Studying for the PTCB Exam

[yehgermeister]

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I am taking the PTCB exam in about a week. I've been busy with school and haven't really had too much time to put aside to study for the exam. I've heard a few days to a week is enough to study for it.

I was wondering what should I specifically study? I've heard I should not even bother with memorizing the drug names. I have the Mosby book which I'm sure many of you know about. Any pointers and tips would be greatly appreciated!

 

[armorking]

I am taking the PTCB exam in about a week. I've been busy with school and haven't really had too much time to put aside to study for the exam. I've heard a few days to a week is enough to study for it.

I was wondering what should I specifically study? I've heard I should not even bother with memorizing the drug names. I have the Mosby book which I'm sure many of you know about. Any pointers and tips would be greatly appreciated!

I think the book is fine but it's really practicing with questions that is more important. Here is a website I found extremely helpful before I took the exam: http://www.pharmacy-tech-study.com/practicetest.html

Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[Swishers]

You should let me get that book after you pass the exam... 🙂

 

[mr luke]

I took this test last year and passed. Focus on your math as well as basic business math as well. solution/dilution, know how to read a Rx and be able to convert from stock bottle sizes to the Rx specifications. Some knowledge of DEA laws and classes and schedules of drugs. Lets see what else....know some of the antagonists of drugs and also maybe be familiar with generic/trade names. look up top 100 list of drugs on google and get familiar with uses and classes of them. As for business math, I am referring to things like the normal stock procedure is x pills x pillows x whatever. you have on hand x pills x pillows and x whatever.... how much will it cost to restock if the price is x dollars for pills x dollars for pillows and x dollars for what ever. Another variation of that is you have so much money how much can you get of each. Some other things to be ready for are compounding, wasting, DEA number verification, and what else....I dunno I cant remember anymore. it was 75 questions and it tells you if you failed or passed right afterwards. Good Luck. A unique tool I used to study was http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/JeanettasPTCBStudyGroup/ ...PM meif you want a ebook I bought and still have on my comp, I just tried to upload it but it failed.👍😎

 

[Jabberwocky12]

I took this test last year and passed. Focus on your math as well as basic business math as well. solution/dilution, know how to read a Rx and be able to convert from stock bottle sizes to the Rx specifications. Some knowledge of DEA laws and classes and schedules of drugs. Lets see what else....know some of the antagonists of drugs and also maybe be familiar with generic/trade names. look up top 100 list of drugs on google and get familiar with uses and classes of them. As for business math, I am referring to things like the normal stock procedure is x pills x pillows x whatever. you have on hand x pills x pillows and x whatever.... how much will it cost to restock if the price is x dollars for pills x dollars for pillows and x dollars for what ever. Another variation of that is you have so much money how much can you get of each. Some other things to be ready for are compounding, wasting, DEA number verification, and what else....I dunno I cant remember anymore. it was 75 questions and it tells you if you failed or passed right afterwards. Good Luck. A unique tool I used to study was http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/JeanettasPTCBStudyGroup/ ...PM meif you want a ebook I bought and still have on my comp, I just tried to upload it but it failed.👍😎

THIS.

I will say that I had hospital-based questions for my exam. A few random things to mention: Know the laws, and brand-generic names for the top 200 drugs, especially the controlled drugs. I also had some questions on the actual names of the vitamins (B12, vitamin K, etc. but I think that is part of the experimental question set.) I know techs aren't allowed to counsel but it's good to know a few interactions with coumadin like antibiotics, alcohol, NSAIDs, and etc. Coumadin is the biggest interaction we were prepped for because it is so common and serious, most others aren't really necessary. Know some of the common controlled drugs like percocet, vicodin, ativan, and etc.

A few odd questions I received were talking about crash carts and what are in them, who restocks them, and etc. Also know your math and conversions (m1v1=m2v2, etc.), units, drip rates, etc. I didn't have a huge number of questions on business reimbursement rates and etc.

There are 7 types of drugs to know about: C1-CV, legend drugs (RX only that aren't controlled) and then OTCs. That was something to look at for testing as well.