Try the full study dashboard free, no signup: practice, flashcards and your Exam Readiness Score. Open it →
PEBCQuizBank
Start free
Home / Practice tests / PEBC Technician MCQ
Pharmacy Technician Qualifying Examination · Last updated November 2026

PEBC Pharmacy Technician Qualifying Examination Part I (MCQ): free practice test

Part I of the two-part PEBC exam for pharmacy technicians in Canada, based on NAPRA's entry-to-practice competencies. Distribution is the core of Part I (about 53%), followed by Clinical Care (17%), Professionalism (13%), Knowledge and Expertise (6%), Leadership and Stewardship (6%) and Communication and Collaboration (5%). It runs in a spring and a fall window each year.

Start the free 15-question testRead the study guide

Premium: 3,000 practice questions, 6 full mock exams, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes, topic by topic. See the study path ·

Or open the free PEBC Technician MCQ study dashboard: flashcards, notes and your Readiness Score, no signup →

About the PEBC Technician MCQ exam

Part I of the two-part PEBC exam for pharmacy technicians in Canada, based on NAPRA's entry-to-practice competencies. Distribution is the core of Part I (about 53%), followed by Clinical Care (17%), Professionalism (13%), Knowledge and Expertise (6%), Leadership and Stewardship (6%) and Communication and Collaboration (5%). It runs in a spring and a fall window each year.

What's on the exam

PEBC Technician MCQ
Prescription Processing and Dispensing
6 key facts
Pharmacy Calculations
6 key facts
Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding
6 key facts
Product Verification and Release
6 key facts
Inventory, Storage and Distribution Systems
6 key facts
Communication, Collaboration and Scope
5 key facts
Law, Ethics and Patient Safety
6 key facts

Each branch is a topic in the official outline. Members see every key fact on the full mind map. Read the free study guide →

How to pass the PEBC Technician MCQ exam

  • Over half of Part I is Distribution: processing prescriptions, calculations, compounding, product checks and inventory. That's where most of your study time should go.
  • Calculation questions are free marks if you set them up the same way every time: write the units, cancel them, then check that the answer is sensible.
  • Know your scope. When a question involves a therapeutic decision or a patient's clinical question, the technician's answer is to refer to the pharmacist.
  • You can't tell which questions are unscored pretest items, so give every question your full attention and never leave one blank.

Save your results and get your Readiness Score

Create a free account after the test: your score by topic, a mistakes bank, the complete study notes for the first topic, flashcards and the Calculations & Canadian Targets Sheet.

Take the test first

What's in the premium PEBC Technician MCQ prep

Premium PEBC Technician MCQ prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.

3,000practice questions, every answer explained
6full-length mock exams, 50 questions each, timed
800flashcards with spaced repetition, sorted by topic
60comprehensive key notes across 7 topics

Your step-by-step study path

  1. 1
    Prescription Processing and Dispensing9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 450 practice questions in 18 sets of 25
    Notes free with an account
  2. 2
    Pharmacy Calculations9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25
    Premium
  3. 3
    Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25
    Premium
  4. 4
    Product Verification and Release9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25
    Premium
  5. 5
    Inventory, Storage and Distribution Systems8 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25
    Premium
  6. 6
    Communication, Collaboration and Scope8 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25
    Premium
  7. 7
    Law, Ethics and Patient Safety8 key notes, 110 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25
    Premium
  8. Final step: 6 full mock exams50 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.
    Premium
Free with an account

Read the complete PEBC Technician MCQ study notes for “Prescription Processing and Dispensing”

Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 14 minutes of reading: What a complete prescription contains · Reading the directions · Days' supply and quantity · Identifying the right product · Scope: what the technician does, what the pharmacist does, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.

Open the free dashboard

Study tools included

3,000 practice questions

3,000 exam-style questions per exam, organized topic by topic in sets of 25. Every answer explained, with the rule it comes from.

6 full mock exams

6 full-length timed mock exams per exam, with real question counts and time limits, so test day feels like practice day.

Exam Readiness Score

One 0 to 100 number that tells you when you're ready to book. Reach 80 and you're covered by our Pass Guarantee.

800 flashcards + spaced repetition

800 flashcards per exam, in a deck for each topic, that come back right before you'd forget them. Five minutes a day keeps every number fresh.

60 comprehensive key notes

60 key notes per exam, split across its topics and each explained in full: the concepts, worked exam examples, the traps examiners use and a quick recap. Your first set is free with an account.

