PHARMACY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION EXAM – PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
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*Core Domains*
*• Pharmacology for Technicians*
*• Pharmacy Law and Regulations*
*• Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding*
*• Medication Safety*
*• Pharmacy Quality Assurance*
*• Medication Order Entry and Fill Process*
*• Pharmacy Inventory Management*
*• Pharmacy Billing and Reimbursement*
*• Pharmacy Information System Usage and Application*
*Introduction*
The purpose of this practice exam is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the essential
competencies required for pharmacy technicians. It assesses a broad spectrum of skills including
dosage calculations, drug classifications, regulatory compliance, and patient safety protocols.
The assessment is structured using multiple-choice and scenario-based questions to mirror the
rigors of the national certification environment. By focusing on real-world application and clinical
decision-making, this exam ensures that candidates can demonstrate their ability to support
pharmacists effectively while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and ethical practice
in diverse pharmacy settings.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. Which of the following auxiliary labels should be placed on a prescription for suspension-
based amoxicillin?
A. May cause drowsiness
B. Avoid sunlight
,🟢 C. Shake well before using
D. Take with food
🔴 RATIONALE: Suspensions contain undissolved particles that settle at the bottom of the
container; shaking ensures a uniform dose is administered to the patient.
2. A pharmacy technician is asked to compound a 1:1000 solution. What is the equivalent
percentage strength?
🟢 A. 0.1%
B. 1%
C. 0.01%
D. 10%
🔴 RATIONALE: A 1:1000 ratio means 1 gram in 1000 mL. To find the percentage (grams per
100 mL), divide 1 by 1000 and multiply by 100, which equals 0.1%.
3. Under the Controlled Substances Act, which schedule of drugs has the highest potential
for abuse while still having an accepted medical use?
A. Schedule I
🟢 B. Schedule II
C. Schedule III
D. Schedule IV
🔴 RATIONALE: Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse and may lead to severe
psychological or physical dependence, but they are currently accepted for medical treatment.
4. Which of the following is the generic name for the medication Zoloft?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Paroxetine
🟢 C. Sertraline
D. Citalopram
,🔴 RATIONALE: Sertraline is the generic name for Zoloft, which is classified as a Selective
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI).
5. How many milligrams of active ingredient are in 2 mL of a 50 mg/mL injection?
A. 25 mg
B. 50 mg
🟢 C. 100 mg
D. 200 mg
🔴 RATIONALE: Using the formula Concentration × Volume = Mass (50 mg/mL × 2 mL), the total
amount of active ingredient is 100 mg.
6. Which regulatory agency is responsible for overseeing the safety and efficacy of
medications in the United States?
A. DEA
🟢 B. FDA
C. CDC
D. OSHA
🔴 RATIONALE: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the federal agency responsible for
protecting public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary
drugs.
7. Which of the following medications is commonly used to treat hypertension?
🟢 A. Lisinopril
B. Atorvastatin
C. Metformin
D. Omeprazole
🔴 RATIONALE: Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor used primarily for the treatment of high blood
pressure and heart failure.
, 8. A prescription reads: "1 tab po qid x 10 days." How many tablets should be dispensed?
A. 10
B. 20
C. 30
🟢 D. 40
🔴 RATIONALE: "qid" means four times a day. 1 tablet × 4 times/day × 10 days = 40 tablets.
9. Which of the following is a primary requirement of the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA)?
A. Reporting adverse drug reactions
🟢 B. Protecting patient confidentiality
C. Regulating controlled substances
D. Managing Medicare Part D benefits
🔴 RATIONALE: HIPAA establishes national standards to protect sensitive patient health
information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge.
10. What is the maximum number of refills allowed on a Schedule III controlled substance
prescription?
A. No refills
B. One refill
🟢 C. Five refills
D. Eleven refills
🔴 RATIONALE: Federal law allows Schedule III and IV prescriptions to be refilled up to five
times within six months from the date the prescription was written.
11. Which of the following vitamins is fat-soluble?
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF.
