Free PTCB Practice Test: 339 Questions on the 2026 PTCE Outline
In short: A free PTCB (PTCE) practice test with 339 original questions written to the PTCE content outline effective January 6, 2026. Take a timed 45-question, 55-minute half-length mock, see your score in each of the four domains, and read a worked explanation for every answer, including calculations. Practice mode and flashcards included. No subscription, no auto-renew, no account.
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PTCB practice test: the facts
| Price | Free. No payment step on this page. |
|---|---|
| Subscription | No subscription, no auto-renew, no card needed. |
| Question bank | 339 original questions, every one with an explanation and the outline section it tests. |
| Timed mock test | 45 questions in 55 minutes, drawn across topics in proportion to the bank; half the real 90 questions and 110 minutes. PTCB reports a scaled score (1400 to pass) with no raw cut, so the 70% pass line here is an estimate. |
| Weak-topic stats | Score by topic after every mock, plus a running weak-topic list from practice mode. |
| Modes | Timed mock, practice mode (instant answer and explanation), flashcards, one-topic drills. |
| Account | Not required. Nothing to sign up for. |
| Access | No time limit and no expiry. |
| Privacy | Your answers and stats stay in your browser (local storage). Nothing is sent to us. |
| Based on | Original questions written to the PTCB PTCE Content Outline effective January 6, 2026 (four knowledge domains: Medications 35%, Federal Requirements 18.75%, Patient Safety and Quality Assurance 23.75%, Order Entry and Processing 22.5%). |
| Checked | November 2026 |
The real PTCB at a glance
| Format | 90 multiple-choice questions: 80 scored and 10 unscored, mixed in at random. |
|---|---|
| Time | 1 hour 50 minutes (about 2 hours in the seat with the tutorial and survey). |
| Passing score | 1400 on a scaled score from 1000 to 1600. PTCB does not publish a raw-score cut. |
| Content | Outline effective Jan 6, 2026: Medications 35%, Patient Safety and Quality Assurance 23.75%, Order Entry and Processing 22.5%, Federal Requirements 18.75%. |
| Fee | $129 (certification application and exam). |
Sources: PTCB: Certified Pharmacy Technician · PTCE content outline (effective Jan 6, 2026). Rules change; confirm with the official source before test day.
The PTCE (Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam) has 90 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour 50 minutes. Its content outline changed on January 6, 2026: Medications now carries 35% and Federal Requirements 18.75%. Our 339 questions follow the new weights, including dosage calculations, controlled-substance rules and look-alike/sound-alike drugs.
Questions by topic
Medications
117 questionsBrand and generic names, classes, interactions, dosage forms, side effects, storage and stability.
Federal Requirements
65 questionsControlled-substance schedules and records, DEA forms, REMS, pseudoephedrine limits, recalls, DSCSA.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
79 questionsHigh-alert and look-alike/sound-alike drugs, error prevention, event reporting, infection control.
Order Entry and Processing
78 questionsSig codes, days supply and dosage calculations, NDC, lot and expiry, equipment, returns.
10 sample PTCB questions with answers
Taken from the bank above. Open each one for the answer and the explanation.
- 1. Medications
Which generic drug is sold under the brand name Lipitor?
- A. Atorvastatin
- B. Simvastatin
- C. Rosuvastatin
- D. Pravastatin
Show answer
Answer: A. Atorvastatin
Lipitor is atorvastatin. Simvastatin (Zocor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor) are other statins and are the most tempting wrong picks because they share the same class and similar use.
Source: PTCE Domain 1 Medications – 1.1 Generic names, brand names, and classifications of medications
- 2. Federal Requirements
Which federal agency regulates hazardous pharmaceutical waste under RCRA?
- A. Drug Enforcement Administration
- B. Environmental Protection Agency
- C. Federal Trade Commission
- D. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Show answer
Answer: B. Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA enforces the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which governs hazardous waste. The DEA regulates controlled substances rather than environmental waste.
Source: PTCE Domain 2 Federal Requirements – 2.1 Federal requirements for storage, handling, and disposal of non-hazardous, hazardous, and pharmacological substances and wastes
- 3. Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Which category of medication is classified by ISMP as a high-alert medication?
- A. Multivitamins
- B. Saline nasal spray
- C. Insulin
- D. Calamine lotion
Show answer
Answer: C. Insulin
High-alert drugs carry a heightened risk of significant patient harm when used in error, and insulin is a core example. Common OTC products rarely cause that level of harm.
Source: PTCE Domain 3 Patient Safety and Quality Assurance – 3.1 High-alert/risk medications and look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) medications
- 4. Order Entry and Processing
What does the sig 'bid' mean?
- A. Three times a day
- B. Twice a day
- C. At bedtime
- D. Every other day
Show answer
Answer: B. Twice a day
Bid stands for bis in die, twice daily. Tid means three times a day and qhs means every night at bedtime.
