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Exam Review

Key Facts: PTCB Supply Chain Exam

75

Total Questions

PTCB

1h 20m

Exam Time

PTCB

300

Passing Scaled Score

Range 0-400

$89

Exam Fee

PTCB

ABC

Credential Type

Assessment-Based Certificate (no expiration)

Nov 2027

EDDS Small-Dispenser Date

FDA DSCSA exemption for small dispensers

The PTCB Supply Chain and Inventory Management Certificate is an Assessment-Based Certificate (ABC) — not a full certification — administered by PTCB. The exam consists of 75 multiple-choice questions in approximately 1 hour 20 minutes with a passing scaled score of 300. The fee is $89. Eligibility requires an active CPhT credential plus completion of a PTCB-Recognized education program. Three domains weight the exam: Laws/Regulations/Guidelines (37%), Inventory Management (35%), and Suppliers and Supply Chain Entities (28%). It does not expire and counts toward Advanced CPhT (CPhT-Adv).

Sample PTCB Supply Chain Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the PTCB Supply Chain exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 158+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), which document confirms that the entity transferring ownership is authorized and did not knowingly ship a suspect or illegitimate product?
A.Transaction history
B.Transaction information
C.Transaction statement
D.Bill of lading
Explanation: A transaction statement (TS) is the seller's formal declaration that it is authorized under DSCSA, received the product from an authorized person, received transaction information and a transaction statement from the prior owner, did not knowingly ship a suspect or illegitimate product, had verification systems in place, did not knowingly provide false transaction information, and did not knowingly alter the transaction history (FD&C Act section 581(27)). Transaction information (TI) and the TS are still exchanged at each change of ownership; the requirement to provide and receive transaction history ended November 27, 2023 under section 582(k)(1). PTCB's content outline refers to these documents together as 'T3'.
2Which agency is responsible for administering the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA)?
A.Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
B.Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
C.Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
D.Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Explanation: The FDA administers DSCSA, which was enacted in 2013 as Title II of the Drug Quality and Security Act. The FDA sets requirements for product tracing, serialization, verification, suspect/illegitimate product handling, and trading partner licensure for prescription drugs in the United States.
3A pharmacy receives a shipment containing a bottle whose serialized 2D barcode does not match any record in the wholesaler's transaction information. What is the MOST appropriate next step under DSCSA?
A.Place the product on the shelf and dispense as usual
B.Quarantine the product and investigate as a suspect product
C.Return it to the wholesaler as a routine saleable return
D.Destroy the product immediately without documentation
Explanation: A package whose product identifier does not match the seller's data gives reason to believe the product may be counterfeit, diverted, or otherwise suspect. Under FD&C Act section 582(d)(4)(A), a dispenser must quarantine suspect product from product intended for distribution and promptly investigate with its trading partners, including checking the lot number, verifying product identifiers, and validating the transaction data it holds. If the investigation shows the product is illegitimate, the dispenser notifies FDA (Form FDA 3911) and immediate trading partners that may have received it within 24 hours; if it is cleared, it may be dispensed.
4Which of the following is REQUIRED to appear on DSCSA-compliant transaction information for a prescription drug shipment?
A.Patient name and diagnosis code
B.NDC, lot number, and number of containers
C.Prescriber name and DEA number
D.Wholesale acquisition cost and invoice terms
Explanation: FD&C Act section 581(26) defines transaction information as the product's proprietary or established name, strength and dosage form, NDC, container size, number of containers, lot number, transaction date, shipment date (if more than 24 hours after the transaction), and the business names and addresses of the seller and buyer. Under enhanced drug distribution security, TI must also include the product identifier for each package in the transaction, except where an FDA exemption applies.
5Which of the following is EXCLUDED from the DSCSA definition of 'product'?
A.Prescription tablets in a finished dosage form
B.Lyophilized powder before reconstitution
C.Blood or blood components for transfusion
D.Sterile injectable prescription antibiotics
Explanation: FD&C Act section 581(13) defines a DSCSA 'product' as a prescription drug in finished dosage form for administration to a patient without substantial further manufacturing, such as tablets, capsules, and lyophilized products before reconstitution. The definition excludes blood or blood components intended for transfusion, radioactive drugs or biologics regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (or an agreement state), imaging drugs, certain intravenous products, medical gases, homeopathic drugs marketed in accordance with FDA guidance, and drugs compounded in compliance with sections 503A or 503B.
6Within how many hours of confirming a product as illegitimate must a dispenser notify the FDA using Form FDA 3911?
A.12 hours
B.24 hours
C.48 hours
D.72 hours
Explanation: Under DSCSA, dispensers (including pharmacies) must notify the FDA within 24 hours of determining that a product in their possession is illegitimate, using Form FDA 3911. Trading partners and immediate downstream recipients must also be notified.
7Under DSCSA, which best describes an 'authorized' trading partner?
A.Any business with a federal tax ID that buys or sells prescription drugs
B.One with the valid registration or license required for its role
C.Any pharmacy benefit manager that contracts with the pharmacy
D.Any retailer licensed by the state to sell OTC products
Explanation: FD&C Act section 581(2) defines 'authorized' by role: manufacturers and repackagers need a valid FDA establishment registration; wholesale distributors need a valid license (state, or FDA where no state program exists) and must meet FDA's annual reporting requirement; third-party logistics providers need a valid license and must meet their annual FDA reporting requirement; and dispensers need a valid state license. Manufacturers, repackagers, wholesale distributors, and dispensers may trade only with authorized trading partners.
8Which agency licenses and oversees pharmacy practice and wholesale distribution within an individual state?
A.Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
B.Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
C.State Board of Pharmacy
D.Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Explanation: State Boards of Pharmacy license and inspect pharmacies, license or register pharmacists and technicians, and in most states license wholesale distributors and other supply chain entities operating in or shipping into the state. Federal law (21 U.S.C. 353(e)(1)) requires wholesale distributors to be licensed by the state they ship from, and by the receiving state if that state requires it; FDA licenses only where a state has no program.
9Which DEA form is required to order Schedule II controlled substances when ordering on paper?
A.DEA Form 41
B.DEA Form 106
C.DEA Form 222
D.DEA Form 224
Explanation: A DEA Form 222 (or its electronic equivalent through CSOS) is required for each distribution of a Schedule I or II controlled substance (21 CFR 1305.03), so a pharmacy uses it to order Schedule II drugs on paper. DEA Form 41 records destruction, Form 106 reports theft or significant loss, and Form 224 is the application for a new pharmacy or practitioner registration.
10A pharmacy discovers a significant theft of oxycodone tablets. Which DEA form must be filed to report the loss?
A.DEA Form 41
B.DEA Form 106
C.DEA Form 222
D.DEA Form 510
Explanation: DEA Form 106 is used to report theft or significant loss of controlled substances. Under 21 CFR 1301.76(b), the pharmacy must notify its DEA Field Division Office in writing within one business day of discovering the theft or loss and then file a complete Form 106 electronically within 45 days. Many states also require notice to the board of pharmacy, and pharmacies commonly notify local police.

