Free Pharmacy Technician Qualifying Examination - Part I (MCQ) Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Pharmacy Technician 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 technician is assigned to complete a best possible medication history for a newly admitted patient. The patient has been interviewed, but no other information has been checked. What is the minimum number of additional sources the technician must review?

   1. A.Review at least one other reliable medication-information source.Correct answer: A
   2. B.Review at least two other reliable medication-information sources.
   3. C.Review at least three other reliable medication-information sources.
   4. D.Review at least four other reliable medication-information sources.

   Explanation: The source states, "created using at least two sources of information including a patient interview." One patient interview plus one other source meets the minimum of two sources. Two, three or four additional sources may be useful, but exceed the minimum remaining requirement.

   Reference: NAPRA Entry-to-practice Competencies — p. 30, Best Possible Medication History

2. 2A pharmacy stores vaccines specifically labelled for refrigeration. Which refrigerator temperature band is recommended by the Canadian Immunization Guide?

   1. A.+2°C to +8°CCorrect answer: A
   2. B.+8°C to +15°C
   3. C.+15°C to +25°C
   4. D.−25°C to −15°C

   Explanation: The guidance states, "The storage temperature for refrigerated vaccines and passive immunizing agents is between +2°C and +8°C" The refrigerated range is +2 to +8°C. The warmer ranges are different storage categories, and the subzero band is a freezer range rather than the required refrigerated condition.

   Reference: PHAC Canadian Immunization Guide: Storage and handling — Storage of Vaccines, Refrigerated immunizing agents

3. 3A technician locates an article reporting the investigators' own randomized trial results. Which drug-information resource category describes the article itself?

   1. A.Primary literatureCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Secondary indexing resource
   3. C.Tertiary drug compendium
   4. D.Tertiary practice guideline

   Explanation: The source states, "Primary literature reports original observations or analyses" The original report is primary literature. Indexes locate reports; compendia and guidelines synthesize information. Category alone does not prove study quality.

   Reference: University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy: Drug Information Done Right — Finding Reliable Sources

4. 4After explaining an oral syringe's use, a technician asks a caregiver to describe in their own words how they will measure the dose at home. Which communication method is being used?

   1. A.Teach-backCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Check-back
   3. C.Call-out
   4. D.SBAR

   Explanation: The source 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." The caregiver's explanation checks understanding. Check-back repeats a transmitted message to close a team communication loop; call-out broadcasts critical information; SBAR organizes a handoff.

   Reference: AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, Third Edition: Tool 5 — Overview

5. 5A trained pharmacy team member gives an initial naloxone dose during a suspected opioid overdose and sees no response. According to Health Canada's general advice, after what interval may another dose safely be given if needed?

   1. A.2–3 minutesCorrect answer: A
   2. B.10–15 minutes
   3. C.30–60 minutes
   4. D.90–120 minutes

   Explanation: The source states, "If a response to an initial dose is not seen within 2-3 minutes, subsequent doses can safely be given." The repeat interval is two to three minutes if needed, following kit directions and emergency response. The longer intervals confuse onset/repeat timing with observation or duration of effect.

   Reference: Health Canada: Naloxone Save a Life — What is naloxone?

6. 6A technician is asked to oversee a maintenance contractor entering the controlled-substance storage area while no pharmacist is present. Which federal requirement controls this situation?

   1. A.A pharmacist must supervise access; that responsibility cannot be delegated to the technician.Correct answer: A
   2. B.A technician may supervise access if the contractor signs the visitor register.
   3. C.A technician may supervise access if the contractor provides photographic identification.
   4. D.A technician may supervise access if the contractor has previously serviced the pharmacy.

   Explanation: The guidance states, "Pharmacists must supervise cleaning or maintenance staff if they are accessing an area where controlled substances are stored. This responsibility cannot be delegated to a pharmacy technician." Visitor records, identification and familiarity are genuine security measures but do not replace the required pharmacist supervision.

   Reference: Health Canada CS-GD-022: Managing controlled substances — Security, Restricted access to dispensary

7. 7While taking a medication history in an Ontario primary care clinic, a technician finds that the bottle says one tablet twice daily but the patient reports taking one tablet each evening. Which use should the technician establish for the BPMH?

   1. A.The patient's actual use, documenting its difference from the prescribed directions.Correct answer: A
   2. B.The prescribed use, treating the dispensing label as evidence of doses actually taken.
   3. C.The intended use, treating the prescriber's original order as evidence of doses taken.
   4. D.The supplied use, treating the quantity dispensed as evidence of doses actually taken.

   Explanation: The source states, "Focus on determining how the patient actually uses their medication; not just how the medications were prescribed" The BPMH must capture actual use. A label, original prescription or dispensing quantity cannot establish that the patient took the intended regimen; the discrepancy also needs follow-up.

   Reference: ISMP Canada Primary Care MedRec Guide: Sources of Medication Information — Table 4, Patient/Caregiver Interview

8. 8After a refrigerator excursion, a technician finds a package of affected vaccines. Their usability has not been determined. How should the technician hold this stock while advice is obtained?

   1. A.Segregate it under appropriate cold-chain conditions and mark it DO NOT USE.Correct answer: A
   2. B.Segregate it at controlled room temperature and mark it DO NOT USE.
   3. C.Segregate it in a freezer compartment and mark it DO NOT USE.
   4. D.Segregate it in the receiving bay and mark it DO NOT USE.

   Explanation: The guidance states, "Store the affected vaccine under appropriate cold chain conditions until its integrity is determined." Quarantine does not change the vaccine's required storage conditions. Room-temperature holding, freezing or an uncontrolled receiving bay can add exposure; the decision whether to salvage follows specialist advice.

   Reference: PHAC Canadian Immunization Guide: Storage and handling — Cold chain break management, first step

9. 9A technician checks a case-control report: exposure was present in 30 cases and absent in 70 cases; it was present in 20 controls and absent in 80 controls. What is the case-to-control exposure odds ratio, rounded to two decimals?

   1. A.0.58
   2. B.1.50
   3. C.1.71Correct answer: C
   4. D.1.20

   Explanation: The source states, "To get an odds ratio, the odds for one group are divided by the odds for the other group." Case odds=30/70; control odds=20/80. Ratio=(30×80)/(70×20)=1.714285…=1.71, dimensionless. 0.58 reverses the ratio; 1.50 divides exposed counts 30/20 without unexposed denominators; 1.20 substitutes 30/100 for 30/70 in the case odds. The calculation describes the association, not proof of causation.

   Reference: National Cancer Institute: Cancer Screening Overview (PDQ), Patient Version — How Is Cancer Risk Measured? Odds ratio

10. 10A technician explains device use with a qualified phone interpreter connected. To whom should the technician directly address the explanation?

    1. A.The patientCorrect answer: A
    2. B.The interpreter
    3. C.The accompanying adult
    4. D.The interpreter's supervisor

    Explanation: The source states, "Even with a phone interpreter, speak directly to the patient." The patient remains the direct communication partner. The interpreter conveys the exchange rather than becoming the person to whom care is addressed. A companion or interpreter supervisor does not replace that relationship.

    Reference: CDC Yellow Book: Health Communication with Refugee, Immigrant, and Migrant Communities — Working with professional medical interpreters