Mind maps

See the whole exam on one screen: every topic and the facts under it.

Sample questions with answers

These are the questions in the free test above, with answers. Try the test first. You'll learn more by getting some wrong.

1. A prescription reads: 'Metformin 500 mg, take 2 tablets twice daily. Mitte: 360 tablets.' How many days will this supply last?
Answer: 90 days. The patient takes 2 tablets × 2 times = 4 tablets a day. 360 ÷ 4 = 90 days. Days' supply errors cause early-refill rejections and gaps in therapy, so always calculate from the directions.
2. What does the Drug Identification Number (DIN) on a Canadian drug product identify?
Answer: A specific product: its manufacturer, brand name, medicinal ingredient(s), strength, dosage form and route. Health Canada assigns an 8-digit DIN to each drug product approved for sale. A change in manufacturer, strength, dosage form or route means a different DIN. Natural health products carry an NPN instead.
3. How should the directions '1 tab po tid pc' be written on the label?
Answer: Take 1 tablet by mouth three times daily after meals. po = by mouth, tid = three times a day, pc = after meals (post cibum). ac means before meals, prn means as needed, and SL means sublingual.
4. How many millilitres of 70% isopropyl alcohol are needed to prepare 500 mL of 40% isopropyl alcohol?
Answer: 286 mL. C1V1 = C2V2: 70% × V1 = 40% × 500 mL, so V1 = 20,000 ÷ 70 = 285.7 mL, about 286 mL. Make up to 500 mL with purified water.
5. The pharmacist has verified a dose of acetaminophen 15 mg/kg for a child who weighs 18 kg. The suspension is 160 mg/5 mL. What volume is one dose?
Answer: 8.4 mL. Dose = 15 mg/kg × 18 kg = 270 mg. Volume = 270 mg × (5 mL ÷ 160 mg) = 8.4 mL.
6. 1,000 mL of normal saline is to run over 8 hours with an administration set that delivers 15 drops/mL. What is the flow rate in drops per minute?
Answer: 31 drops/min. 1,000 mL ÷ 480 min = 2.083 mL/min. 2.083 mL/min × 15 drops/mL = 31.25, about 31 drops/min. 125 is the rate in mL/h.
7. Under NAPRA's model standards for sterile compounding, the primary engineering control (such as a laminar airflow workbench or biological safety cabinet) where sterile preparations are made must provide air quality of at least:
Answer: ISO Class 5. The critical work zone inside the primary engineering control must meet ISO Class 5. The surrounding cleanroom (buffer area) is typically ISO Class 7 and the anteroom ISO Class 7 or 8.
8. A compounding technician must mix 50 mg of a potent drug powder evenly into 50 g of a powder base. Which technique gives a uniform mix?
Answer: Geometric dilution: mix the drug with an equal amount of base, then keep adding base equal to the amount in the mortar. Geometric dilution builds the mix in equal portions so a small amount of potent drug spreads evenly through a large amount of diluent. Adding all the base at once risks uneven content, which is a serious safety problem with potent drugs.
9. Shelf labels show 'hydrOXYzine' and 'hydrALAZINE'. What is the purpose of this mixed-case (tall man) lettering?
Answer: To reduce selection errors between look-alike, sound-alike drug names. Tall man lettering highlights the parts of look-alike, sound-alike names that differ, so the wrong product is less likely to be picked. ISMP Canada and other safety organizations publish recommended lists.
10. During the final check of a filled prescription, which step most reliably confirms that the correct product was selected?
Answer: Comparing the DIN on the stock container (or scanning its barcode) with the DIN on the prescription record. The DIN identifies the exact product, strength and dosage form, so matching it (or scanning the barcode) catches wrong-drug and wrong-strength errors. Appearance and memory are unreliable, and a correct count doesn't confirm the right product.
11. According to Canada's National Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines, refrigerated vaccines must be kept at:
Answer: +2°C to +8°C. Most vaccines are stored between +2°C and +8°C. Freezing can destroy many vaccines (for example, adjuvanted and inactivated vaccines), so any temperature excursion must be documented and the product quarantined until its use is assessed.
12. A stock bottle is labelled 'EXP 2027-06'. Until when can it be used?
Answer: The last day of June 2027. When an expiry date gives only a month and year, the product expires at the end of that month. Separate beyond-use dates can apply once a product is repackaged, reconstituted or compounded.
13. While picking up her prescription, a patient asks the pharmacy technician whether she can take ibuprofen with her warfarin. What should the technician do?
Answer: Refer her to the pharmacist, because this is a drug therapy question. Advice on drug interactions and therapy is the pharmacist's responsibility. The technician's role is to recognize the question and refer the patient to the pharmacist straight away, not to answer it or send the patient elsewhere.
14. Which of these is on ISMP Canada's 'Do Not Use' list of dangerous abbreviations?
Answer: U (for unit). 'U' can be misread as 0 or 4 (or as 'cc'), causing tenfold or larger overdoses, especially with insulin and heparin. Write 'unit' in full. 'mL' and 'mcg' are the recommended forms.
15. A patient's husband calls the pharmacy and asks which medications his wife is taking. There's no record of her authorization. What is the appropriate response?
Answer: Explain that the information can't be shared without the patient's consent. Personal health information is confidential under privacy law and pharmacy standards. Being a spouse isn't consent. Without the patient's authorization (or another lawful basis), the information can't be disclosed.

