1. Week 1 General Meeting Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE)
Pre-Pharmacy Society
Week 1 General Meeting
Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE)

2. Announcements Wayzgoose Boothing (10am-5pm)
Interested in boothing at Celebrate UCI festival on April 20th?
Contact Kristin at

3. Announcements Food Truck Social
Meet at flagpoles at 630pm on Tuesday of next week! (4/9)

4. Announcements PPS End of the Year Banquet
Will be on Saturday June 1st, 2013
Free for members Pricing for guest is TBA

5. This Week's Social Karaoke at Plush
Come out and sing your hearts out (OR RAP!!) with your fellow members at Plush Karaoke lounge in Diamond Jamboree!
Boba at Lollicup

6. Drug of the Week
Brand Name : Namenda
Generic Name : ________

7. Drug of the Week Brand Name : Namenda Generic Name : Memantine
Use: Treatment of _______'s Disease

8. Drug of the Week Brand Name : Namenda Generic Name : Memantine
Use: Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
Dosage Form : 5 mg tablet, 10 mg tablet, ____ mg/mL oral solution

9. Drug of the Week Brand Name : Namenda Generic Name : Memantine
Use: Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
Dosage Form : 5 mg tablet, 10 mg tablet, 2 mg/mL oral solution

10. Drug of the Week Brand Name : Namenda Generic Name : Memantine
Use : Treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Dosage Form : 5 mg tablet, 10 mg tablet, 2 mg/mL oral solution
Serious Side Effects : Varies from coughing, increased heartbeat, hallucination, loss of coordination, muscle weakness, seizure, etc
MoA: Low - Moderate NMDA (N-Methyl-D -aspartate) receptor antagonist which selectively block effects associated w/ abnormal transmission of NT glutamate g

11. RECAP
Norcal Trip
Visited UoP, UCSF, Touro, and Northstate

12. ICEBREAKER WATERMELON!! 1. Make a circle out of your family!
To pass left: move right hand across your face to the left while making a slurping sound
To pass right: move left hand across your face to the right while making a slurping sound
to skip to the left: move your right hand upwards towards your face while making an "AHHH" noise
to skip to the right: move your left hand upwards towards your face while making an "AHHH" noise

13. Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE)

14. What is the PTCE? Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam
Fulfills the "Qualifying Documentation" requirement for the application to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)

15. Who can apply for licensure?
Anyone who has a...
High school diploma or GED
Can disclose all criminal and State Board of Pharmacy registration/licensure actions
Comply with all applicable PTCB certification policies
Passing score on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE)

16. When can you take the PTCE?
There are many different times you will be able to choose from to take the examination.
No set time in the year you must take your examination.

17. Where can you take the PTCE?
Pearson VUE Professional Centers
Closest Centers
Lake Forest miles away from Irvine
Anaheim miles away from Irvine

18. Logistics 90 Multiple Choice Questions
110 Minutes to answer (1 hour and 50 minutes)
10 out of 90 do not count toward the score (they are pilot questions)
No penalty for guessing
5 minute tutorial before and 5 minute survey after the test
Total of 120 minutes ( two hours)

19. What is covered on the PTCE?
Broken down into 3 Categories
1.Assisting the Pharmacist in Serving Patients
66% of the exam.
2. Maintaining Medication and Inventory Control Systems.
22% of the exam.
3. Participating in the Administration and Management of Pharmacy Practice
12% of the exam.

20. Assisting the Pharmacist in Serving Patients
Receive prescription/medication order(s) from patient/patient's representative, prescriber, or other healthcare professional
Process a prescription/medication order
Enter prescription/medication order information onto profile
Calculate quantity and days supply of finished dosage forms for dispensing.

21. Maintaining Medication and Inventory Control Systems
Identify pharmaceuticals, durable and non- durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies to be ordered
Dispose of or destroy pharmaceuticals or supplies (for example, hazardous substances, investigational products, controlled substances, non-dispensable products)
Perform required inventories and maintain associated records

22. Participating in the Administration and Management of Pharmacy Practice
Coordinate written, electronic, and oral communications throughout the practice setting (route phone calls, faxes, verbal and written refill authorizations)
Update, maintain, and use manual or electronic information systems (patient profiles, prescription records, inventory logs, reference materials) in order to perform job related activities

23. How should you study for the exam?
1. Mosby's Review for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (~35$)
2. Review books are available in the Pharm Sci Office
3. Online Resources
4. Pharmacy Technician School*

24. Tips for the Examination
1. Get Sleep
2. Use common sense!
3. Don't be anxious, its not too bad
4. Read the question carefully
5. Go with your gut instinct!