*Core Domains*
*• Pharmacology for Technicians*
*• Pharmacy Law and Regulations*
*• Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding*
*• Medication Safety*
*• Pharmacy Quality Assurance*
*• Medication Order Entry and Fill Process*
*• Pharmacy Inventory Management*
*• Pharmacy Billing and Reimbursement*
*• Pharmacy Information System Usage and Application*
*Introduction*
The purpose of this practice exam is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the essential
competencies required for pharmacy technicians. It assesses a broad spectrum of skills including
dosage calculations, drug classifications, regulatory compliance, and patient safety protocols.
The assessment is structured using multiple-choice and scenario-based questions to mirror the
rigors of the national certification environment. By focusing on real-world application and clinical
decision-making, this exam ensures that candidates can demonstrate their ability to support
pharmacists effectively while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and ethical practice
in diverse pharmacy settings.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. Which of the following auxiliary labels should be placed on a prescription for suspension-
based amoxicillin?
A. May cause drowsiness
B. Avoid sunlight
,🟢 C. Shake well before using
D. Take with food
🔴 RATIONALE: Suspensions contain undissolved particles that settle at the bottom of the
container; shaking ensures a uniform dose is administered to the patient.
2. A pharmacy technician is asked to compound a 1:1000 solution. What is the equivalent
percentage strength?
🟢 A. 0.1%
B. 1%
C. 0.01%
D. 10%
🔴 RATIONALE: A 1:1000 ratio means 1 gram in 1000 mL. To find the percentage (grams per
100 mL), divide 1 by 1000 and multiply by 100, which equals 0.1%.
3. Under the Controlled Substances Act, which schedule of drugs has the highest potential
for abuse while still having an accepted medical use?
A. Schedule I
🟢 B. Schedule II
C. Schedule III
D. Schedule IV
🔴 RATIONALE: Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse and may lead to severe
psychological or physical dependence, but they are currently accepted for medical treatment.
4. Which of the following is the generic name for the medication Zoloft?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Paroxetine
🟢 C. Sertraline
D. Citalopram
,🔴 RATIONALE: Sertraline is the generic name for Zoloft, which is classified as a Selective
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI).
5. How many milligrams of active ingredient are in 2 mL of a 50 mg/mL injection?
A. 25 mg
B. 50 mg
🟢 C. 100 mg
D. 200 mg
🔴 RATIONALE: Using the formula Concentration × Volume = Mass (50 mg/mL × 2 mL), the total
amount of active ingredient is 100 mg.
6. Which regulatory agency is responsible for overseeing the safety and efficacy of
medications in the United States?
A. DEA
🟢 B. FDA
C. CDC
D. OSHA
🔴 RATIONALE: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the federal agency responsible for
protecting public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary
drugs.
7. Which of the following medications is commonly used to treat hypertension?
🟢 A. Lisinopril
B. Atorvastatin
C. Metformin
D. Omeprazole
🔴 RATIONALE: Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor used primarily for the treatment of high blood
pressure and heart failure.
, 8. A prescription reads: "1 tab po qid x 10 days." How many tablets should be dispensed?
A. 10
B. 20
C. 30
🟢 D. 40
🔴 RATIONALE: "qid" means four times a day. 1 tablet × 4 times/day × 10 days = 40 tablets.
9. Which of the following is a primary requirement of the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA)?
A. Reporting adverse drug reactions
🟢 B. Protecting patient confidentiality
C. Regulating controlled substances
D. Managing Medicare Part D benefits
🔴 RATIONALE: HIPAA establishes national standards to protect sensitive patient health
information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge.
10. What is the maximum number of refills allowed on a Schedule III controlled substance
prescription?
A. No refills
B. One refill
🟢 C. Five refills
D. Eleven refills
🔴 RATIONALE: Federal law allows Schedule III and IV prescriptions to be refilled up to five
times within six months from the date the prescription was written.
11. Which of the following vitamins is fat-soluble?
