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Free PTCB practice · Updated October 2026

PTCB sig codes and prescription elements practice questions, with every answer explained

Order Entry and Processing is 22.5% of the scored PTCE (the PTCB exam). Answer 10 exam style questions on sig codes and prescription elements and see exactly which concepts would cost you points on test day.

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Where the PTCE points areshare of 80 scored items
Medications
35%
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
23.75%
Order Entry and Processing
22.5%
Federal Requirements
18.75%
Source: PTCE content outline, effective Jan 6, 2026You are here ↑
Score 0/0
Q1Prescription elements: missing quantity

A written prescription for lisinopril 10 mg lists the patient, date, drug, strength, directions and prescriber signature, but no quantity and no refill line. What is the correct next step?

What these sig codes and prescription elements questions test

These questions cover prescription elements: missing quantity, sig codes: eye drops, sig codes: prn interval, sig codes: rectal and sig codes: sublingual. Each one shows the correct answer and why every other option is wrong, so a miss tells you exactly what to review before the PTCE.

Prescription elements: missing quantitySig codes: eye dropsSig codes: prn intervalSig codes: rectalSig codes: sublingualSig codes: ear dropsSig codes: before meals and bedtimeSig codes: ssSig codes: inhalersSig codes: every other day

All 10 questions with answers explained

Prefer to read first? Every question from the practice set above, with the correct answer and why each wrong option is wrong.

Q1A written prescription for lisinopril 10 mg lists the patient, date, drug, strength, directions and prescriber signature, but no quantity and no refill line. What is the correct next step?
  1. Fill a 90-day supply because lisinopril is a maintenance drug
  2. Flag it so the quantity is clarified with the prescriber
  3. Fill the smallest package size the wholesaler sells
  4. Ask the patient how many tablets the prescriber wanted

Answer: B. Quantity is a required element of a prescription. When it is missing, the prescription must be clarified with the prescriber (through the pharmacist, per pharmacy policy) before it is filled.

Why not A: Choosing a quantity is not the technician's decision. A missing element must be clarified.

Why not C: Package size has nothing to do with what the prescriber intended. The quantity must be clarified.

Why not D: The patient cannot supply a missing prescription element. Only the prescriber can.

Exam tactic: Missing required element = clarify with the prescriber, never guess.

Q2A patient with glaucoma drops off a latanoprost prescription with the directions "i gtt os qhs". How should the technician type the label?
  1. Instill 1 drop in the right eye at bedtime
  2. Instill 1 drop in the left ear at bedtime
  3. Instill 1 drop in the left eye at bedtime
  4. Instill 1 drop in both eyes at bedtime

Answer: C. gtt = drop(s), os = left eye (oculus sinister), qhs = every night at bedtime. ISMP lists os, od and ou as error-prone, so the label is always written out in full.

Why not A: Right eye is od (oculus dexter), not os.

Why not B: Left ear is as (auris sinistra). The "o" in os means eye.

Why not D: Both eyes is ou (oculus uterque).

Exam tactic: o = eye, a = ear. d = right, s = left, u = both.

Q3An urgent care provider writes acetaminophen 325 mg tablets with "ii tabs po q4-6h prn pain". What should the patient's label say?
  1. Take 2 tablets by mouth 4 to 6 times a day as needed for pain
  2. Take 2 tablets by mouth every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain
  3. Take 2 tablets by mouth every 4 to 6 hours around the clock
  4. Take 1 tablet by mouth every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain

Answer: B. ii = two, po = by mouth, q4-6h = every 4 to 6 hours, prn = as needed.

Why not A: q4-6h means every 4 to 6 hours, not 4 to 6 times a day.

Why not C: prn means as needed, so the doses are not scheduled around the clock.

Why not D: ii is the Roman numeral two, not one.

Exam tactic: q + number + h = every that many hours.

Q4An antiemetic suppository is ordered for an adult with "i supp pr q12h prn n/v". How should the technician type the directions?
  1. Insert 1 suppository vaginally every 12 hours as needed for nausea and vomiting
  2. Insert 1 suppository rectally twice daily as needed for nerve pain and vertigo
  3. Insert 1 suppository rectally every 12 hours as needed for nausea and vomiting
  4. Take 1 suppository by mouth every 12 hours as needed for nausea and vomiting

Answer: C. supp = suppository, pr = per rectum (rectally), q12h = every 12 hours, prn = as needed, n/v = nausea and vomiting.

Why not A: Vaginally is pv. pr means per rectum.

Why not B: n/v means nausea and vomiting, not nerve pain and vertigo.

Why not D: Suppositories are not taken by mouth. pr means rectally.

Exam tactic: pr = per rectum. pv = per vagina. n/v = nausea and vomiting.

