Pharmacy Technician Prometric exam questions with answers

1. Question 1Pharmacology and Drug Classifications for Technicianseasy

   A technician notices that metoprolol, bisoprolol and atenolol all end in -olol. Which drug class does this suffix indicate?

   1. AAngiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
   2. BBeta-adrenergic blockers
   3. CAngiotensin II receptor blockers
   4. DDihydropyridine calcium channel blockers
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: B. Beta-adrenergic blockers

   The -olol suffix identifies beta-adrenergic blockers, used for hypertension, angina, heart failure and arrhythmias. ACE inhibitors end in -pril, ARBs in -sartan and dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers in -dipine, so recognising stems helps technicians spot selection and duplication errors.

2. Question 2Top Medications, Brand-Generic Recognition and Therapeutic Equivalencehard

   Which of the following is an example of therapeutic substitution rather than generic substitution?

   1. ASupplying a generic amlodipine 5 mg tablet for a prescribed branded amlodipine 5 mg
   2. BSupplying omeprazole 20 mg capsules from a different licensed manufacturer
   3. CSupplying generic metformin 500 mg tablets for prescribed generic metformin 500 mg
   4. DSupplying atorvastatin instead of prescribed rosuvastatin under an approved formulary protocol
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. Supplying atorvastatin instead of prescribed rosuvastatin under an approved formulary protocol

   Therapeutic substitution means supplying a different active ingredient from the same class with similar therapeutic effect, which requires prescriber agreement or an approved protocol. Exchanging a branded product for a generic of the same drug, strength and dosage form, or switching between manufacturers of the same molecule, is generic substitution.

3. Question 3Pharmaceutical Calculations and Dosage Computationmedium

   A prescription is for amoxicillin 375 mg three times daily for 7 days. The oral suspension available is 250 mg/5 mL. What volume is needed per dose, and what total volume should be supplied?

   1. A7.5 mL per dose; 157.5 mL in total
   2. B7.5 mL per dose; 52.5 mL in total
   3. C5 mL per dose; 105 mL in total
   4. D15 mL per dose; 315 mL in total
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: A. 7.5 mL per dose; 157.5 mL in total

   Each dose is 375 / 250 x 5 mL = 7.5 mL. Three doses a day for 7 days is 21 doses, so 21 x 7.5 = 157.5 mL is needed. A total of 52.5 mL counts only one dose per day, a common error when the frequency is overlooked.

4. Question 4Pharmaceutical Calculations and Dosage Computationhard

   An antibiotic is prescribed as 1 g in 100 mL of sodium chloride 0.9% to be infused over 30 minutes using a gravity giving set with a drop factor of 20 drops/mL. What drip rate is required?

   1. A33 drops/min
   2. B200 drops/min
   3. C67 drops/min
   4. D3 drops/min
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: C. 67 drops/min

   Drip rate = volume x drop factor / time in minutes = 100 x 20 / 30 = 66.7, rounded to 67 drops/min. A rate of 33 drops/min would deliver the infusion over 60 minutes, and 200 drops/min is the hourly volume in mL/h, not a drop rate.

5. Question 5Prescription Processing, Order Entry, Interpretation and Dispensingeasy

   A prescription direction reads '1 tab po bid pc'. How should this be written on the label?

   1. ATake ONE tablet by mouth TWICE a day before food
   2. BTake ONE tablet by mouth THREE times a day after food
   3. CTake ONE tablet by mouth TWICE a day after food
   4. DTake ONE tablet by mouth at BEDTIME after food
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: C. Take ONE tablet by mouth TWICE a day after food

   'po' means by mouth, 'bid' means twice daily and 'pc' (post cibum) means after food, so the label should read one tablet by mouth twice a day after food. 'ac' (ante cibum) means before food and 'tid' means three times a day, which are frequent misreadings.

6. Question 6Non-Sterile Compounding and Extemporaneous Preparationmedium

   A technician must mix 50 mg of a potent drug powder uniformly into 50 g of lactose diluent. Which technique ensures even distribution?

