PTCE study plan

Build a flashcard deck of at least 100 brand–generic pairs drawn from the most commonly dispensed drugs, and self-test until you score 80% or better in two consecutive passes

Sort 150 drug names into therapeutic classes on a handwritten classification grid (e.g., ACE inhibitors, statins, benzodiazepines, PPIs, anticoagulants)

Recite the common nomenclature stems for at least 8 drug classes (-olol, -pril, -sartan, -prazole, -statin, -azepam, -cillin, -mycin) and give two example drugs for each

Identify 20 high-alert medications and state one monitoring parameter or double-check step for each

Match 40 clinically significant drug–drug, drug–food, and drug–disease interactions to their potential consequence and the action a technician should take

Describe the mechanism, monitoring parameter, and counseling point for 15 narrow therapeutic index or high-risk drugs (e.g., warfarin, digoxin, lithium, phenytoin, levothyroxine)

Solve 25 dosage calculations covering mg/kg, body surface area, IV flow rate, and dilution/concentration problems with at least 90% accuracy

Explain the difference between therapeutic duplication, contraindication, and adverse effect, and correctly classify 20 written case vignettes

Diagram the five controlled-substance schedules with two example drugs each, and list the refill, expiration, and transfer rules that apply to each

Outline when DEA Form 222, Form 222f, Form 224, Form 106, and Form 41 are each used

List the required elements of a valid prescription and identify which elements differ for Schedule II versus Schedule III–V drugs

Summarize biennial inventory, recordkeeping, and record-retention requirements for controlled substances and state how long records must be kept

Trace a drug's regulatory lifecycle from FDA approval through post-marketing surveillance, and state what triggers a recall class I, II, or III

Explain the DSCSA requirements for product tracing, verification, and serialization, and describe what a technician must check when receiving a shipment

Describe REMS program requirements, Medication Guides, and the technician's role in dispensing drugs subject to them

Summarize HIPAA privacy rules, OBRA '90 counseling requirements, and the basic structure of Medicare Part D and Medicaid prescription coverage

Complete a 60-question practice set on Domains 1 and 2 and score the result against a 70% passing benchmark

List at least 30 error-prone abbreviations on an ISMP-style do-not-use list and rewrite each into its intended full form

Explain the difference between a look-alike/sound-alike drug pair and a high-alert medication, and identify 15 pairs plus the separation or labeling safeguard for each

Describe the key requirements of USP <795>, <797>, and <800> for nonsterile compounding, sterile compounding, and hazardous drugs, including PPE and environmental monitoring basics

Explain how to report an adverse drug event through MedWatch and a vaccine adverse event through VAERS, and state which one applies to a given scenario

Perform a written root-cause analysis of one fictitious dispensing error, tracing it from order entry to administration

Interpret 20 handwritten and electronic prescriptions, translating every sig code and abbreviation into plain English directions

Calculate days supply, quantity to dispense, and refill dates for 15 prescriptions, including PRN, tapered, and topical products

Process 10 mock prescriptions end-to-end: verify elements, check for allergies and interactions, enter the order, and flag any that require pharmacist intervention

Describe third-party claim processing steps, common rejection codes, and the difference between a prior authorization, a formulary exception, and a DAW code

Explain inventory management tasks, including receiving, unit-dose packaging, repackaging, and outdate checking, and state the documentation each requires

Re-drill the week 1 flashcard deck and the week 3 controlled-substance matrix until each is answered with 90% or better accuracy

Complete a 200-question mixed practice exam weighted toward Domains 1 and 2, and log every missed item by domain and subtopic

Rewrite each missed item as a one-sentence rule and re-test yourself on those rules 48 hours later

Review USP <797>/<800> and medication-safety content one more time, since these topics appear in more than one domain

Complete two full-length timed practice exams under real test conditions, scoring 75% or better on the second attempt

Review every remaining error-log entry and confirm you can explain why the correct answer is correct without notes

Recite from memory the top-200 brand–generic pairs, the five CSA schedules, the required prescription elements, and the do-not-use abbreviation list

Simulate exam-day logistics by confirming your testing location or online setup, identification requirements, and allotted break time