100+ Free PPB Pharmacist Exam Practice Questions

Pass your Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) Pharmacist Registration Examination exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Key Facts: PPB Pharmacist Exam Exam

Cap 244

The PPB regulates pharmacy under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, Chapter 244

Pharmacy and Poisons Board

2 stages

Pre-registration exam has Stage I (pre-internship) and Stage II (post-internship)

PPB - Registration and Enrollment

About 100 MCQs

The knowledge component is single-best-answer multiple choice per paper

PPB - Guidelines for Evaluation and Assessment

3 attempts

Maximum number of attempts allowed across the two stages

PPB - FAQ Pharmacy Practice

KES 9,500 / 7,000

Stage I and Stage II exam fees for Kenyan citizens

PPB - FAQ Pharmacy Practice

1-year internship

PPB-supervised internship is a prerequisite for the pre-registration exam

PPB - FAQ Pharmacy Practice

4-year B.Pharm

Eligibility requires a four-year B.Pharm acceptable to the PPB

PPB - Registration and Enrollment

100

Free original practice questions in this bank

OpenExamPrep

The PPB Pharmacist Registration Examination is the pre-registration exam B.Pharm graduates must pass to join the pharmacists register in Kenya, run by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act (Cap 244). It runs in two stages: Stage I for foreign-trained graduates before internship and Stage II after a PPB-supervised one-year internship, with a maximum of three attempts. Fees for Kenyan citizens are KES 9,500 (Stage I) and KES 7,000 (Stage II), with foreign nationals paying KES 22,000 and KES 20,000 respectively. The knowledge component is single-best-answer multiple choice (about 100 questions per paper); exact per-paper pass marks and weightings are PPB-guideline-defined and not all published publicly. This free 100-question bank covers pharmacology, pharmaceutics and dispensing, clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacognosy and Kenyan pharmacy law, in Kenya and WHO therapeutic context.

Sample PPB Pharmacist Exam Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your PPB Pharmacist Exam exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A patient is diagnosed with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. According to Kenyan national guidelines and WHO policy, what is the recommended first-line treatment?

A.Chloroquine

B.Artemether-lumefantrine

C.Quinine monotherapy

D.Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine alone

Explanation: Kenya, following WHO policy, uses artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for uncomplicated falciparum malaria, with artemether-lumefantrine (AL) as first line. Combining an artemisinin with a partner drug delays resistance.

2Which standard regimen is used for the intensive phase of treatment for new, drug-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis?

A.Rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol

B.Isoniazid and rifampicin only

C.Streptomycin and isoniazid

D.Rifampicin and pyrazinamide only

Explanation: The standard intensive phase for drug-sensitive TB is two months of rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol (RHZE), followed by a continuation phase of rifampicin and isoniazid. Four drugs reduce the risk of resistance and rapidly lower the bacterial load.

3A patient on antiretroviral therapy is taking an integrase strand transfer inhibitor as part of a preferred first-line regimen. Which drug is this?

A.Efavirenz

B.Dolutegravir

C.Nevirapine

D.Lopinavir

Explanation: Dolutegravir is an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) and is the preferred first-line agent in current WHO and Kenyan guidelines, usually combined with tenofovir and lamivudine (TLD). It has a high genetic barrier to resistance.

4Which of the following best describes the mechanism of action of beta-lactam antibiotics such as amoxicillin?

A.Inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis at the 30S ribosome

B.Inhibition of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan synthesis

C.Inhibition of DNA gyrase

D.Disruption of folate synthesis

Explanation: Beta-lactams bind penicillin-binding proteins and inhibit the transpeptidation step of peptidoglycan cross-linking, weakening the bacterial cell wall and causing lysis. This makes them most active against growing, dividing organisms.

5A patient develops a dry persistent cough after starting enalapril for hypertension. Which mechanism best explains this adverse effect?

A.Accumulation of bradykinin

B.Blockade of beta-2 receptors

C.Increased aldosterone secretion

D.Direct irritation of the gastric mucosa

Explanation: ACE inhibitors block the breakdown of bradykinin as well as angiotensin II. Accumulation of bradykinin in the lungs causes the characteristic dry cough. Switching to an angiotensin receptor blocker, which does not raise bradykinin, usually resolves it.

6Which antitubercular drug is most associated with peripheral neuropathy, which is prevented by co-administration of pyridoxine?

A.Rifampicin

B.Isoniazid

C.Ethambutol

D.Pyrazinamide

Explanation: Isoniazid interferes with pyridoxine (vitamin B6) metabolism, causing peripheral neuropathy especially in malnourished, diabetic, HIV-positive or pregnant patients. Pyridoxine supplementation prevents it.

