PTCE · 22% of the exam
Order Entry and Processing practice questions
10 free Order Entry and Processing questions for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.
What this domain covers
Turning a prescription into a correctly filled order: interpretation, calculations, compounding basics and dispensing.
- Exam weight
- 22%
- On a real exam
- ≈ 20 questions
- In our bank
- 137 questions
Topics that come up most
- Prescription and medication order interpretation
- Sig codes and abbreviations
- Dosage, days-supply and conversion calculations
- Non-sterile compounding basics
- Lot numbers, expiration dates and NDC numbers
How to study it
Practise calculations daily in short sets; they are reliable marks if you are quick and careful with units.
Sample Order Entry and Processing questions
Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.
Question 1
A medication is ordered q8h. How many doses is that per day?
- A2
- B4
- C6
- D3
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D) 3
- AIncorrect. Two doses a day would be q12h.
- BIncorrect. Four doses a day would be q6h.
- CIncorrect. Six doses a day would be q4h.
- DCorrect. 24 hours ÷ 8 hours = 3 doses per day.
Question 2
A sig reads 1 tablet three times daily for 14 days. What quantity should be dispensed?
- A28
- B42
- C14
- D56
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B) 42
- AIncorrect. 28 tablets would be twice daily for 14 days.
- BCorrect. 3 tablets a day × 14 days = 42 tablets.
- CIncorrect. 14 tablets would be once daily for 14 days.
- DIncorrect. 56 tablets would be four times daily for 14 days.
Question 3
What does "AU" mean in a sig?
- ARight ear
- BLeft ear
- CBoth eyes
- DBoth ears
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D) Both ears
- AIncorrect. The right ear is AD.
- BIncorrect. The left ear is AS.
- CIncorrect. Both eyes is OU.
- DCorrect. AU means both ears. These abbreviations are error-prone, so spelling them out is safer.
Question 4
A 0.1% solution can also be written as what ratio strength?
- A1:100
- B1:10
- C1:1,000
- D1:10,000
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C) 1:1,000
- AIncorrect. 1:100 is 1%.
- BIncorrect. 1:10 is 10%.
- CCorrect. 0.1% = 0.1 g per 100 mL = 1 g per 1,000 mL.
- DIncorrect. 1:10,000 is 0.01%.
Question 5
Epinephrine 1:1,000 contains how many milligrams per milliliter?
- A1 mg/mL
- B0.1 mg/mL
- C10 mg/mL
- D0.01 mg/mL
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A) 1 mg/mL
- ACorrect. 1:1,000 means 1 g in 1,000 mL, which is 1,000 mg ÷ 1,000 mL = 1 mg/mL.
- BIncorrect. 0.1 mg/mL is a 1:10,000 solution.
- CIncorrect. 10 mg/mL would be 1:100.
- DIncorrect. 0.01 mg/mL would be 1:100,000.
Question 6
A patient weighs 88 lb. What is the weight in kilograms?
- A193.6 kg
- B40 kg
- C44 kg
- D35 kg
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B) 40 kg
- AIncorrect. Divide, don't multiply.
- BCorrect. 88 lb ÷ 2.2 lb per kg.
- CIncorrect. Divide by 2.2, not 2.
- DIncorrect. Recheck: 88 ÷ 2.2.
Question 7
A 30-mL bottle of oral solution has the sig 0.5 mL twice daily. What is the days' supply?
- A60 days
- B30 days
- C15 days
- D10 days
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B) 30 days
- AIncorrect. Two doses of 0.5 mL equal 1 mL per day.
- BCorrect. 1 mL per day lasts 30 days.
- CIncorrect. Recheck: 30 mL ÷ 1 mL/day.
- DIncorrect. Recheck the daily volume.
Question 8
How many tablets are needed for a 90-day supply at 2 tablets daily?
- A270
- B90
- C45
- D180
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D) 180
- AIncorrect. That's 3 tablets per day.
- BIncorrect. Multiply by 2 tablets per day.
- CIncorrect. Multiply, don't divide.
- DCorrect. 2 tablets × 90 days.
Question 9
A patient has two insurance plans. How is the claim usually billed?
- ATo the secondary plan only
- BSplit evenly between the two plans
- CTo whichever plan pays more
- DPrimary first, then secondary
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D) Primary first, then secondary
- AIncorrect. The primary plan is billed first.
- BIncorrect. Claims are not simply split in half.
- CIncorrect. The billing order follows coordination of benefits rules.
- DCorrect. Under coordination of benefits, the primary pays first and the secondary may cover what remains.
Question 10
A sig reads 1 teaspoonful three times daily for 10 days. What total volume should be dispensed?
- A50 mL
- B150 mL
- C30 mL
- D300 mL
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B) 150 mL
- AIncorrect. Multiply by three doses per day.
- BCorrect. 5 mL × 3 × 10.
- CIncorrect. Multiply by 10 days.
- DIncorrect. A teaspoon is 5 mL.
Order Entry and Processing: FAQs
How much of the PTCE exam is Order Entry and Processing?
Order Entry and Processing is 22% of the PTCE exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 90-question form works out to roughly 20 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.
What does the Order Entry and Processing domain cover?
Turning a prescription into a correctly filled order: interpretation, calculations, compounding basics and dispensing.
How should I study Order Entry and Processing for PTCE?
Practise calculations daily in short sets; they are reliable marks if you are quick and careful with units.
Where can I practise more Order Entry and Processing questions?
This page has 10 free Order Entry and Processing questions with answers. The ExamWize PTCE question bank has 137 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.
Get Order Entry and Processing exam-ready
The full PTCE bank has 137 Order Entry and Processing questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.
Not affiliated with PTCB; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.