PTCB Exam Study Guide (2026) — PTCE 4 Domains & Pharmacy Calculations

Study the PTCE's four domains with worked pharmacy calculations and nine self-check questions. This PTCB exam study guide follows the January 2026 content outline in nine chapters: medications, federal requirements, patient safety and quality assurance, and order entry and processing. Each self-check explains the correct answer and why the other options do not fit. In 48.0 minutes, review the distinctions that change an answer: a side effect versus an allergy, an opened insulin pen versus a vial, one controlled-substance deadline versus another, and a daily dose versus a dose to give. The four domains: • Medications (35%): generic and brand names, drug classes, duplications and interactions; strengths, forms, routes, effects and indications; stability and storage. • Federal Requirements (18.75%): pharmaceutical waste, DEA schedules and prescription rules, controlled-substance handling, pseudoephedrine, REMS, recalls and DSCSA. • Patient Safety and Quality Assurance (23.75%): high-alert and look-alike/sound-alike drugs, error prevention, pharmacist intervention, event reporting and infection prevention. • Order Entry and Processing (22.5%): conversions, dose and days-supply calculations, concentration and dilution, Sig codes and medical terminology, equipment, lot numbers, expiration dates, NDC and returns. How to use it: • Use the timed pause to answer each self-check before the explanation; pause the video if you need longer. • Work calculations on paper with units beside every step. Keep per-day and per-dose amounts separate. • Use the chapters to revisit an uncertain topic, then explain why the other answers do not fit. • Keep the conditions with each rule: product labels differ, and state examples are not nationwide rules. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:16 1 05:28 2 11:13 3 16:00 4 21:02 5 25:57 6 31:45 7 36:41 8 42:36 9 Calculations are hypothetical study exercises, not treatment recommendations. Your state board of pharmacy defines a technician's legal scope of practice. #PTCB #PTCE #pharmacytechnician #CPhT #pharmacytech This is exam preparation only, not medical or legal advice. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. PTCB®, PTCE®, Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination® and CPhT™ are trademarks of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.