25. Things to make sure you understand.
1. SIG abbreviations
2. Pharmaceutical Math
3. Laws

26. Changes coming to the PTCE
1. Pharmacology for Technicians (13.75%)
2. Pharmacy Law and Regulations (12.50%)
3. Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding(8.75%)
4. Medication Safety (12.50%)
5. Pharmacy Quality Assurance (7.50%)
6. Medication Order Entry and FIll Process (17.5%)
7. Pharmacy Inventory Management (8.75%)
8. Pharmacy Billing and Reimbursement(8.75%)
9. Pharmacy Information Systems Usage and Application (10%)

27. SIG Review
ss = _______

28. SIG Review
ss = one half
po = ______

29. SIG Review
ss = one half
po = by mouth
qod= _______

30. SIG Review ss = one half po = by mouth qod= every other day
prn = _____________

31. SIG Review ss = one half po = by mouth qod= every other day
prn = as needed
qs= ___________

32. SIG Review ss = one half po = by mouth qod= every other day
prn = as needed
qs= quantity sufficient
cc = ___________

33. SIG Review ss = one half po = by mouth qod= every other day
prn = as needed
qs= quantity sufficient
cc = cubic centimeter (1 mL)
im= _________

34. SIG Review ss = one half po = by mouth qod= every other day
prn = as needed
qs= quantity sufficient
cc = cubic centimeter (1 mL)
im= intramuscular
N/V= ___________

35. SIG Review ss = one half po = by mouth qod= every other day
prn = as needed
qs= quantity sufficient
cc = cubic centimeter (1 mL)
im= intramuscular
N/V= nausea and vomiting

36. Sample Questions
When a community pharmacy orders stock from a new wholesaler, which drugs must be ordered using a DEA form 222?
A. CII only
B. CII and CIII only
C. CII, CIII, and CIV only
D. ALL controlled substances

37. Sample Questions
When a community pharmacy orders stock from a new wholesaler, which drugs must be ordered using a DEA form 222?
A. CII only
B. CII and CIII only
C. CII, CIII, and CIV only
D. ALL controlled substances

38. Sample Questions
A new customer at your retail pharmacy has brought in a script for: Percocet 2.5mg 1- 2tab Q4h. Which of the following information is NOT required on the patients packing label.
A. Prescription Number
B. Patients name
C. Filling pharmacists name
D. Prescribing doctors DEA number

39. Sample Questions
A new customer at your retail pharmacy has brought in a script for: Percocet 2.5mg 1- 2tab Q4h. Which of the following information is NOT required on the patients packing label.
A. Prescription Number
B. Patients name
C. Filling pharmacists name
D. Prescribing doctors DEA number

40. Sample Questions
If 3 grams of active ingredient are needed to make 1 pint of a suspension, how much active ingredients is needed to make 1 gallon of the suspension?
A. 50 grams
B. 18 grams
C. 24 grams
D. 30 grams

41. Sample Questions
If 3 grams of active ingredient are needed to make 1 pint of a suspension, how much active ingredients is needed to make 1 gallon of the suspension?
A. 50 grams
B. 18 grams
C. 24 grams
D. 30 grams

42. Sample Questions
If a Tadalafil 10mg/tab has a typical half life of 17.5 hours, how long will it take until the blood concentration of this dosage falls to 25% of its initial strength?
A. 70 Hours
B Hours
C. 35 Hours
D Hours

43. Sample Questions
If a Tadalafil 10mg/tab has a typical half life of 17.5 hours, how long will it take until the blood concentration of this dosage falls to 25% of its initial strength?
A. 70 Hours
B Hours
C. 35 Hours
D Hours

44. Sample Questions
Which route of administration will give the highest blood concentration level in the shortest time.
A. Sub-Lingual
B. Transdermal Patch
C. Vaporizer
D. Intravenous

45. Sample Questions
Which route of administration will give the hihest blood concentration level in the shortest time.
A. Sub-Lingual
B. Transdermal Patch
C. Vaporizer
D. Intravenous

46. Sample Questions
A patient suffering severe pain is prescribed Vicodin which contains 10mg of Hydrocodone and 660mg of APAP. The script reads:
Vicodin HP
1 TAB QID PRN x 10D
How many grams of Hydrocodone will be in this order?
A. .004
B. .040
C. .400
D. 4.00

