmacy calculations, drug
classifications, pharmacy law, HIPAA, insurance billing, inventory management, customer
service, and patient safety.
Exam Information:
• Program: CVS Pharmacy Technician Training Program
• Certification: PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) or ExCPT
• Exam Format: Multiple-choice, scenario-based, calculation questions, Select-All-
That-Apply (SATA)
• Topics: Workflow, Law, Calculations, SIG Codes, Brand/Generic, Insurance,
Inventory, Safety, Customer Service
Major Content Areas Covered:
• CVS Pharmacy Workflow and Operations: RxConnect, drop-off, data entry, clinical
review (pharmacist), filling (production), product verification (pharmacist), pick-up,
ReadyFill, ScriptSync, electronic prescribing (SureScripts), prescription transfer
(CVS to CVS, CVS to other, other to CVS)
• Pharmacy Law, HIPAA, and Patient Confidentiality: FDCA, Durham-Humphrey
(prescription vs OTC), Kefauver-Harris (efficacy), PPPA (child-resistant packaging),
OBRA 90 (counseling, DUR, patient profiles), CMEA (pseudoephedrine limits,
logbook), HIPAA Privacy Rule (PHI, minimum necessary, patient rights), Security
, 2
Rule (ePHI safeguards), HITECH Act (breach notification), state pharmacy laws
(technician registration, technician duties, technician to pharmacist ratio,
certification requirements), DEA regulations (DEA number verification, DEA Form
222, loss/theft reporting (DEA Form 106), record keeping), Controlled Substances
Act (Schedule I-V, prescription requirements, refill limits, partial fills)
• Prescription Processing and SIG Codes: Prescription types (new, refill, transfer),
data entry (patient info, drug selection, quantity, days supply, SIG, prescriber), SIG
codes (bid (twice daily), tid (three times daily), qid (four times daily), qd (daily), qod
(every other day), q4h (every 4 hours), q6h (every 6 hours), q8h (every 8 hours),
q12h (every 12 hours), ac (before meals), pc (after meals), hs (at bedtime), prn (as
needed), po (by mouth), IM (intramuscular), IV (intravenous), subq (subcutaneous),
top (topical), ung (ointment), supp (suppository), SL (sublingual), OD (right eye), OS
(left eye), OU (both eyes), AS (left ear), AD (right ear), AU (both ears), gtt (drop), cap
(capsule), tab (tablet), tsp (teaspoon), tbsp (tablespoon), mL (milliliter), g (gram),
mg (milligram), mcg (microgram), DAW (dispense as written), generic substitution,
days supply calculation, refill eligibility
• Pharmacy Calculations: Basic math (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division,
fractions, decimals, percentages), conversions (metric, apothecary, household),
temperature conversions (°F to °C, °C to °F), ratio and proportion, dosage
calculations (dose = (desired / available) × quantity, dose = weight (kg) × dose per
kg), BSA (Mosteller formula), IV flow rates (mL/hr, drops/min (gtt/min)), infusion
time, days supply, percentage strength (w/v, v/v, w/w), dilution and concentration
(C1V1 = C2V2), alligation (alternate, medial), business math (profit margin, markup,
discount, sales tax)
• Drug Classifications and Generic/Brand Names: Top 200 drugs, common brand-
generic pairs (atorvastatin (Lipitor), levothyroxine (Synthroid), lisinopril (Prinivil,
Zestril), metformin (Glucophage), amlodipine (Norvasc), metoprolol (Lopressor,
Toprol XL), omeprazole (Prilosec), simvastatin (Zocor), losartan (Cozaar), albuterol
(ProAir, Ventolin), gabapentin (Neurontin), sertraline (Zoloft), escitalopram
(Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), duloxetine (Cymbalta), trazodone (Desyrel),
, 3
clonazepam (Klonopin), alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam
(Valium), zolpidem (Ambien), tramadol (Ultram), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril),
ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), acetaminophen (Tylenol),
amoxicillin (Amoxil), azithromycin (Zithromax, Z-Pak), cephalexin (Keflex),
ciprofloxacin (Cipro), doxycycline (Vibramycin), metronidazole (Flagyl), prednisone
(Deltasone), warfarin (Coumadin), apixaban (Eliquis), rivaroxaban (Xarelto),
