PTCB PRACTICE TEST 2026-27
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
1. Medications
Q: A patient is prescribed lisinopril 10 mg daily. Which
drug class does this belong to?
o A. Beta-blocker
o B. ACE inhibitor
o C. ARB
o D. Calcium channel blocker
Correct Answer: B. ACE inhibitor
Rationale: Lisinopril ends in the suffix “-pril,” which is
characteristic of an ACE inhibitor. These drugs are used to lower
blood pressure by blocking the angiotensin-converting enzyme.
Q: What is the brand name of generic “fluoxetine”?
o A. Zoloft
o B. Celexa
o C. Prozac
o D. Paxil
Correct Answer: C. Prozac
Rationale: Fluoxetine is the generic name for Prozac, which is a
,selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat
depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
Q: A prescription is written for an albuterol inhaler:
"Dispense two inhalers of 8.5 gm, 2 puffs q.i.d." How
many days will the supply last if there are 200 metered
doses in each inhaler?
o A. 25
o B. 30
o C. 50
o D. 100
Correct Answer: C. 50
Rationale: The total number of doses available is 200
doses/inhaler × 2 inhalers = 400 doses. The prescribed dose is 2
puffs four times a day (q.i.d.), which equals 8 doses/day. The days'
supply is 400 doses ÷ 8 doses/day = 50 days.
Q: A patient presents a new prescription order for
labetalol. The patient's computer profile shows the
following medications: glyburide, albuterol, furosemide,
atenolol, and amlodipine. The labetalol prescription
order is a therapeutic duplication of:
o A. amlodipine
o B. atenolol
o C. furosemide
o D. albuterol
Correct Answer: B. atenolol
Rationale: Both labetalol and atenolol are beta-blockers, used to
manage hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions.
,Prescribing two drugs from the same class for the same indication
constitutes a therapeutic duplication.
2. Federal Requirements
Q: Under the Controlled Substances Act, which schedule
drug has the highest potential for abuse?
o A. Schedule II
o B. Schedule III
o C. Schedule IV
o D. Schedule V
Correct Answer: A. Schedule II
Rationale: The Controlled Substances Act categorizes drugs into
schedules based on their potential for abuse and dependence.
Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse, which may lead
to severe psychological or physical dependence.
Q: Which of the following products must be dispensed in
its original container?
o A. Oxycodone 30 mg sustained release tablets
o B. Isosorbide mononitrate 30 mg sustained release
tablets
o C. Oxycodone 5 mg immediate release tablets
o D. Nitroglycerin 0.4 mg sublingual tablets
Correct Answer: D. Nitroglycerin 0.4 mg sublingual tablets
Rationale: Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets are sensitive to air,
light, and moisture and can lose potency if not stored in the
original, manufacturer-sealed container, making it a legal
requirement to dispense them that way.
, Q: The passing of which legislation required that all new
prescription drugs be shown to be both safe and
effective before being marketed?
o A. Pure Food and Drug Act
o B. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
o C. Durham-Humphrey Amendment
o D. Kefauver-Harris Amendment
Correct Answer: D. Kefauver-Harris Amendment
Rationale: The Kefauver-Harris Amendment of 1962 was enacted
in response to the thalidomide tragedy and required drug
manufacturers to prove the efficacy of their products to the FDA,
in addition to safety, before they could be marketed in the U.S..
3. Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Q: Which of the following is a critical check before
dispensing medication?
o A. Checking the drug's color
o B. Verifying patient's name and date of birth
o C. Assessing the taste of the medication
o D. Confirming the price of the drug
Correct Answer: B. Verifying patient's name and date of birth
Rationale: Verifying the patient’s identity using at least two
identifiers, such as their full name and date of birth, is a crucial
safety step to prevent medication errors and ensure the right
patient receives the right medication.
Q: What is the primary purpose of medication
reconciliation?
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
1. Medications
Q: A patient is prescribed lisinopril 10 mg daily. Which
drug class does this belong to?
o A. Beta-blocker
o B. ACE inhibitor
o C. ARB
o D. Calcium channel blocker
Correct Answer: B. ACE inhibitor
Rationale: Lisinopril ends in the suffix “-pril,” which is
characteristic of an ACE inhibitor. These drugs are used to lower
blood pressure by blocking the angiotensin-converting enzyme.
Q: What is the brand name of generic “fluoxetine”?
o A. Zoloft
o B. Celexa
o C. Prozac
o D. Paxil
Correct Answer: C. Prozac
Rationale: Fluoxetine is the generic name for Prozac, which is a
,selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat
depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
Q: A prescription is written for an albuterol inhaler:
"Dispense two inhalers of 8.5 gm, 2 puffs q.i.d." How
many days will the supply last if there are 200 metered
doses in each inhaler?
o A. 25
o B. 30
o C. 50
o D. 100
Correct Answer: C. 50
Rationale: The total number of doses available is 200
doses/inhaler × 2 inhalers = 400 doses. The prescribed dose is 2
puffs four times a day (q.i.d.), which equals 8 doses/day. The days'
supply is 400 doses ÷ 8 doses/day = 50 days.
Q: A patient presents a new prescription order for
labetalol. The patient's computer profile shows the
following medications: glyburide, albuterol, furosemide,
atenolol, and amlodipine. The labetalol prescription
order is a therapeutic duplication of:
o A. amlodipine
o B. atenolol
o C. furosemide
o D. albuterol
Correct Answer: B. atenolol
Rationale: Both labetalol and atenolol are beta-blockers, used to
manage hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions.
,Prescribing two drugs from the same class for the same indication
constitutes a therapeutic duplication.
2. Federal Requirements
Q: Under the Controlled Substances Act, which schedule
drug has the highest potential for abuse?
o A. Schedule II
o B. Schedule III
o C. Schedule IV
o D. Schedule V
Correct Answer: A. Schedule II
Rationale: The Controlled Substances Act categorizes drugs into
schedules based on their potential for abuse and dependence.
Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse, which may lead
to severe psychological or physical dependence.
Q: Which of the following products must be dispensed in
its original container?
o A. Oxycodone 30 mg sustained release tablets
o B. Isosorbide mononitrate 30 mg sustained release
tablets
o C. Oxycodone 5 mg immediate release tablets
o D. Nitroglycerin 0.4 mg sublingual tablets
Correct Answer: D. Nitroglycerin 0.4 mg sublingual tablets
Rationale: Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets are sensitive to air,
light, and moisture and can lose potency if not stored in the
original, manufacturer-sealed container, making it a legal
requirement to dispense them that way.
, Q: The passing of which legislation required that all new
prescription drugs be shown to be both safe and
effective before being marketed?
o A. Pure Food and Drug Act
o B. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
o C. Durham-Humphrey Amendment
o D. Kefauver-Harris Amendment
Correct Answer: D. Kefauver-Harris Amendment
Rationale: The Kefauver-Harris Amendment of 1962 was enacted
in response to the thalidomide tragedy and required drug
manufacturers to prove the efficacy of their products to the FDA,
in addition to safety, before they could be marketed in the U.S..
3. Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Q: Which of the following is a critical check before
dispensing medication?
o A. Checking the drug's color
o B. Verifying patient's name and date of birth
o C. Assessing the taste of the medication
o D. Confirming the price of the drug
Correct Answer: B. Verifying patient's name and date of birth
Rationale: Verifying the patient’s identity using at least two
identifiers, such as their full name and date of birth, is a crucial
safety step to prevent medication errors and ensure the right
patient receives the right medication.
Q: What is the primary purpose of medication
reconciliation?
