PTCB exam, need help!!!

[nhc20042000]

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Hey every one I know I can go to another forum, but they are not answering my question. I am due to take the exam this saturday and I have no idea what to study for, please help me if you have already taken the exam, thanks in advance! 🙂

 

[steveysmith54]

you might want to start by going to borders or barnes and nobles to buy a book for it. Once you do that, focus on memorizing unit conversions, and various calcs. We can't really write the book for you on this message board to save u the trip and money. 😉

 

[pharwanabe]

Hey every one I know I can go to another forum, but they are not answering my question. I am due to take the exam this saturday and I have no idea what to study for, please help me if you have already taken the exam, thanks in advance! 🙂

as mentioned above, learn the conversions between gram-miligrams and thats sort of stuff. know how to calculate number of tablets from given information. the test isn't that hard just need to know ur math.
also theres some drug names but don't worry too much about that, focus on simple rules like whats a pharm tech allowed to do and the difference between hospital and retail pharm tech.
you need to buy the book for that

 

[nhc20042000]

Thanks guys for posting a response! If there is more info I need to know please post a reply, thanks!

 

[Bully Worm]

Since I haven't gotten a reply in the other forum, I might a well re-post my post in this thread.

For those that have already taken the PCTB Exam, please give input on this study I received from a PCTB Exam seminar.

Day1. - Pharm. Laws
a.Acts and Admendments
b.Recalls and NDC's
c. Controlled Drugs schedules and verifying a DEA number
d. Pharmacy Books

Day2. - Quick Drug Classification

Day3. - Common drugs
a. diabetes
b. Thyroid and osteoporosis
c. cardiovascular system

Day 4 - Common drugs
a. central nervous system
b. Gastrointestinal

Day 5 - Common drugs
a. respiratory
b. anti-infectives

Day 6 -
a. pregnancy categories and category drugs
b. photosensitivity and discoloration
c. refigeration and temperatures
d. vitamins and antidotes
e. dosage forms
f. common and miscellaneous pharmacy abbreviations

Day 7-
a. intravenous solutions and routes of administartion
b. laminar airflow hoods
c.systems of measurement
d. roman numerals

Day8-
a.fractions ratios, decimals, and proportions
b.percent and conversions
c.weight and volume problems
d.dilution and allegation problems
e.flow rates
f.business math.

Day 9+
-take practice tests.​

The lecturer at the seminar told us that all it really boils down to are these sections. Of course, there's an emphasis on the math section and law sections but what I really want to know is what about the sections like gastrointestinal, diabetes, intravenous solutions etc etc. Are there alot of questions in regard to those topics?

If you have already taken the PCTB, if you could take the time and just bold or italicize the topics on this outline that I should really focus on, that would be greatly appreciated. 😉

 

[pharwanabe]

Since I haven't gotten a reply in the other forum, I might a well re-post my post in this thread.

For those that have already taken the PCTB Exam, please give input on this study I received from a PCTB Exam seminar.

The lecturer at the seminar told us that all it really boils down to are these sections. Of course, there's an emphasis on the math section and law sections but what I really want to know is what about the sections like gastrointestinal, diabetes, intravenous solutions etc etc. Are there alot of questions in regard to those topics?

If you have already taken the PCTB, if you could take the time and just bold or italicize the topics on this outline that I should really focus on, that would be greatly appreciated. 😉

to be honest with you i dont rememeber exactly which drugs they asked on the test and under which section they fall, but i think if you do well on ur math part ( conversions, # of tablets, that sort of stuff) and know your laws like what goes on the med bottle ( like name and stuff ) and how to calculate the numbers to see if they are legal or not
you would pass it easily.
i remember stressing my self out on the drug names since there were so many ( generic, brand) so i did what i could
hope this helpss

 

[momomango]

when is a good time to take the PTCB exam? can you take it as an undergraduate? what's so beneficial about taking and passing the ptcb exam? 😕

 

[nhc20042000]

when is a good time to take the PTCB exam?
can you take it as an undergraduate? what's so beneficial about taking and passing the ptcb exam? 😕

Check on the PTCB website for more information of the PTCB exam, a good time would be anytime if your ready to take it.