Q5A prescription for nitroglycerin 0.4 mg tablets reads: "i tab SL q5min prn cp, max 3 doses". Which label direction is correct?
  1. Dissolve 1 tablet under the tongue every 5 minutes as needed for chest pain, up to 3 doses
  2. Swallow 1 tablet whole every 5 minutes as needed for chest pain, up to 3 doses
  3. Dissolve 1 tablet under the tongue every 5 hours as needed for chest pain, up to 3 doses
  4. Dissolve 1 tablet between the cheek and gum every 5 minutes as needed for chest pain

Answer: A. SL = sublingual (under the tongue), q5min = every 5 minutes, prn = as needed, cp = chest pain, with a maximum of 3 doses.

Why not B: Sublingual tablets dissolve under the tongue. They are not swallowed.

Why not C: q5min means every 5 minutes, not every 5 hours.

Why not D: Between the cheek and gum is buccal, not sublingual.

Exam tactic: SL = under the tongue. Read min vs h carefully.

Q6Directions on a prescription for antibiotic ear drops read "ii gtt au tid x 7d". What belongs on the label?
  1. Instill 2 drops in both ears 3 times daily for 7 days
  2. Instill 2 drops in both eyes 3 times daily for 7 days
  3. Instill 2 drops in the left ear 3 times daily for 7 days
  4. Instill 2 drops in both ears every 3 hours for 7 days

Answer: A. gtt = drops, au = both ears (auris utraque), tid = three times daily, x 7d = for 7 days. ISMP lists au as error-prone, so the label is written in full.

Why not B: Both eyes is ou. au means both ears.

Why not C: Left ear is as. au means both ears.

Why not D: tid means three times daily, not every 3 hours (q3h).

Exam tactic: a = auris = ear. u = both.

Q7A prescription sig reads: "i tab po ac & hs". How many tablets will the patient take per day?
  1. 3 tablets
  2. 2 tablets
  3. 4 tablets
  4. 1 tablet

Answer: C. ac = before meals (three meals) and hs = at bedtime, so 1 tablet before breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus 1 at bedtime = 4 tablets per day.

Why not A: 3 tablets counts only the doses before meals and leaves out the bedtime dose.

Why not B: 2 tablets would be one dose before one meal and one at bedtime.

Why not D: 1 tablet would be a single daily dose, ignoring "ac" for each meal.

Exam tactic: ac & hs = 3 meals + bedtime = 4 doses.

Q8A prescription sig reads: "i ss tab po bid". How much does the patient take per dose?
  1. ½ tablet
  2. 1½ tablets
  3. 2 tablets
  4. 1 tablet

Answer: B. i = one and ss = one-half (semis), so i ss = 1½ tablets per dose, taken by mouth twice daily.

Why not A: ½ tablet would be written as ss alone, without the i.

Why not C: 2 tablets would be written as ii.

Why not D: 1 tablet ignores the ss, which adds one-half.

Exam tactic: ss = one-half. i ss = 1½.

Q9A prescription for an albuterol HFA inhaler reads: "ii puffs inh q4h prn SOB". Which label direction is correct?
  1. Inhale 2 puffs by mouth 4 times a day as needed for shortness of breath
  2. Inhale 2 puffs by mouth every 4 hours around the clock for shortness of breath
  3. Inhale 2 puffs by mouth every 4 hours as needed for swelling of the body
  4. Inhale 2 puffs by mouth every 4 hours as needed for shortness of breath

Answer: D. ii = two, inh = inhale, q4h = every 4 hours, prn = as needed, SOB = shortness of breath.

Why not A: 4 times a day is qid. q4h means every 4 hours.

Why not B: prn means as needed, not scheduled around the clock.

Why not C: SOB means shortness of breath.

Exam tactic: SOB = shortness of breath. prn = as needed.

Q10A prescription sig reads: "i tab po qod". What does it mean, and why is it a concern?
  1. Once daily; qod is the preferred way to write daily
  2. Four times daily; qod is a standard Latin code
  3. Every other week; qod is a weekly dosing code
  4. Every other day; qod is an error-prone abbreviation

Answer: D. qod means every other day. It is on the Joint Commission "Do Not Use" list and the ISMP error-prone list because it can be misread as qd (daily) or qid (four times daily), so the label should say "every other day".

Why not A: Neither qd nor qod is acceptable. Daily should be written out, and qod means every other day, not daily.

Why not B: Four times daily is qid. Misreading qod as qid is the very error that makes it unsafe.

Why not C: qod is not a weekly code. It means every other day.

Exam tactic: qod = every other day, but it is on the Do Not Use list. Write it out.

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PassPulse is an independent exam preparation tool. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Exam, credential and product names mentioned on this page are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to identify the exams described.

These practice questions are written by PassPulse to reflect the published exam content outline. They are not actual exam questions. Questions, answers and explanations may contain errors or be out of date, and they are for exam study only, not for clinical or professional practice: always check facts against the certifying body's official materials, current standards and your employer's policies. Scores and projections on this page are estimates based on a small number of questions and do not predict your result on the real exam. Area weights come from the official outline as of the date shown; always confirm current exam details with the certifying body.
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