About the Author David Boblenz is a pharmacist with more than 13 years of industry experience. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1997. Please address any correspondence concerning this publication to [email protected]. Disclaimer This book is intended to be used as a study guide and does not guarantee successful completion of any pharmacy technician certification examination. This guide is designed to assist with exam preparation and is not intended to replace other study materials or academic texts. The practice tests are the opinions of the author and have not been tested, reviewed or endorsed by any organization. While every attempt has been made to include accurate and up-to-date information, it is possible changes and amendments have been made since publication. This book is not to be used as a reference for patient care. © 2011, PharmacyTechnicianCertification.com. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without written permission from PharmacyTechnicianCertification.com. CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE EXAMS Table of Contents Chapter One The Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination ................................ 3 Studying for the Exam ....................................................................................................... 4 Pharmacy Technician Certification Testing Services ......................................................... 6 Scheduling the Test ........................................................................................................... 9 Taking the Test .................................................................................................................. 9 Chapter Two Role of the Pharmacy Technician.............................................................. 10 Prescription Orders.......................................................................................................... 11 Working with Medications ................................................................................................ 14 Inventory .......................................................................................................................... 16 Pharmacy Resources ...................................................................................................... 18 Chapter Three Pharmacy Law ............................................................................................. 19 Major Pharmacy Law Timeline ........................................................................................ 19 Drug Schedules ............................................................................................................... 24 Controlled Substance Prescriptions................................................................................. 25 How to Verify a Prescriber’s DEA Number ...................................................................... 28 Limitations of Pharmacy Technician Duties ..................................................................... 29 Chapter Four Compounding Principles ........................................................................... 30 Non-Sterile Compounding ............................................................................................... 30 Balances and Compounding Equipment ......................................................................... 31 Principles of Compounding Liquids ................................................................................. 35 Sterile Compounding ....................................................................................................... 36 Definitions of Parenteral Products ................................................................................... 37 PharmacyTechnicianCertification.com Page 1 of 136 CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE EXAMS Laminar Flow Hoods ........................................................................................................ 41 Chapter Five Medication Classes..................................................................................... 44 Chapter Six Top 100 Drugs ............................................................................................. 60 Chapter Seven Common Pharmaceutical Terms and Abbreviations ............................... 64 Chapter Eight Pharmacy Calculations .............................................................................. 72 Numeric Systems ............................................................................................................ 72 Variables and Fractions ................................................................................................... 74 Conversions to Memorize ................................................................................................ 77 Ratio and Proportions ...................................................................................................... 78 Solving proportion problems ............................................................................................ 80 Concentrations ....................................................................................................... 80 Percents ................................................................................................................. 82 Flow Rate/Rate of Administration ........................................................................... 84 Alligations ........................................................................................................................ 85 Business Math ................................................................................................................. 89 Chapter Nine Practice Tests and Answers ...................................................................... 89 Practice Test #1............................................................................................................... 