clopidogrel (Plavix), insulin (Novolog (aspart), Humalog (lispro), Lantus (glargine),
Levemir (detemir)), ondansetron (Zofran), promethazine (Phenergan),
diphenhydramine (Benadryl), cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin), fexofenadine
(Allegra), fluticasone (Flonase), montelukast (Singulair)
• Drug Administration Routes and Dosage Forms: Oral (tablet, capsule, liquid
(solution, suspension, elixir, syrup), chewable, sublingual, buccal), topical (cream,
ointment, lotion, gel, paste, patch, foam), ophthalmic (eye drops, eye ointment), otic
(ear drops), nasal (nasal spray, nasal drops, nasal gel, nasal inhalation), inhalation
(metered dose inhaler (MDI), dry powder inhaler (DPI), nebulizer solution),
injectable (IV, IM, subq, intradermal (ID), intrathecal, epidural, intraosseous), rectal
(suppository, enema, rectal cream, rectal ointment), vaginal (suppository, cream,
tablet, ring), transdermal (patch)
• Pharmacy Abbreviations and Medical Terminology: SIG codes (see above),
medical abbreviations (BP (blood pressure), HR (heart rate), RR (respiratory rate),
Temp (temperature), HTN (hypertension), DM (diabetes mellitus), CAD (coronary
artery disease), CHF (congestive heart failure), COPD (chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease), CKD (chronic kidney disease), ESRD (end-stage renal disease),
GI (gastrointestinal), GU (genitourinary), CNS (central nervous system), ENT (ear,
nose, throat), etc.)
• Third Party Insurance and Billing: Insurance types (commercial, Medicare Part D,
Medicaid, workers' compensation, Tricare, VA), coordination of benefits (COB),
primary and secondary insurance, claim adjudication, rejection resolution (refill too
soon, prior authorization required, plan limitations, formulary restrictions, non-
formulary, step therapy, quantity limit, days supply limit, DUR override), Medicare
, 4
Part D (coverage gap (donut hole), catastrophic coverage, late enrollment penalty,
low-income subsidy (LIS)), Medicaid (state-specific, pharmacy reimbursement), CVS
insurance billing system, patient assistance programs (PAP), manufacturer coupons,
co-pay cards, Rx savings finder
• Inventory Management and Drug Safety: Perpetual inventory, cycle counting,
expiration date management (FEFO – first expire, first out), return to reverse
distributor, recalls (Class I, II, III), look-alike sound-alike (LASA) drugs (tall man
lettering), high-alert medications (concentrated electrolytes, insulin, opioids,
anticoagulants, chemotherapeutic agents), medication error prevention (barcode
scanning, independent double check), USP 795 (non-sterile compounding), USP 797
(sterile compounding), USP 800 (hazardous drug handling), NIOSH list, closed
system transfer devices (CSTD), PPE (gloves (double), gown, eye protection,
respirator), adverse drug reaction reporting (MedWatch), medication guides,
patient information leaflets
• Customer Service and Communication: Patient interaction (greeting,
identification, privacy (HIPAA), prescription status, patient education (offer
counseling), de-escalation techniques (active listening, empathy, apologize for
frustration, offer solutions, escalate to pharmacist or manager), CVS customer
service standards (ExtraCare, CVS Pharmacy app, CVS customer service hotline,
patient satisfaction surveys)
• Final Exam Scenarios and Applied Practice: Integrated scenarios requiring
application of all pharmacy technician competencies (prescription processing,
calculations, law, insurance, inventory, safety, customer service)
This examination reflects all current CVS Pharmacy Technician Training Program and
PTCB certification standards. Each question includes the correct answer and a detailed
rationale with references to CVS workflow, pharmacy law, and safety protocols to
support exam readiness.
Section 1: CVS Pharmacy Workflow and Operations (Questions 1-25)
CVS Pharmacy Technician Exam, CVS
Pharmacy Technician Training Program, PTCB
Certification Preparation, Complete Questions
and Answers (Graded A+)
INTRODUCTION .