Get the full PEBC Technician MCQ prep

Most popular · cancel anytime

Premium Monthly

C$207/month
per exam
About C$6.81 a day · far less than the PEBC exam fee you would pay again for a retake
  • One PEBC exam of your choice: Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician Part I
  • 3,000 practice questions + 6 full mock exams per exam
  • 800 flashcards + 60 key notes per exam, by topic, plus mind maps
  • Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
  • Readiness Score & detailed reports
  • Video lessons as they release
  • Content updates during your access
  • 5 bonuses: calculations and targets sheet, first-line therapy atlas, study planner and more
  • Pass Guarantee: complete the prep, pass or 100% back

Renews monthly until you cancel. Cancel in two clicks from your account; you keep access until the end of the month you've paid for. No minimum term.

Best value · 3 months free

Premium Yearly

C$1,863/year
per exam
Pay for 9 months, get 12. Save C$621 against paying monthly.
  • One PEBC exam of your choice: Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician Part I
  • 3,000 practice questions + 6 full mock exams per exam
  • 800 flashcards + 60 key notes per exam, by topic, plus mind maps
  • Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
  • Readiness Score & detailed reports
  • Video lessons as they release
  • Content updates during your access
  • 5 bonuses: calculations and targets sheet, first-line therapy atlas, study planner and more
  • Pass Guarantee: complete the prep, pass or 100% back

Renews once a year until you cancel. We email you before each renewal. Cancel any time from your account; you keep access until the end of the year you've paid for.

Pass Guarantee. Complete the full prep, sit your exam within 60 days, and if you don't pass we refund 100% of your subscription payments. See the requirements
Secure checkout by Stripe Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay Pass Guarantee

PEBC Technician MCQ exam FAQ

How many questions are on the PEBC Technician MCQ exam?

Multiple-choice questions, standalone and case-based (the number of questions isn't stated on the exam pages), with a time limit of 3 hours 45 minutes (the exam sitting). Format: closed book, computer-based (on-screen calculator and formulas provided).

What is the passing score for PEBC Technician MCQ?

Not published. A panel of experts sets the cut score and results are pass or fail; practise to 70% or higher.

How much does the PEBC Technician MCQ exam cost?

C$585 (2027 fee). Part II (OSPE) is C$1,240; the Pharmacy Technician International Evaluation is C$500. PEBC sets new fees each exam year, so confirm on pebc.ca before you apply.

Which languages is the PEBC Technician MCQ exam offered in?

English or French.

Where do I take the PEBC Technician MCQ exam?

Prometric (test centre or remote proctoring).

Is this PEBC Technician MCQ practice test free?

Yes. The 15-question practice test on this page is free, with an explanation for every answer and no signup. A free account also unlocks the complete study notes for the first topic. The full PEBC Technician MCQ prep is Premium at C$207 a month for this exam.

What's in the premium PEBC Technician MCQ prep?

3,000 practice questions organized topic by topic (Prescription Processing and Dispensing: 450; Pharmacy Calculations: 425; Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding: 425; Product Verification and Release: 425; Inventory, Storage and Distribution Systems: 425; Communication, Collaboration and Scope: 425; Law, Ethics and Patient Safety: 425), 6 full-length timed mock exams of 50 questions, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes split across all 7 topics, plus a mistakes bank and the Readiness Score.

Compare PEBC Technician MCQ with the other PEBC MCQ

Related practice tests

Exam details are summarized from the official candidate information available in November 2026. PEBC changes formats and fees, so confirm with The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) before you book. PEBCQuizBank is not affiliated with The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada or Prometric.

Start the free test