Mock paper #2

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: #2of 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 #2

Circle one letter for each question.

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Paper #2

80 questions. 110 minutes.

1

Where does a transcribing error occur?

AWhen the prescriber writes the prescription
BWhen the patient takes the medication
CWhen the prescription is entered into a system
DWhen the product is selected from the shelf

2

What can an unreadable barcode indicate?

AA scanner in need of calibration only
BA product that has expired
CA product not stocked by that pharmacy
DDamaged packaging, repackaging or a counterfeit

3

May a technician override a clinical alert?

AYes, where the alert has been seen before on that profile
BYes, where the pharmacist is unavailable at that moment
CYes, provided the override reason is documented
DNo

Worked explanations

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

Q1 C Ch. 3: Patient Safety and Quality Assurance

Answer: C - When the prescription is entered into a system

Because The correct answer is: When the prescription is entered into a system. See PTCB Knowledge Reference sec. 3. PTCB Knowledge Reference sec. 3

Where the other options lead

A.Names prescribing. That is the prescribing stage.
B.Names administration. That is the administration stage.
D.Names dispensing. That is the dispensing stage.

Q2 D Ch. 3: Patient Safety and Quality Assurance

Answer: D - Damaged packaging, repackaging or a counterfeit

Because The correct answer is: Damaged packaging, repackaging or a counterfeit. See 21 CFR 201.25. 21 CFR 201.25

Where the other options lead

A.Names one cause. Several causes matter more.
B.Names dating. Expiry does not affect the barcode.
C.Names stock. Stock status does not affect readability.

Q3 D Ch. 1: Medications

Answer: D - No

Because The correct answer is: No. See PTCB Knowledge Reference sec. 3. PTCB Knowledge Reference sec. 3

Where the other options lead

A.Uses familiarity. Recurrence does not make it a technician decision.
B.Uses availability. The decision waits for the pharmacist.
C.Uses documentation. Documenting an override does not authorise it.

Worked explanations

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

Q1 C Ch. 3: Patient Safety and Quality Assurance

Answer: C - When the prescription is entered into a system

Because The correct answer is: When the prescription is entered into a system. See PTCB Knowledge Reference sec. 3. PTCB Knowledge Reference sec. 3

Where the other options lead

A.Names prescribing. That is the prescribing stage.
B.Names administration. That is the administration stage.
D.Names dispensing. That is the dispensing stage.

Q2 D Ch. 3: Patient Safety and Quality Assurance

Answer: D - Damaged packaging, repackaging or a counterfeit

Because The correct answer is: Damaged packaging, repackaging or a counterfeit. See 21 CFR 201.25. 21 CFR 201.25

Where the other options lead

A.Names one cause. Several causes matter more.
B.Names dating. Expiry does not affect the barcode.
C.Names stock. Stock status does not affect readability.

Q3 D Ch. 1: Medications

Answer: D - No

Because The correct answer is: No. See PTCB Knowledge Reference sec. 3. PTCB Knowledge Reference sec. 3

Where the other options lead

A.Uses familiarity. Recurrence does not make it a technician decision.
B.Uses availability. The decision waits for the pharmacist.
C.Uses documentation. Documenting an override does not authorise it.

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.