47. Sample Questions
A patient suffering severe pain is prescribd Vicodin which contains 10mg of Hydrocodone and 660mg of APAP. The script reads:
Vicodin HP
1 TAB QID PRN x 10D
How many grams of Hydrocodone will be in this order?
A. .004
B. .040
C. .400
D. 4.00

48. Becoming a Certified Pharmacy Tech
Passing the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam does NOT mean you are a certified Pharmacy Technician
You must complete an application found on the the Board of Pharmacy website

49. Things You Need to Complete the Application
1. Application Fee- 80$
2. 2x2 Passport Style Photo must be taken within 60 days of filing the application.
3. A filled out Application
- can be found on
4. A transcript from your High School showing that you graduated.
5. Qualifying Documentation

50. Qualifying Documentation
Can be either:
1. Affidavit of Completed Coursework or Graduation for Pharmacy Technician
2. Certified Copy or Original Certificate of your PTCB certification
3. Copy of your military training DD214

51. Overall Cost Application Cost - 80$
Notarizing(Self Query + PTCE Certificate) - 20$
Fingerprint Scan- 73$
Self Query - 16$
Passport Style Photo ~ 20$
Taking the PTCE - 123$
Total Cost ~ 332$

52. Sample Questions
From the following directions, determine the number of tablets to be dispensed:
1 tab po qid x 5 days
1 tab po tid x 5 days
1 tab po bid x 5 days
ss tab po qd x 5 days
A. 46
B. 47.5
C. 45
D. 44.5

53. Sample Questions
From the following directions, determine the number of tablets to be dispensed:
1 tab po qid x 5 days
1 tab po tid x 5 days
1 tab po bid x 5 days
ss tab po qd x 5 days
A. 46
B. 47.5
C. 45
D. 44.5

54. Sample Questions
Three separate drugs are required to make a 3:5:7 450g ointment. How much of each drug is needed, respectively?
A. 70g; 140g; 240g
B. 90g;150g;210g
C. 100g; 100g; 250g
D. 150g; 150g; 150g

55. Sample Questions
Three separate drugs are required to make a 3:5:7 450g ointment. How much of each drug is needed, respectively?
A. 70g; 140g; 240g
B. 90g;150g;210g
C. 100g; 100g; 250g
D. 150g; 150g; 150g

56. Sample Questions
To be in compliance with the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005, an individual's purchase of pseudoephedrine must be limited to _____ in a 24 hour period.
A. 3.6g
B. 7.5g
C. 9g
D. None of the above

57. Sample Questions
To be in compliance with the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005, an individual's purchase of pseudoephedrine must be limited to _____ in a 24 hour period.
A. 3.6g
B. 7.5g
C. 9g
D. None of the above

58. Sample Questions
An IV has been ordered to run at 10 drops/min. It contains 450mg of a particular drug in a total of 1000mL. How many mg of the drug will the patient receive per hour if the set is calibrated to deliver 60drops/mL?
A. 10mg/hr
B. 14.5mg/hr
C. 4.5mg/hr
D. 600mg/hr

59. Sample Questions
An IV has been ordered to run at 10 drops/min. It contains 450mg of a particular drug in a total of 1000mL. How many mg of the drug will the patient receive per hour if the set is calibrated to deliver 60drops/mL?
A. 10mg/hr
B. 14.5mg/hr
C. 4.5mg/hr
D. 600mg/hr

60. Sample Questions
Which of the following classes of antibiotics does gentamicin belong to?
A. Aminoglycosides
B. Cephalosporins
C. Fluoroquinolones
D. Macrolides

61. Sample Questions
Which of the following classes of antibiotics does gentamicin belong to?
A. Aminoglycosides
B. Cephalosporins
C. Fluoroquinolones
D. Macrolides

62. Sample Questions
How much 75% ethanol is needed to make 300ml of 30% ethanol?
A. 80mL
B. 120mL
C. 180mL
D. 240mL

63. Sample Questions
How much 75% ethanol is needed to make 300ml of 30% ethanol?
A. 80mL
B. 120mL
C. 180mL
D. 240mL

64. Sample Questions
Which of the following drugs, when prescribed in the US, may not have any refills on the same script?
A. Xanax
B. Ativan
C. Percocet
D. Vicodin

65. Sample Questions
Which of the following drugs, when prescribed in the US, may not have any refills on the same script?
A. Xanax
B. Ativan
C. Percocet
D. Vicodin

66. Any Questions?