Free PEBC Pharmacist Qualifying Examination — Part I (MCQ) Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the PEBC Pharmacist Qualifying Examination — Part I (MCQ) practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A pharmacist is obtaining a best possible medication history after a hospital discharge. The patient brings a medication list but is unsure whether it is current. Which approach best establishes the medication history?

   1. A.Interview the patient and verify use against another reliable medication source.Correct answer: A
   2. B.Transcribe the discharge list and use it as the patient's current medication history.
   3. C.Copy the community dispensing record and use its directions as current medication use.
   4. D.Use the previous clinic list and update it from the most recent refill dates.

   Explanation: The source states, "Obtaining the BPMH involves gathering information about the patient's medication regimen from various sources and interviewing the patient or a caregiver." An interview combined with source verification establishes use; none of the documentary records alone establishes what this patient currently takes.

   Reference: ISMP Canada Primary Care Medication Reconciliation Guide — Collect the Best Possible Medication History

2. 2A pharmacist enters a half-milligram dose into the dispensing system. Which dose notation follows the recommended use of a leading zero and avoidance of trailing zeros?

   1. A..5 mg
   2. B.0.50 mg
   3. C.0.5 mgCorrect answer: C
   4. D.0.500 mg

   Explanation: The source states, "Use X Never use zeroes after a decimal point. Use 0.X Always use a zero before a decimal point." The compliant form is 0.5 mg. A omits the leading zero; B and D introduce trailing zeros. Both rules are needed to select the single notation.

   Reference: ISMP Canada Do Not Use List (2025) — Numeric representations or dose designations

3. 3A pharmacist evaluates a drug with first-order elimination and an elimination rate constant of 0.1155 h−1. What is its elimination half-life, to two decimal places?

   1. A.0.08 hours
   2. B.0.17 hours
   3. C.6.00 hoursCorrect answer: C
   4. D.8.66 hours

   Explanation: The PEBC sheet gives the relevant formula: " 0.693 𝑡1/2 = 𝑘𝑒" Use t1/2 = 0.693/ke = 0.693/(0.1155 h−1) = 6.00 hours. A multiplies 0.693 by ke; B reverses numerator and denominator; D uses 1/ke and omits 0.693.

   Reference: PEBC Part I Reference Formula Sheet — p. 1, reference formulas

4. 4After explaining a new medicine, a pharmacist asks the patient to describe in their own words how they will take it at home, then corrects a misunderstanding. Which communication method is being used?

   1. A.Motivational interviewing
   2. B.SBAR communication
   3. C.Teach-backCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Shared decision making

   Explanation: AHRQ states, "The teach-back method is a way of checking understanding by asking patients to state in their own words what they need to know or do about their health." Asking the patient to explain the plan in their own words checks understanding. Motivational interviewing explores motivation, SBAR structures information transfer, and shared decision making compares choices with the patient; those are distinct methods.

   Reference: AHRQ Health Literacy Toolkit: Use the Teach-Back Method — Overview

5. 5At an immunization clinic, a healthy adult needs MMR and monovalent varicella vaccines. They will not be administered on the same day. What general minimum interval should be planned between these live parenteral vaccines?

   1. A.1 week
   2. B.2 weeks
   3. C.4 weeksCorrect answer: C
   4. D.6 weeks

   Explanation: The guide states, "In general, if two live parenteral vaccines are not administered concurrently, there should be a period of at least 4 weeks before the second live parenteral vaccine is given." The minimum interval is four weeks. One and two weeks are too short; six weeks satisfies the interval but is not the minimum asked for. This pair avoids the smallpox-vaccine exceptions described in the guide.

   Reference: Canadian Immunization Guide: Timing of Vaccine Administration — Concurrent administration, Live vaccines

6. 6A community pharmacist discovers a theft of narcotics from the pharmacy. Under section 42 of Canada's Narcotic Control Regulations, what is the latest deadline for reporting it to the Minister?