89 Practice Test #1 Answers ...............................................................................................112 Practice Test #2..............................................................................................................113 Practice Test #2 Answers ...............................................................................................136 PharmacyTechnicianCertification.com Page 2 of 136 CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE EXAMS Chapter One The Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination Pharmacy technician certification helps create a standard by which pharmacy technicians can be held accountable, as well as common ground for continuing education. When a pharmacy hires a certified pharmacy technician, it knows the employee has an established skill set to effectively work in the pharmacy. There are two recognized national pharmacy technician certification examinations: the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), which is offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT), offered by the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT). These examinations will test your knowledge and skills sets in three primary areas: • Helping the pharmacist serve patients • Maintaining inventory and medication control systems • Pharmacy practices, management and administration As of 2010, the PTCE test has 100 multiple-choice questions, each of which has four choices with only one accurate answer. It’s a good idea to answer every question, even if you’re not certain of the answer, because final results are based upon the number of correct answers. You are given two hours to finish the PTCE. The ExCPT test has 90 multiple-choice questions. Like the PTCE test, there are four possible answers, but only one correct answer. Both tests offer questions in a random order. PharmacyTechnicianCertification.com Page 3 of 136 CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE EXAMS Studying for the Exam Use this book as a guideline to develop a topical study plan. Remember this book should be used in conjunction with your pharmacy technician education and on-the-job-training; it is not designed to act as a stand-alone guide for the pharmacy technician certification exam. Potential study outline topics may include: • Aseptic technique • Antibiotic reconstitution • Calculations − Weight − Volume − Temperature − Time − Additives − Ratios and percentages − Dose changes − Prescription pricing • Compounding − Terminology − Equipment − Types of compounding solutions − IV setting • Customer service skills PharmacyTechnicianCertification.com Page 4 of 136 CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE EXAMS • Drugs − Interactions and incompatibilities − Disposal and storage requirements − Trade names − Generic names − Commonly used drugs − Formulations • Duties a pharmacy technician may or may not perform • Formularies • Monitoring and systems of medication distribution − Purchasing procedures, practices and policies − Dosage forms − Packaging − Quality assurance • Pharmacy administration − Written prescription requirements − Prescription label requirements − Internal polices, regulations and procedures • Pharmacy law − Controlled substances − Federal regulations − State regulations PharmacyTechnicianCertification.com Page 5 of 136 CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE EXAMS The practice tests in this book will help you study for the exam and provide examples of potential questions. Make note of questions and topics that you don’t understand or about which you need more information. Pharmacy Technician Certification Testing Services Most states require or will require pharmacy technician certification. Even if your state does not currently require certification, it can demonstrate to your employer that you are a competent professional. As of January 2011, there are two national organizations that offer pharmacy technician certification; you only need to successfully pass one of these tests as recognized by the state in which you plan to practice. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) offers the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). It is currently recognized by 45 state boards of pharmacy. Requirements: • Applicants must be at least 18 years old • High school degree or G.E.D. • No denial by any state board of pharmacy • No drug- or pharmacy-related convictions • No felony convictions • Application fee of $129.00 The Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT) offers the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT). It is recognized by 32 state boards of pharmacy. PharmacyTechnicianCertification.com Page 6 of 136 CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE EXAMS Requirements: • Applicants must be at least 18 years old • High school degree or G.E.D. • No felony convictions • Registration fee of $105.00 The following table can be used to identify if certification is required yet in your state and also which testing service (or both) are approved. States marked with (*) enforce a minimum certified to non-certified technician ratio. Approved Test Approved Test State Certificate Required PTCB ICPT Alabama Optional* Approved Approved Alaska Optional Approved Approved Arizona Yes Approved Seeking Approval Arkansas Optional Approved Approved California Optional Approved Seeking Approval Colorado Optional Seeking Approval Connecticut Yes Approved Approved Delaware Optional Approved Florida Yes (1/1/10) Approved Georgia Optional Approved Hawaii Optional Idaho Yes Approved Approved Illinois Yes Approved Approved Indiana Yes Approved Approved Iowa Yes Approved Approved Kansas Yes Approved Approved Kentucky Optional Approved Approved Louisiana Yes Approved Seeking Approval Maine Optional* Approved Approved Maryland Yes Approved Approved PharmacyTechnicianCertification.com Page 7 of 136 CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE EXAMS Approved Test Approved Test State Certificate Required PTCB ICPT Massachusetts Optional* Approved Approved Michigan Optional Approved Minnesota Optional* Approved Approved Mississippi Optional Approved Approved Missouri Optional Approved Approved Montana Yes Approved Approved Nebraska Optional Approved Approved Nevada Yes Approved Approved New Hampshire Optional Approved Approved New Jersey Yes Approved Approved New Mexico Yes Approved Approved New York Optional Approved North Carolina Optional* Approved Seeking Approval North Dakota Optional Approved Approved Ohio Yes Approved Approved Oklahoma Optional Approved Approved Oregon Yes Approved Approved Pennsylvania Optional Approved Approved Rhode Island Yes Approved Approved South Carolina Yes Approved Approved South Dakota Optional Approved Approved Tennessee Optional* Approved Approved Texas Yes Approved Seeking Approval Utah Yes Approved Approved Vermont Optional Approved Approved Virginia Yes Approved Approved Washington Yes Approved Approved West Virginia Optional Approved Approved Wisconsin Optional Approved Wyoming Yes Approved Seeking Approval PharmacyTechnicianCertification.com Page 8 of 136