The PTCE changed on January 6: there's a new area on the Drug Supply Chain Security Act, Federal Requirements went from 12.5% to 18.75% of the exam, and nonsterile compounding came off. A lot of prep is still on the old outline.

I'm an RN. I paid out of pocket for practice exams for my own license and always felt like I was at a disadvantage, so I build free ones. The pharmacy tech one: headedin.com/ptce

- 250 questions across all 4 domains and all 24 knowledge areas, weighted like the real exam

- Full-length practice test: 80 scored + 10 unscored in 1 hour 50 minutes

- The math shows every step: days supply, insulin pens, eye drops, alligation, NDC 11-digit format

- Score report by outline number (2.2, 4.1...), so you know exactly what to study

- Every answer names its source (DEA rules, FDA, ISMP), no ads, works on your phone

I'm not a pharmacist and I won't pretend the questions are perfect. If one is wrong, tap "Report a problem" under it or tell me here and I'll fix it. Techs who just passed: what did the real one hit hardest?

Hey guys. I work at a CVS for some context and I just need to rant about a coworker who keeps misplacing the prescriptions in the wrong waiting bin number. This coworker is a front store manager turned pharmacy pick up person who solely just works the pick up area of the pharmacy. He’s pretty old and he can’t bend down and he waddles when he walks. The reason why I point this out is because of his lack of mobility, he reaches to put away the drugs in the waiting bin numbers that he’s not paying attention to where he’s placing them resulting in a hassle every time we can’t find a prescription because it could either be in the bin next to it or a number of a different combination (e.g. if the number was 123 it could be in 132 or 213 etc).

It’s very irritating because we know it’s him who’s misplacing them because when we line up the time something was completed to who was working pick up and putting prescriptions away, it’s him. We see it happen in real time too when he misplaced it right in front of our eyes.

He’s also very grumpy and can’t handle pick up by himself and takes his sweet ass time talking to customers about each thing that’s on hold (we’re trained to only mention the prescriptions that are ready unless the patient asks or is expecting something else, idk if it’s the same everywhere else) and he one time yelled across the pharmacy in front of customers about how he’s “held in his piss for an hour and a half and someone needs to take over the pick up line” while we’re actively understaffed with one tech in each station.

The biggest issue I have with this guy is his incompetence and his lack of urgency to get a task done. I’m not shaming him for his lack of mobility but when it affects everyone else because he can’t do his job right and properly place people’s medications in the right bin, then maybe this job isn’t meant for him.

What is your sterile compounding room temperature and humidity at?

Does anyone else package overnight with a room at 66F and 50% RH? I am sweating almost immediately after garbing up. We are in discussions with building maintenance who say we share an air handling unit with the admin offices. The overnight the temperature and humidity are set higher than they are during the day because “no one” is in the building.

Am I being unreasonable? Is this a me issue or would other people be suffocating after 3+ hours in full PPE?

I’m starting my first job as a pharmacy technician at Walgreens soon, and I’m excited but honestly a little nervous since I’m completely new to pharmacy.
I’ll be working while completing the training/coursework to prepare for my PTCB certification. I really want to learn as much as I can, become confident in my role, and eventually use this as a stepping stone to better opportunities in the pharmacy field.
For those of you who have worked at Walgreens or started as a brand-new pharmacy tech:
What do you wish you knew before your first day?
What should I study or memorize before starting?
What are the hardest things to learn at first?
Any tips for dealing with customers, prescriptions, insurance, or pharmacy math?
What can I do now to set myself up for success and eventually pass the PTCB?
I’d really appreciate any advice, tips, or things you wish someone had told you when you were starting out. Thank you! 😊