PTCB study guide: what to study

Brand and generic names, drug classes, interactions, doses and dosage forms, side effects, uses, stability and storage.

35% of the exam, about 28 of the 80 scored questions (our math: share × 80). Source: PTCB, PTCE Content Outline, effective January 6, 2026 (PDF)

• Generic/brand names and drug classes Lesson: Brand names, generic names and drug classes: how to match them fast· 5 min
• Therapeutic duplications Lesson: Therapeutic duplication: when two prescriptions do the same job· 5 min
• Drug interactions and contraindications Lesson: Drug interactions and contraindications: the five types and the big ones· 6 min
• Strengths, dosage forms, routes and administrationMath Lesson: How strength, dosage form and label directions tell a patient how to take a drug· 5 min
• Side effects, adverse effects and allergies Lesson: How to tell a common side effect from a severe reaction or a true drug allergy· 5 min
• Indications Lesson: How to match a medication to the condition it is indicated for· 5 min
• Drug stabilityMath Lesson: Drug stability: how long mixed, opened and in-use products last· 5 min
• Storage of medications Lesson: Medication storage: temperature ranges, light protection and restricted access· 5 min

Federal law only: waste disposal, controlled substance rules and schedules, pseudoephedrine limits and REMS, recalls, and drug tracing (DSCSA).

18.75% of the exam, about 15 of the 80 scored questions (our math: share × 80). Source: PTCB, PTCE Content Outline, effective January 6, 2026 (PDF)

• Storage, handling and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous substances Lesson: Pharmaceutical waste: P-listed drugs, the sewer ban and safe disposal· 5 min
• Controlled substance prescriptions and DEA schedulesMath Lesson: Controlled substance prescriptions: schedules, refills, partial fills and transfers· 6 min
• Controlled substance handling: ordering to destruction Lesson: Controlled substances from order to destruction: DEA Forms 222, 106 and 41· 6 min
• Restricted drug programs (pseudoephedrine, REMS)Math Lesson: How federal law restricts pseudoephedrine sales and REMS drugs· 5 min
• FDA recalls Lesson: How FDA drug recalls work and what the pharmacy does· 4 min
• DSCSA: serialization, tracing and quarantine Lesson: How the DSCSA tracks prescription drugs and what the pharmacy must do· 5 min

Preventing errors: high-alert and look-alike drugs, error-prevention habits, when to get the pharmacist, event reporting and infection prevention.

23.75% of the exam, about 19 of the 80 scored questions (our math: share × 80). Source: PTCB, PTCE Content Outline, effective January 6, 2026 (PDF)

• High-alert and look-alike/sound-alike drugs Lesson: Which drugs are high-alert, and why are look-alike names dangerous?· 5 min
• Error prevention strategies Lesson: Which habits stop medication errors before they reach the patient?· 5 min
• Issues needing pharmacist interventionMath Lesson: Which situations must a pharmacy technician hand to the pharmacist?· 5 min
• Event reporting (MedWatch, VAERS, RCA, CQI) Lesson: How do pharmacies report errors and adverse events?· 5 min
• Types of prescription errorsMath Lesson: How do you spot the main types of prescription errors?· 5 min
• Infection prevention and cleaning Lesson: How do pharmacy technicians prevent infection and contamination?· 5 min

Filling the prescription: calculations, Sig codes and abbreviations, supplies, NDC, lot and expiration numbers, and returns.

22.5% of the exam, about 18 of the 80 scored questions (our math: share × 80). Source: PTCB, PTCE Content Outline, effective January 6, 2026 (PDF)

• Pharmacy calculations, Sig codes and abbreviationsMath Lesson 1: How to work out days' supply, quantity, dose volume and conversions· 5 minLesson 2: How to read Sig codes, Roman numerals and medical terms on a prescription· 5 min
• Drug administration equipment and suppliesMath Lesson: Drug administration supplies: syringes, pens, spacers and more· 5 min
• Lot numbers, expiration dates and NDC numbersMath Lesson: How to read an NDC, a lot number and an expiration date· 5 min
• Returns: dispensable, non-dispensable, expired Lesson: Returns: dispensable vs non-dispensable stock and reverse distributors· 5 min