This comprehensive practice examination is designed for pharmacy technicians
preparing for the CVS Pharmacy Technician Exam and the PTCB (Pharmacy
Technician Certification Board) Exam for the current training cycle. This exam covers
CVS pharmacy workflow, prescription processing, pharmacy calculations, drug
classifications, pharmacy law, HIPAA, insurance billing, inventory management, customer
service, and patient safety.
Exam Information:
• Program: CVS Pharmacy Technician Training Program
• Certification: PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) or ExCPT
• Exam Format: Multiple-choice, scenario-based, calculation questions, Select-All-
That-Apply (SATA)
• Topics: Workflow, Law, Calculations, SIG Codes, Brand/Generic, Insurance,
Inventory, Safety, Customer Service
Major Content Areas Covered:
• CVS Pharmacy Workflow and Operations: RxConnect, drop-off, data entry, clinical
review (pharmacist), filling (production), product verification (pharmacist), pick-up,
ReadyFill, ScriptSync, electronic prescribing (SureScripts), prescription transfer
(CVS to CVS, CVS to other, other to CVS)
• Pharmacy Law, HIPAA, and Patient Confidentiality: FDCA, Durham-Humphrey
(prescription vs OTC), Kefauver-Harris (efficacy), PPPA (child-resistant packaging),
OBRA 90 (counseling, DUR, patient profiles), CMEA (pseudoephedrine limits,
logbook), HIPAA Privacy Rule (PHI, minimum necessary, patient rights), Security
, 2
Rule (ePHI safeguards), HITECH Act (breach notification), state pharmacy laws
(technician registration, technician duties, technician to pharmacist ratio,
certification requirements), DEA regulations (DEA number verification, DEA Form
222, loss/theft reporting (DEA Form 106), record keeping), Controlled Substances
Act (Schedule I-V, prescription requirements, refill limits, partial fills)
• Prescription Processing and SIG Codes: Prescription types (new, refill, transfer),
data entry (patient info, drug selection, quantity, days supply, SIG, prescriber), SIG
codes (bid (twice daily), tid (three times daily), qid (four times daily), qd (daily), qod
(every other day), q4h (every 4 hours), q6h (every 6 hours), q8h (every 8 hours),
q12h (every 12 hours), ac (before meals), pc (after meals), hs (at bedtime), prn (as
needed), po (by mouth), IM (intramuscular), IV (intravenous), subq (subcutaneous),
top (topical), ung (ointment), supp (suppository), SL (sublingual), OD (right eye), OS
(left eye), OU (both eyes), AS (left ear), AD (right ear), AU (both ears), gtt (drop), cap
(capsule), tab (tablet), tsp (teaspoon), tbsp (tablespoon), mL (milliliter), g (gram),
mg (milligram), mcg (microgram), DAW (dispense as written), generic substitution,
days supply calculation, refill eligibility
• Pharmacy Calculations: Basic math (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division,
fractions, decimals, percentages), conversions (metric, apothecary, household),
temperature conversions (°F to °C, °C to °F), ratio and proportion, dosage
calculations (dose = (desired / available) × quantity, dose = weight (kg) × dose per
kg), BSA (Mosteller formula), IV flow rates (mL/hr, drops/min (gtt/min)), infusion
time, days supply, percentage strength (w/v, v/v, w/w), dilution and concentration
(C1V1 = C2V2), alligation (alternate, medial), business math (profit margin, markup,
discount, sales tax)
• Drug Classifications and Generic/Brand Names: Top 200 drugs, common brand-
generic pairs (atorvastatin (Lipitor), levothyroxine (Synthroid), lisinopril (Prinivil,
Zestril), metformin (Glucophage), amlodipine (Norvasc), metoprolol (Lopressor,
Toprol XL), omeprazole (Prilosec), simvastatin (Zocor), losartan (Cozaar), albuterol
(ProAir, Ventolin), gabapentin (Neurontin), sertraline (Zoloft), escitalopram
(Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), duloxetine (Cymbalta), trazodone (Desyrel),
, 3
clonazepam (Klonopin), alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam
(Valium), zolpidem (Ambien), tramadol (Ultram), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril),
ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), acetaminophen (Tylenol),