   1. AGeometric dilution, adding diluent in amounts equal to the mixture
   2. BAdding all the lactose to the drug at once and mixing for a longer time
   3. CLevigating the powder with mineral oil before adding all the lactose
   4. DSifting the drug onto the top of the lactose and shaking in a bag
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: A. Geometric dilution, adding diluent in amounts equal to the mixture

   Geometric dilution starts with the potent drug and an approximately equal amount of diluent, then repeatedly adds diluent equal to the volume of the mixture, which gives a uniform distribution of a small amount of drug. Adding all the diluent at once is the tempting shortcut, but it leaves pockets of high and low drug concentration even with prolonged mixing.

7. Question 7Sterile Compounding, Aseptic Technique and IV Admixturemedium

   When withdrawing solution from a rubber-stoppered vial, which needle insertion technique minimises the risk of coring?

   1. AInsert the needle bevel down at a 90 degree angle with a quick stab
   2. BInsert the needle at the edge of the stopper with the bevel facing outward
   3. CInsert the needle through the same puncture site several times
   4. DBevel up at about 45 degrees, then raise the needle upright
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. Bevel up at about 45 degrees, then raise the needle upright

   Coring is avoided by placing the bevel tip on the stopper bevel up at about 45 degrees and raising the needle to vertical as it penetrates, so the heel does not punch out a fragment. Repeated punctures through the same site and straight perpendicular stabs increase the risk of cutting a core of rubber into the solution.

8. Question 8Dosage Forms, Formulation Science and Drug Delivery Deviceshard

   A patient using a transdermal fentanyl patch asks whether he can use an electric heating pad on the same area for back pain. Why should the technician refer this to the pharmacist with a warning against heat?

   1. AHeat destroys the fentanyl in the patch, causing loss of pain control
   2. BHeat increases skin blood flow and fentanyl release, risking opioid toxicity
   3. CHeat makes the patch adhesive fail, so the patch falls off early
   4. DHeat converts fentanyl into an inactive metabolite in the skin
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: B. Heat increases skin blood flow and fentanyl release, risking opioid toxicity

   External heat sources such as heating pads, hot baths, saunas or fever increase skin blood flow and drug release from the reservoir, which can raise fentanyl absorption and cause respiratory depression. The concern is overdose, not loss of effect, so warning the patient about heat is a key counselling point.

9. Question 9Inventory Management, Procurement, Storage and Supply Chainmedium

   At the start of the day, a technician finds the vaccine refrigerator's maximum temperature reading overnight was 11 C. What is the most appropriate action?

   1. AQuarantine the stock, record the excursion and seek advice
   2. BDiscard all the vaccines immediately and order replacement stock
   3. CContinue using the stock because the current reading is back in range
   4. DMove the stock to the freezer to bring the temperature down quickly
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: A. Quarantine the stock, record the excursion and seek advice

   A cold chain excursion above 8 C requires the affected stock to be isolated and labelled, the readings documented and the pharmacist or manufacturer consulted, because many vaccines remain usable after short excursions. Immediate disposal may waste viable stock, while continued use or freezing risks giving ineffective vaccines.

10. Question 10Pharmacy Law, Regulation and Controlled Substances (GCC and International)hard

    During a weekly check, a technician finds the physical stock of morphine 10 mg ampoules is two fewer than the running balance in the controlled drug register. What is the correct action?

    1. ACorrect the balance in the register with correction fluid and initial it
    2. BAdjust the balance quietly at the time of the next delivery
    3. CReport it at once to the pharmacist in charge without altering entries
    4. DRecord the two ampoules as broken and continue the check
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: C. Report it at once to the pharmacist in charge without altering entries

    Controlled drug discrepancies must be reported immediately to the responsible pharmacist and investigated, and register entries must never be obliterated or altered; any correction is made by a dated, signed marginal note or footnote. Recording unexplained losses as breakages without evidence would conceal a possible diversion and is a serious breach.