About the PTCB Supply Chain Exam

PTCB Assessment-Based Certificate (ABC) for pharmacy technicians performing supply chain and inventory management functions. The exam covers FDA, DEA, and State Board requirements and the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA); inventory management, documentation, controlled substance records, drug shortages, and contract types such as GPO and 340B; and the purpose and limits of supply chain entities, from manufacturers and wholesalers to 3PLs and 503B outsourcing facilities. This is a Certificate (not a certification) — it does not award a post-nominal acronym and does not require renewal.

Exam sponsor: PTCB. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

75 questions

Time Limit

1 hour 20 minutes

Passing Score

Scaled 300 (0-400)

Exam / Certification Fees

$89

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

37%

Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines

FDA, DEA, and State Board roles; DSCSA scope, serialization, T3 data, receiving, and suspect products

35%

Inventory Management, Documentation, and Recordkeeping

Documentation, controlled substance records, inventory methods, turns, shortages, contract types, 503A and bagging

28%

Types of Suppliers and Supply Chain Entities

Manufacturers, repackagers, wholesalers, OTC-only and virtual distributors, 3PLs, 503B, foreign sourcing, drug transfers

Preparing for the PTCB Supply Chain Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Scaled 300 (0-400)
  • Exam length: 75 questions
  • Time limit: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Exam / certification fees: $89 Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 158 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PTCB Supply Chain: Suggested Study Strategy

1Know the DSCSA 'T3' data: Transaction Information (product, lot, and transaction details) and the Transaction Statement (the seller's attestation) are still required; the Transaction History requirement ended November 27, 2023. Enhanced Drug Distribution Security took legal effect November 27, 2023, with FDA exemptions running to November 27, 2027 for small dispensers
2Learn the suspect-product red flags named in PTCB's outline: counterfeit, diverted, grey market, misbranded, and poor-integrity products
3Know DEA controlled substance records: initial and biennial inventories, theft/loss reporting, wastage, and transfers to reverse distributors
4Know inventory math: turns = cost of goods sold ÷ average inventory; days' supply = 365 ÷ turns; and how want books, par levels, just-in-time, and perpetual inventory differ
5Distinguish 503A pharmacy compounding (Inventory domain) from 503B outsourcing facilities (Suppliers domain): 503B facilities register with FDA, follow cGMP, and cannot have their products resold

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the PTCB Supply Chain Certificate a certification?

No. PTCB classifies this as an Assessment-Based Certificate (ABC), not a certification. It does not award a post-nominal acronym after your name and does not expire. ABCs validate working knowledge in a focused practice area and count toward the Advanced CPhT (CPhT-Adv) credential, which requires four ABCs.

What are the eligibility requirements?

You need an active PTCB CPhT credential plus completion of a PTCB-Recognized Supply Chain and Inventory Management Education/Training Program. The PTCB-Recognized program is required — you cannot bypass it with experience alone. After completing the program, you can register for the exam and schedule with Pearson VUE (online-proctored or test center).

What is the most heavily weighted domain?

Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines is the largest domain at 37%. It covers the roles of FDA, DEA, and State Boards of Pharmacy, which products the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) covers, serialization, the 'T3' transaction data (transaction information and the transaction statement; the transaction-history requirement ended November 27, 2023) and how it is transmitted, receiving requirements, and signs of suspect products. Enhanced Drug Distribution Security (EDDS) took legal effect November 27, 2023; FDA exemptions phased enforcement from May 27, 2025 (manufacturers and repackagers) through November 27, 2027 (small dispensers).

What kind of math is on the exam?

PTCB's content outline names only one calculation-style topic: considerations for determining inventory days' supply and inventory 'turns' in the Inventory Management domain (35%). Know that turns = cost of goods sold ÷ average inventory value and days' supply = 365 ÷ turns, and how par levels and forecasting affect them. The outline does not list pricing formulas.

How should I study for this exam?

Work through a PTCB-Recognized Supply Chain and Inventory Management program (required for eligibility), then study PTCB's content outline and free Reference Guide line by line. Focus on the two largest domains — Laws/Regulations/Guidelines and Inventory Management, together 72% of the exam: DSCSA scope, serialization, T3 data and suspect-product signs; DEA controlled substance records; inventory methods, turns, and contract types such as GPO and 340B; and what each supply chain entity, including 503B outsourcing facilities, may and may not do.