Mock paper #1

PTCB Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE)

A full paper drawn to the blueprint. Answers and worked explanations are at the back of this file.

Questions: 80
Time: 110minutes
Mark: 80%our target
Paper: #1of 5

Single-user licence. You may print this file and write on it. You may not redistribute, resell or post it. © Sitonce 2026.

Before you start

Sit this the way you will sit the real one. A mock done in pieces over three evenings measures your notes, not your recall.

Questions

80

Minutes

110

Per question

83s

Started at

Set a timer for 110 minutes and do not stop it. Running over is the commonest way a prepared candidate fails, and the only place you can find that out safely is here.
Mark one answer for each question on the answer sheet.
Answer every question. There is no penalty for a wrong answer. A blank is a guaranteed zero and a guess is not.
Flag anything you are unsure of as you go. When you mark the paper, a question you flagged and got right is worth as much of your attention as one you got wrong - you do not yet know it, you guessed it.
When the timer runs out, turn to the Answers section at the back of this file. Mark the paper against the quick-reference key first, fill in the score table, and only then read the worked explanations.

What this paper covers

Area	Questions	Share
Medications	28	35%
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance	19	24%
Order Entry and Processing	18	23%
Federal Requirements	15	19%
Total	80	100%

Answer sheet - paper #1

Circle one letter for each question.

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Paper #1

80 questions. 110 minutes.

1

What is wrong with stopping at human error?

AIt fails to identify who was responsible
BThe next person will make the same mistake
CIt takes longer than a full analysis
DIt cannot be documented for the record

2

In what two forms must the identifier appear?

APrinted and embossed on the carton
BHuman-readable only, for verification by eye
CHuman-readable and machine-readable
DMachine-readable only, since scanning is required

3

What is a drug-laboratory interaction?

AA drug interferes with the equipment used in the laboratory
BA drug must be stopped before a blood sample is taken
CA drug changes a test result rather than the patient
DA laboratory result prompts a change to the drug regimen

Worked explanations

The paper carries one for every question, at the back. These are the three above.

Q1 B Ch. 3: Patient Safety and Quality Assurance

Answer: B - The next person will make the same mistake

Because The correct answer is: The next person will make the same mistake. See PTCB Knowledge Reference sec. 3. PTCB Knowledge Reference sec. 3

Where the other options lead

A.Names accountability. The person is already identified.
C.Names time. Stopping early is faster and useless.
D.Names records. It can be documented and teaches nothing.

Q2 C Ch. 4: Order Entry and Processing

Answer: C - Human-readable and machine-readable

Because The correct answer is: Human-readable and machine-readable. See 21 CFR 201.25. 21 CFR 201.25

Where the other options lead

A.Names embossing. The requirement is readability.
B.Drops the machine form. A 2D barcode is required.
D.Drops the human form. Both are required.

Q3 C Ch. 1: Medications

Answer: C - A drug changes a test result rather than the patient

Because The correct answer is: A drug changes a test result rather than the patient. See Drug reference ch. 4 (drug interactions). Drug reference ch. 4 (drug interactions)

Where the other options lead

A.Names equipment. The interference is with the assay chemistry.
B.Describes a procedure. That is a consequence rather than the definition.
D.Reverses the direction. That is normal clinical monitoring.

Worked explanations

The paper carries one for every question, at the back. These are the three above.

Q1 B Ch. 3: Patient Safety and Quality Assurance

Answer: B - The next person will make the same mistake

Because The correct answer is: The next person will make the same mistake. See PTCB Knowledge Reference sec. 3. PTCB Knowledge Reference sec. 3

Where the other options lead

A.Names accountability. The person is already identified.
C.Names time. Stopping early is faster and useless.
D.Names records. It can be documented and teaches nothing.

Q2 C Ch. 4: Order Entry and Processing

Answer: C - Human-readable and machine-readable

Because The correct answer is: Human-readable and machine-readable. See 21 CFR 201.25. 21 CFR 201.25

Where the other options lead

A.Names embossing. The requirement is readability.
B.Drops the machine form. A 2D barcode is required.
D.Drops the human form. Both are required.

Q3 C Ch. 1: Medications

Answer: C - A drug changes a test result rather than the patient

Because The correct answer is: A drug changes a test result rather than the patient. See Drug reference ch. 4 (drug interactions). Drug reference ch. 4 (drug interactions)

Where the other options lead

A.Names equipment. The interference is with the assay chemistry.
B.Describes a procedure. That is a consequence rather than the definition.
D.Reverses the direction. That is normal clinical monitoring.

The rest of this mock paper comes with the course

PTCB Exam: the whole syllabus taught, the questions that test it, 5 timed mocks, and all 6 PDFs to print.