Source: PTCE Domain 4 Order Entry and Processing – 4.1 Formulas, calculations, ratios, proportions, conversions, Sig codes, abbreviations, medical terminology, and symbols
- 5. Medications
A patient asks for the generic of Lexapro. Which should the technician select?
- A. Citalopram
- B. Fluoxetine
- C. Duloxetine
- D. Escitalopram
Show answer
Answer: D. Escitalopram
Lexapro is escitalopram. Citalopram (Celexa) differs by a single syllable and is a classic mix-up, but it is a separate product.
Source: PTCE Domain 1 Medications – 1.1 Generic names, brand names, and classifications of medications
- 6. Federal Requirements
Which action is NOT allowed with medications a patient returns to a retail pharmacy?
- A. Putting them back into stock for resale
- B. Refusing them under pharmacy policy
- C. Directing the patient to a take-back program
- D. Explaining safe disposal options
Show answer
Answer: A. Putting them back into stock for resale
Dispensed medications leave the pharmacy's control and cannot be resold because storage conditions are unknown. Take-back programs offer safe disposal.
Source: PTCE Domain 2 Federal Requirements – 2.1 Federal requirements for storage, handling, and disposal of non-hazardous, hazardous, and pharmacological substances and wastes
- 7. Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Which pair of medications is often confused because of similar names?
- A. Albuterol and furosemide
- B. Metformin and metronidazole
- C. Lisinopril and prednisone
- D. Alprazolam and amoxicillin
Show answer
Answer: B. Metformin and metronidazole
Metformin and metronidazole look alike on handwritten orders. One treats diabetes and the other treats infections.
Source: PTCE Domain 3 Patient Safety and Quality Assurance – 3.1 High-alert/risk medications and look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) medications
- 8. Order Entry and Processing
The sig 'gtt i OU bid' means:
- A. One drop in both eyes twice a day
- B. One drop in the right ear twice a day
- C. One tablet by mouth twice daily
- D. Two drops in left eye daily
Show answer
Answer: A. One drop in both eyes twice a day
Gtt is drops, OU is both eyes and bid is twice daily. Ear sigs use AU, AD or AS.
Source: PTCE Domain 4 Order Entry and Processing – 4.1 Formulas, calculations, ratios, proportions, conversions, Sig codes, abbreviations, medical terminology, and symbols
- 9. Medications
Coumadin and Jantoven are brand names for which drug?
- A. Heparin
- B. Enoxaparin
- C. Warfarin
- D. Dabigatran
Show answer
Answer: C. Warfarin
Coumadin and Jantoven are warfarin tablets. Enoxaparin (Lovenox) and heparin are injectable anticoagulants, and dabigatran (Pradaxa) is a newer oral agent.
Source: PTCE Domain 1 Medications – 1.1 Generic names, brand names, and classifications of medications
- 10. Federal Requirements
Which drug is classified as Schedule III?
- A. Diazepam
- B. Lorazepam
- C. Carisoprodol
- D. Testosterone
Show answer
Answer: D. Testosterone
Anabolic steroids and testosterone are Schedule III. Diazepam, lorazepam and carisoprodol are Schedule IV.
Source: PTCE Domain 2 Federal Requirements – 2.2 Federal requirements for controlled substance prescriptions and DEA controlled substance schedules
How to use this PTCB practice test
- 1Start with one timed mock to see your score in each of the four domains.
- 2Medications is 35% of the 2026 exam: drill the top brand/generic pairs and classes with flashcards every day.
- 3Do calculation questions on paper; check the worked answer in each explanation.
- 4Review controlled-substance schedules and DEA forms until you get them right every time.
- 5Take a new mock every few days and aim for 75% or more. PTCB reports a scaled score, so no raw cut is published.
Questions people ask
Is this PTCB practice test free?
Yes. All 339 questions, the timed mock, practice mode and flashcards are free, with no subscription, no auto-renew and no account. PTCB itself sells a $29 Pre-PTCE and a $65 Practice Bank if you also want official former questions.
Is this updated for the 2026 PTCE changes?
Yes. The questions are weighted to the PTCE content outline effective January 6, 2026: Medications 35%, Patient Safety 23.75%, Order Entry 22.5%, Federal Requirements 18.75%.
How many questions are on the PTCB exam and how long is it?
90 multiple-choice questions (80 scored, 10 unscored) in 1 hour 50 minutes. Our timed mock is half-length: 45 questions in 55 minutes, split across the four domains by their weight.
What score do I need to pass the PTCB?
A scaled score of 1400 on a 1000–1600 scale. PTCB does not publish how many raw questions that is. On this page a mock counts as a pass at 70%, but aim higher to be safe.
Are the math questions on the PTCB hard?
They are mostly days supply, dose, concentration, dilution and conversion problems. Every calculation question here shows the worked solution in its explanation.
Are these real PTCB questions?
No. These are original questions written to the public PTCE outline. Real exam questions are confidential.
More free practice
Want cards from your own notes or textbook instead? Make drug flashcards from your own notes.