amoxicillin (Amoxil), azithromycin (Zithromax, Z-Pak), cephalexin (Keflex),
ciprofloxacin (Cipro), doxycycline (Vibramycin), metronidazole (Flagyl), prednisone
(Deltasone), warfarin (Coumadin), apixaban (Eliquis), rivaroxaban (Xarelto),
clopidogrel (Plavix), insulin (Novolog (aspart), Humalog (lispro), Lantus (glargine),
Levemir (detemir)), ondansetron (Zofran), promethazine (Phenergan),
diphenhydramine (Benadryl), cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin), fexofenadine
(Allegra), fluticasone (Flonase), montelukast (Singulair)
• Drug Administration Routes and Dosage Forms: Oral (tablet, capsule, liquid
(solution, suspension, elixir, syrup), chewable, sublingual, buccal), topical (cream,
ointment, lotion, gel, paste, patch, foam), ophthalmic (eye drops, eye ointment), otic
(ear drops), nasal (nasal spray, nasal drops, nasal gel, nasal inhalation), inhalation
(metered dose inhaler (MDI), dry powder inhaler (DPI), nebulizer solution),
injectable (IV, IM, subq, intradermal (ID), intrathecal, epidural, intraosseous), rectal
(suppository, enema, rectal cream, rectal ointment), vaginal (suppository, cream,
tablet, ring), transdermal (patch)
• Pharmacy Abbreviations and Medical Terminology: SIG codes (see above),
medical abbreviations (BP (blood pressure), HR (heart rate), RR (respiratory rate),
Temp (temperature), HTN (hypertension), DM (diabetes mellitus), CAD (coronary
artery disease), CHF (congestive heart failure), COPD (chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease), CKD (chronic kidney disease), ESRD (end-stage renal disease),
GI (gastrointestinal), GU (genitourinary), CNS (central nervous system), ENT (ear,
nose, throat), etc.)
• Third Party Insurance and Billing: Insurance types (commercial, Medicare Part D,
Medicaid, workers' compensation, Tricare, VA), coordination of benefits (COB),
primary and secondary insurance, claim adjudication, rejection resolution (refill too
soon, prior authorization required, plan limitations, formulary restrictions, non-
formulary, step therapy, quantity limit, days supply limit, DUR override), Medicare
, 4
Part D (coverage gap (donut hole), catastrophic coverage, late enrollment penalty,
low-income subsidy (LIS)), Medicaid (state-specific, pharmacy reimbursement), CVS
insurance billing system, patient assistance programs (PAP), manufacturer coupons,
co-pay cards, Rx savings finder
• Inventory Management and Drug Safety: Perpetual inventory, cycle counting,
expiration date management (FEFO – first expire, first out), return to reverse
distributor, recalls (Class I, II, III), look-alike sound-alike (LASA) drugs (tall man
lettering), high-alert medications (concentrated electrolytes, insulin, opioids,
anticoagulants, chemotherapeutic agents), medication error prevention (barcode
scanning, independent double check), USP 795 (non-sterile compounding), USP 797
(sterile compounding), USP 800 (hazardous drug handling), NIOSH list, closed
system transfer devices (CSTD), PPE (gloves (double), gown, eye protection,
respirator), adverse drug reaction reporting (MedWatch), medication guides,
patient information leaflets
• Customer Service and Communication: Patient interaction (greeting,
identification, privacy (HIPAA), prescription status, patient education (offer
counseling), de-escalation techniques (active listening, empathy, apologize for
frustration, offer solutions, escalate to pharmacist or manager), CVS customer
service standards (ExtraCare, CVS Pharmacy app, CVS customer service hotline,
patient satisfaction surveys)
• Final Exam Scenarios and Applied Practice: Integrated scenarios requiring
application of all pharmacy technician competencies (prescription processing,
calculations, law, insurance, inventory, safety, customer service)
This examination reflects all current CVS Pharmacy Technician Training Program and
PTCB certification standards. Each question includes the correct answer and a detailed
rationale with references to CVS workflow, pharmacy law, and safety protocols to
support exam readiness.
Section 1: CVS Pharmacy Workflow and Operations (Questions 1-25)