7Ethambutol used in tuberculosis treatment most characteristically causes which adverse effect requiring monitoring?

A.Ototoxicity

B.Optic neuritis

C.Nephrotoxicity

D.Photosensitivity

Explanation: Ethambutol can cause dose-dependent optic neuritis presenting as reduced visual acuity and loss of red-green colour discrimination. Patients should be advised to report visual changes, and the drug is used cautiously in young children who cannot report symptoms.

8A patient on warfarin is started on a course of an antibiotic and develops a raised INR with bleeding. Which interaction mechanism is most likely?

A.Induction of warfarin metabolism

B.Inhibition of warfarin metabolism by CYP450

C.Increased synthesis of clotting factors

D.Reduced absorption of warfarin

Explanation: Many antibiotics (e.g. metronidazole, co-trimoxazole, fluconazole) inhibit the CYP450 enzymes that metabolise warfarin, raising plasma warfarin levels, increasing INR and bleeding risk. Antibiotics can also reduce vitamin K-producing gut flora, compounding the effect.

9Which receptor does salbutamol primarily act on to relieve bronchospasm in asthma?

A.Beta-1 adrenergic receptors

B.Beta-2 adrenergic receptors

C.Muscarinic M3 receptors

D.Alpha-1 adrenergic receptors

Explanation: Salbutamol is a selective beta-2 adrenergic agonist that relaxes bronchial smooth muscle, producing rapid bronchodilation. Its beta-2 selectivity limits, but does not abolish, cardiac (beta-1) effects such as tachycardia.

10Which drug is the first-line agent for type 2 diabetes mellitus in most patients without contraindications?

A.Glibenclamide

B.Metformin

C.Insulin glargine

D.Pioglitazone

Explanation: Metformin is first-line for type 2 diabetes because it lowers hepatic glucose production, improves insulin sensitivity, does not cause weight gain, and rarely causes hypoglycaemia as monotherapy. It is contraindicated in significant renal impairment due to lactic acidosis risk.

About the PPB Pharmacist Exam Exam

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) Pharmacist Registration Examination is the pre-registration assessment that B.Pharm graduates must pass to be entered in the pharmacists register and practise as registered pharmacists in Kenya. It is run by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act (Cap 244) and is delivered in two stages: Stage I, taken by graduates of universities outside Kenya before internship, and Stage II, taken after a PPB-supervised one-year internship; passing Stage II enters the candidate in the register. The examination assesses the competencies expected at B.Pharm exit level across pharmacology and therapeutics, pharmaceutics and dispensing, clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmaceutical calculations, and Kenyan pharmacy law and ethics. Questions are set in the Kenyan and WHO context, drawing on the Kenya Essential Medicines List and national treatment guidelines for malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. This 100-question bank covers the single-best-answer multiple-choice knowledge component. The label "ke-keph-pharmacy" is an internal id; the official exam name is the PPB Pharmacist Registration Examination.

Assessment

Two-stage pre-registration examination. The knowledge component is single-best-answer multiple choice (about 100 questions per MCQ paper), with additional short-answer/essay and practical or oral assessment in the full registration exam. Stage I is sat by foreign-trained graduates before internship; Stage II is sat after the PPB-supervised one-year internship.

Time Limit

Timed computer-based sittings; PPB sets and publishes the duration for each scheduled paper. Exact times are not fixed in public guidance and are confirmed for each exam diet.

Passing Score

The pass standard is defined in the PPB Guidelines for Evaluation and Assessment for Registration of Pharmacists. The exact per-paper pass mark and section weightings are guideline-defined and not all published publicly. Candidates have a maximum of three attempts across the two stages.

Exam Fee

Kenyan citizens: KES 9,500 (Stage I) and KES 7,000 (Stage II). Foreign nationals: KES 22,000 (Stage I) and KES 20,000 (Stage II). A further KES 5,000 is paid for the certificate of registration once all requirements are met. (Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), Kenya)

PPB Pharmacist Exam Exam Content Outline

30%

Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Drug mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, adverse effects and interactions, autonomic and cardiovascular drugs, antimicrobials, and rational therapeutics including artemisinin-based malaria treatment, TB regimens and antiretroviral therapy in the Kenyan and WHO context.

20%

Pharmaceutics, Dispensing and Calculations

Dosage form design and stability, biopharmaceutics and bioavailability, dispensing and labelling practice, and pharmaceutical calculations including concentrations, percentage strength, dilutions, displacement values and dose calculations.