11. Question 11Patient Safety, Professionalism, Ethics, Infection Control and Scope of Practiceeasy

    Before handing out a dispensed prescription at a hospital outpatient counter, which method of patient identification is most appropriate?

    1. AAsk 'Are you Mr Ahmed?' and wait for the patient to confirm
    2. BAsk the patient to state full name and date of birth
    3. CCheck that the patient is holding the correct queue ticket
    4. DConfirm the patient's diagnosis matches the medication
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: B. Ask the patient to state full name and date of birth

    At least two patient identifiers, such as full name and date of birth, should be checked, using open questions so the patient states the details rather than agreeing to a suggested name. Closed questions such as 'Are you Mr Ahmed?' invite a confused or anxious patient to say yes, which is a recognised cause of wrong-patient errors.

12. Question 12Over-the-Counter Products, Self-Care and Patient Interactioneasy

    A 55-year-old man asks for a cough syrup. He has had a cough for 5 weeks with night sweats and unintentional weight loss. What is the most appropriate response?

    1. ASell a dextromethorphan cough syrup and advise review in 2 weeks
    2. BSell a guaifenesin expectorant and advise extra fluids
    3. CRecommend honey and lemon drinks and steam inhalation
    4. DRefer him to the pharmacist for an urgent referral to a doctor
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: D. Refer him to the pharmacist for an urgent referral to a doctor

    A cough lasting more than 3 weeks with night sweats and weight loss is a red flag for conditions such as tuberculosis or lung cancer, so the patient must be referred rather than treated with OTC products. Selling a cough suppressant would delay diagnosis of a potentially serious or infectious condition.

13. Question 13Hospital and Institutional Pharmacy Practice, Automation and Informaticsmedium

    A nurse uses the override function on an automated dispensing cabinet to remove a medicine before the pharmacist has verified the order. When is this appropriate?

    1. AWhenever the ward is busy and the pharmacist is slow to verify orders
    2. BWhenever the medicine is a high-alert drug that needs to be given quickly
    3. CWhenever the patient has received the same medicine on a previous admission
    4. DOnly in a genuine emergency, with retrospective pharmacist review
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: D. Only in a genuine emergency, with retrospective pharmacist review

    Override access bypasses the pharmacist's prospective order review and should be limited to emergencies or a defined list of urgent medicines, with every override reviewed retrospectively. Using override for convenience, or for high-alert drugs, removes an important safety check and is a known contributor to medication errors.

14. Question 14Drug Information, Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Event Reportingmedium

    A patient started on a new antihypertensive 2 weeks ago reports a rash. The technician is unsure whether the drug caused it. What should happen regarding pharmacovigilance reporting?

    1. ASubmit a suspected ADR report; proof of causality is not needed
    2. BNo report is needed until a doctor confirms that the drug caused the rash
    3. CA report is only needed if the reaction is already listed in the leaflet
    4. DA report is only needed if the patient was admitted to hospital
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: A. Submit a suspected ADR report; proof of causality is not needed

    Spontaneous reporting systems ask for suspected adverse reactions, so a reasonable suspicion is enough, and the regulator assesses causality from pooled reports. Waiting for confirmation, or only reporting known or serious reactions, leads to under-reporting, which is the main weakness of pharmacovigilance systems.

15. Question 15Pharmaceutical Calculations and Dosage Computationmedium

    A child weighing 18 kg is prescribed paracetamol 15 mg/kg per dose. The oral suspension contains 120 mg/5 mL. What volume should be given per dose?

    1. A2.25 mL
    2. B11.25 mL
    3. C6.75 mL
    4. D22.5 mL
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: B. 11.25 mL

    The dose is 15 x 18 = 270 mg, and 270 / 120 x 5 mL = 11.25 mL. A result of 2.25 mL comes from forgetting to multiply by the 5 mL volume, which would give less than a quarter of the intended dose.

Last reviewed September 2026. Questions are original and written to the published exam blueprint; they are not taken from any real paper.