   1. A.3 days after discovery
   2. B.7 days after discovery
   3. C.10 days after discoveryCorrect answer: C
   4. D.30 days after discovery

   Explanation: The source states, "A pharmacist shall report to the Minister any loss or theft of a narcotic within 10 days of his discovery thereof." Ten days from discovery is the federal pharmacist deadline. Other duties or local procedures may require earlier action; the question asks for the stated federal reporting limit.

   Reference: Narcotic Control Regulations (Canada) — section 42, Loss or theft — report

7. 7During medication reconciliation, a patient says the label directs metformin twice daily, but they take it once daily because of diarrhea. Which entry should the pharmacist make to capture current use?

   1. A.Metformin twice daily, using the prescribed schedule as the current-use record.
   2. B.Metformin once daily, with the difference from the prescribed schedule noted.Correct answer: B
   3. C.Metformin withheld, using the reported adverse effect as evidence of discontinuation.
   4. D.Metformin frequency unconfirmed, using the next refill date to establish current use.

   Explanation: The source states, "clearly document the actual medication use and note that it differs from the prescriber's original intent." The patient has described once-daily use. Recording the discrepancy preserves both actual use and prescribed intent without inventing discontinuation.

   Reference: ISMP Canada Primary Care Medication Reconciliation Guide — Collect the BPMH, documentation

8. 8A prescription calls for levothyroxine 0.075 mg once daily for 28 days. The selected tablet strength is 25 micrograms. How many tablets are required?

   1. A.3 tablets
   2. B.28 tablets
   3. C.840 tablets
   4. D.84 tabletsCorrect answer: D

   Explanation: NAPRA requires, "Perform accurate calculations required in pharmacy practice." The SI prefix table gives "10−3 milli m" and "10−6 micro µ". Hence 1 mg = 1,000 micrograms. Dose = 0.075 × 1,000 = 75 micrograms; daily tablets = 75/25 = 3; total = 3 × 28 = 84 tablets. A omits the 28 days; B assumes one tablet daily; C converts 0.075 mg incorrectly to 750 micrograms and obtains 30 × 28 = 840.

   Reference: NAPRA Entry-to-Practice Competencies — 1.6.3, Review and process prescriptions

9. 9For a drug following a one-compartment linear model, the infusion rate is 12 mg/hour, the elimination rate constant is 0.10 h−1 and volume of distribution is 40 L. What steady-state concentration is predicted?

   1. A.0.03 mg/L
   2. B.0.30 mg/L
   3. C.48.0 mg/L
   4. D.3.00 mg/LCorrect answer: D

   Explanation: The reference sheet displays the adjacent formula fragments, "𝐶𝑠𝑠 = 𝐶𝑝𝑘 = 𝑡1/2 = 𝑅0 𝑘𝑒 𝑉𝑑" Reading the two-column layout gives Css = R0/(ke × Vd). Thus 12 mg/h ÷ (0.10 h−1 × 40 L) = 3.00 mg/L. A multiplies by ke instead of dividing; B omits ke; C multiplies rate, ke and Vd instead of using clearance in the denominator.

   Reference: PEBC Part I Reference Formula Sheet — p. 1, reference formulas

10. 10A pharmacist discusses two reasonable therapies, compares their benefits and harms with the patient, and elicits what matters most to the patient before they choose together. Which approach describes this partnership?

    1. A.Medication reconciliation
    2. B.Teach-back
    3. C.Motivational interviewing
    4. D.Shared decision makingCorrect answer: D

    Explanation: AHRQ states, "AHRQ defines shared decision making (SDM) as a collaborative process in which patients and clinicians work together to make healthcare decisions informed by evidence, the care team's knowledge and experience, and the patient's values, goals, preferences, and circumstances." Comparing evidence-based options in light of patient values and choosing together is shared decision making. Reconciliation resolves medication-list discrepancies, teach-back checks understanding, and motivational interviewing explores motivation for change.

    Reference: AHRQ: About Shared Decision Making — Definition of shared decision making