Some of the benefits are higher wages when you are nationally certified, and I think it would look good for the pharmacy schools that you are applying to.

 

[Farmercyst]

Hey every one I know I can go to another forum, but they are not answering my question. I am due to take the exam this saturday and I have no idea what to study for, please help me if you have already taken the exam, thanks in advance! 🙂

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=466166

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=467933

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5612529&postcount=10

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=216512

The consensus seems to be learn the math, the sigs, the conversions, look at a few drugs, and be done. The law and hood comprise maybe 1-2 questions each if you're lucky. Forms and responsibilities maybe 4-6 questions. Almost everything else is interpreting sigs, and doing math, with drug names meaning very little with the exception of the 4-5 questions where they might actually ask what the drug is used for.

For BullyWorm
Using the outline I'd say:

Day 1
c
Day 2
Day 6
d (really just narcan and MAYBE activated charcoal)
e
f
Day 8
a-d
f

I took my pharmacology for technicians book and studied for 2 hrs before the exam and passed. My score wasn't perfect and I guessed at the forms, storage, and distribution questions. I aced the math and did well on the drug names and uses. Of course I went in with no experience, so if you've got experience chances are you know some of the non-math stuff already anyway.

 

[Allright]

i found a site with supposed practise questions from a gang of tests including the PTCB
i was wondering if there are questions like these on the test..

http://www.testprepreview.com/modules/ptcb2.htm

thanks for any input

 

[Goalseeker]

i found a site with supposed practise questions from a gang of tests including the PTCB
i was wondering if there are questions like these on the test..

http://www.testprepreview.com/modules/ptcb2.htm

thanks for any input

These questions are a little more difficult than the actual exam. I used a pharmacy tech book from the library and passed it on my first try. Concentrate on the calculations. Know how to do the drips and ratio proportions. I used the Pharmacy Technician: Principles and Practice book by Teresa Hopper and it was great! I think it included everything I needed for the exam. Good luck!

 

[Allright]

^^thanks..just going over the dosage calculations..were there questions on formulas used for infant and young children such as clarks rule, youngs rule, frieds rule...?
also any help with this example would be appreciated..physicians order is for Kantrex 1g PO qid x 3 days. drug available is Kantrex 500 mg:answer given is 2 capsules should be givenhowevershouldnt it be 8 capsules a day x 3 days = 24 capsules total?

 

[smartypants723]

^^thanks..just going over the dosage calculations..were there questions on formulas used for infant and young children such as clarks rule, youngs rule, frieds rule...?
also any help with this example would be appreciated..physicians order is for Kantrex 1g PO qid x 3 days. drug available is Kantrex 500 mg:answer given is 2 capsules should be givenhowevershouldnt it be 8 capsules a day x 3 days = 24 capsules total?

I don't remember whether there were questions regarding using the formulas for infant and young children dosage calculations. It doesn't hurt to study those.

For the example, your answer is correct.

 

[rxgales]

i have a friend who teaches both the PTCB and PCAT, gaurantee passing or high scoring..... or your money back (if charges) gaurantee!! 😀

 

[kthomp]

Here is what I would recommend focusing on based on my experience of taking the test last month.

-math, math, math!
-law, especially rules for controls, what a tech can do, etc.
-basic drug names, classes, what they do
-basic flow foods, iv's, hospital
-basic retail, inventory

If I had to pick just two areas to focus on if crunched for time it would be math and law. Those two sections made up the majority of my test.

 

[Allright]

you get to use a calculator for the math portion correct?
also are the math problems fill in the blank questions or are ther multiple choice as well?

thanks

 

[kthomp]

you get to use a calculator for the math portion correct?
also are the math problems fill in the blank questions or are ther multiple choice as well?

thanks

You do get to use a calculator. They will provide it for you. They also give you a wipe-off sheet for figuring out calculations.

All of the questions on the test are multiple choice.