20%

Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice

Pharmaceutical care and counselling, dosing in renal impairment, pregnancy and paediatrics, therapeutic drug monitoring, adverse-event and pharmacovigilance reporting, and use of the Kenya Essential Medicines List and national treatment guidelines.

12%

Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Medicinal and analytical chemistry covering structure-activity relationships, acid-base behaviour, partition and solubility, stereochemistry, common functional groups and pharmacopoeial assay and quality-control methods.

Pharmacognosy

Crude drugs and plant-derived medicines, classes of active constituents such as alkaloids and glycosides, and standardisation and quality control of herbal and natural products.

10%

Pharmacy Law and Ethics (Kenya)

The Pharmacy and Poisons Act (Cap 244), PPB registration and premises licensing, scheduling and control of poisons and narcotic and psychotropic substances, prescription requirements and professional ethics.

How to Pass the PPB Pharmacist Exam Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: The pass standard is defined in the PPB Guidelines for Evaluation and Assessment for Registration of Pharmacists. The exact per-paper pass mark and section weightings are guideline-defined and not all published publicly. Candidates have a maximum of three attempts across the two stages.
Assessment: Two-stage pre-registration examination. The knowledge component is single-best-answer multiple choice (about 100 questions per MCQ paper), with additional short-answer/essay and practical or oral assessment in the full registration exam. Stage I is sat by foreign-trained graduates before internship; Stage II is sat after the PPB-supervised one-year internship.
Time limit: Timed computer-based sittings; PPB sets and publishes the duration for each scheduled paper. Exact times are not fixed in public guidance and are confirmed for each exam diet.
Exam fee: Kenyan citizens: KES 9,500 (Stage I) and KES 7,000 (Stage II). Foreign nationals: KES 22,000 (Stage I) and KES 20,000 (Stage II). A further KES 5,000 is paid for the certificate of registration once all requirements are met.

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PPB Pharmacist Exam Study Tips from Top Performers

1Map your revision to the six content areas: pharmacology and therapeutics, pharmaceutics and dispensing, clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacognosy and Kenyan pharmacy law, and spend most time on therapeutics and clinical pharmacy.

2Learn first-line therapy from Kenyan and WHO guidelines: artemether-lumefantrine for uncomplicated malaria, the four-drug RHZE regimen for TB and current ART for HIV, including key adverse effects and interactions.

3Drill pharmaceutical calculations until they are automatic: percentage strength, dilutions, parts and ratios, displacement values and paediatric dosing by weight.

4Read the Pharmacy and Poisons Act (Cap 244) and PPB regulations on scheduling, narcotic and psychotropic control, prescription requirements, registration and premises licensing.

5Use the Kenya Essential Medicines List to anchor drug choice, and practise patient counselling points for high-risk medicines and special populations such as pregnancy, renal impairment and paediatrics.

6Practise single-best-answer technique: read the lead-in carefully, eliminate clearly wrong options, and choose the most correct answer rather than any merely acceptable one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who administers the pharmacist registration examination in Kenya?

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), the statutory regulator established under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act (Cap 244), administers the pre-registration examination that B.Pharm graduates must pass to be entered in the pharmacists register.

What are Stage I and Stage II of the PPB exam?

Stage I is taken by graduates of universities outside Kenya before they begin internship. Stage II is taken after the PPB-supervised one-year internship by both Stage I candidates and eligible local graduates; passing Stage II enters the candidate in the pharmacists register.

How many questions are on the exam and how is it formatted?

The knowledge component is computer-based single-best-answer multiple choice, with around 100 questions per MCQ paper. The full registration assessment also includes short-answer or essay and practical or oral components set by PPB.

What is the pass mark for the PPB pharmacist exam?

The pass standard is set in the PPB Guidelines for Evaluation and Assessment for Registration of Pharmacists. The exact per-paper pass mark and section weightings are guideline-defined and not all published publicly. Candidates may attempt the exam a maximum of three times across the two stages.

How much does the PPB pre-registration exam cost?

Kenyan citizens pay KES 9,500 for Stage I and KES 7,000 for Stage II; foreign nationals pay KES 22,000 for Stage I and KES 20,000 for Stage II. A further KES 5,000 is paid for the certificate of registration once all requirements are met.

Are these official PPB exam questions?

No. These are original OpenExamPrep practice questions modelled on the published exam content areas. They use the Kenya Essential Medicines List and national treatment guidelines as context but do not reproduce official PPB papers.