CPhT (PTCB) Cheat Sheet.
The night-before summary, built like the exam.

PTCE at a Glance

• 90 multiple-choice questions (80 scored + 10 unscored pretest items, delivered on-screen)
• Passing scaled score: 1,400 (scale runs 1,000–1,600)
• Exam fee: $129
• Format: computer-based, taken at a testing center or via online proctoring

The 4 Knowledge Domains

Budget your study time by weight — the largest domain is worth memorizing cold.

• Medications — largest domain: brand↔generic names, drug classes, indications, common doses, side effects, look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) pairs, storage requirements
• Federal Requirements — controlled-substance schedules, FDA/DEA rules, recalls, restricted programs (REMS)
• Patient Safety & Quality Assurance — high-alert meds, error prevention, hygiene/cleaning, hazardous drug handling
• Order Entry & Processing — the pharmacy math domain: dosing, compounding, days' supply, inventory

Must-Know Pharmacy Math Formulas

• Desired ÷ Have × Quantity = dose to dispense
• Percent strength: % = (grams of solute ÷ 100 mL) × 100 → e.g., a 5% solution = 5 g per 100 mL
• Alligation for mixing two concentrations to a target strength
• Days' supply = total quantity dispensed ÷ quantity used per day
• Flow rate: mL/hr = total volume ÷ total time; gtt/min = (volume × drop factor) ÷ time in minutes
• Body-surface-area (BSA) dosing for pediatric/oncology calculations

Conversions to Memorize

• 1 kg = 2.2 lb
• 1 g = 1,000 mg; 1 mg = 1,000 mcg
• 1 L = 1,000 mL
• 1 tsp = 5 mL; 1 tbsp = 15 mL; 1 fl oz ≈ 30 mL
• 1 gr (grain) ≈ 65 mg
• Temp: °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9

Controlled-Substance Schedules (C-I to C-V)

• C-I — no accepted medical use, highest abuse potential (e.g., heroin, LSD)
• C-II — high abuse potential, no refills; written/e-Rx required (e.g., oxycodone, morphine, amphetamine)
• C-III–C-IV — moderate/low abuse; up to 5 refills within 6 months
• C-V — lowest abuse potential (e.g., low-dose codeine cough preparations)

Key Federal Rules & Forms

• DEA Form 222 — ordering C-II substances (or CSOS electronic equivalent)
• DEA Form 41 — destruction of controlled substances
• DEA Form 106 — reporting theft/significant loss
• Prescriber DEA number check: sum of 1st, 3rd, 5th digits + 2×(2nd, 4th, 6th digits); last digit of the total must match the last digit of the DEA number

Safety Must-Remembers

• Use TALL man lettering to distinguish LASA drugs (e.g., predniSONE vs. prednisoLONE)
• Know the ISMP list of high-alert medications (insulin, heparin, opioids, anticoagulants, chemo)
• Do the "five rights": right patient, drug, dose, route, time
• Hazardous drugs follow USP <800>; sterile compounding follows USP <797>; non-sterile follows USP <795>

Test-Day Strategy

• With a 1,400 scaled cut score, you don't need perfection — pace yourself and answer every question (no penalty for guessing on a scaled-score exam).
• Flag calculation-heavy items and return to them; verify unit conversions before finalizing.
• Drill brand/generic pairs daily — the Medications domain rewards raw recall more than any other section.