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Free Practice Questions for Rwanda National Pharmacy Council Pre-Registration Examination

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Sample Rwanda National Pharmacy Council Pre-Registration Examination Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Rwanda National Pharmacy Council Pre-Registration Examination exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A pharmacist must prepare 500 mL of 0.05% w/v chlorhexidine solution from a 5% w/v stock solution. What volume of stock is needed?
A.2.5 mL
B.10 mL
C.5 mL
D.25 mL
Explanation: Using C1 x V1 = C2 x V2: 5% x V1 = 0.05% x 500 mL, so V1 = 25 / 5 = 5 mL. The 5 mL of stock is made up to 500 mL with purified water.
2How many millimoles (mEq) of sodium are in 1,000 mL of 0.9% w/v sodium chloride injection? (NaCl = 58.5 g/mol)
A.77 mmol
B.308 mmol
C.100 mmol
D.154 mmol
Explanation: 0.9% w/v is 9 g per litre. 9,000 mg / 58.5 = about 154 mmol of NaCl, which gives 154 mmol of sodium and 154 mmol of chloride. Because both ions are monovalent, this is also 154 mEq of sodium.
3A child is prescribed amoxicillin suspension 250 mg three times daily for 7 days. The reconstituted suspension contains 125 mg/5 mL. What total volume should be dispensed?
A.105 mL
B.210 mL
C.140 mL
D.280 mL
Explanation: Each 250 mg dose is (250 / 125) x 5 mL = 10 mL. Three doses a day is 30 mL, and 7 days is 30 x 7 = 210 mL.
4A health centre has 1,800 tablets of a medicine in stock. Its average monthly consumption (AMC) over the last three months is 400 tablets. How many months of stock does it have?
A.4.5 months
B.0.22 months
C.3.5 months
D.2.25 months
Explanation: Months of stock = stock on hand / average monthly consumption = 1,800 / 400 = 4.5 months. Expressing stock in months makes it easy to compare against the facility's minimum and maximum stock levels.
5What is the main role of a humectant such as glycerol in a topical cream or gel?
A.To lower the interfacial tension between oil and water phases
B.To retain water in the product and help hydrate the skin
C.To prevent microbial growth in the product
D.To slow oxidation of the active ingredient
Explanation: Humectants such as glycerol, propylene glycol and sorbitol are hygroscopic. They reduce water loss from the product during storage and use and draw moisture into the outer layer of the skin.
6In the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS), how are Class II drugs described?
A.High solubility, high permeability
B.High solubility, low permeability
C.Low solubility, low permeability
D.Low solubility, high permeability
Explanation: BCS Class I is high solubility and high permeability, Class II low solubility and high permeability, Class III high solubility and low permeability, and Class IV low solubility and low permeability. For Class II drugs, dissolution usually limits the rate of absorption, so formulation strongly affects bioavailability.
7In validating heat sterilisation, what does the D-value (decimal reduction time) describe?
A.Time at a set temperature for a 90% (one-log) kill
B.The temperature change needed to change the D-value tenfold
C.The total time needed to kill every spore at 121 degrees C
D.The time an autoclave takes to reach working pressure
Explanation: The D-value is the time, at a stated temperature, needed to reduce the number of viable organisms by one log (90%). The Z-value is the temperature change that changes the D-value by a factor of ten.
8How much 10% sulfur ointment is needed to make 200 g of 5% sulfur ointment by diluting it with white soft paraffin (0%)?
A.50 g
B.150 g
C.75 g
D.100 g
Explanation: By alligation, 10% ointment provides 5 parts (5 - 0) and the paraffin 5 parts (10 - 5), a 1:1 ratio. Half of 200 g, that is 100 g, is the 10% ointment and 100 g is paraffin.
9Using the Cockcroft-Gault equation, estimate the creatinine clearance of a 65-year-old woman weighing 60 kg with a serum creatinine of 1.2 mg/dL (106 micromol/L).
A.52 mL/min
B.38 mL/min
C.44 mL/min
D.63 mL/min
Explanation: CrCl = [(140 - age) x weight in kg] / (72 x serum creatinine in mg/dL), multiplied by 0.85 for women. Here (75 x 60) / (72 x 1.2) = 4,500 / 86.4 = 52.1 mL/min, and 52.1 x 0.85 = 44 mL/min. Doses of renally cleared drugs are then adjusted to this estimate.
10A drug follows first-order elimination with an elimination rate constant of 0.1155 per hour. What is its half-life?
A.3 hours
B.8.7 hours
C.6 hours
D.12 hours
Explanation: For first-order elimination, t1/2 = 0.693 / k = 0.693 / 0.1155 = 6 hours. Steady state on regular dosing is reached after about four to five half-lives, here roughly 24 to 30 hours.

About the Rwanda National Pharmacy Council Pre-Registration Examination Exam

The NPC Pre-Registration Examination is the knowledge assessment that pharmacy graduates must pass before registering with Rwanda's National Pharmacy Council under Law Nº 45/2012. Applicants need a pharmacy degree and a one-year professional internship in Rwandan settings, then sit a 100-MCQ written paper and an oral examination, each with a 60% pass mark. This free page offers 100 independent practice MCQs with explanations, distributed across the six assessed areas in the published guidelines. It is an English-language MCQ study adaptation: it is not an official NPC paper and does not simulate the oral examination.

Exam sponsor: National Pharmacy Council (NPC), Rwanda. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

The NPC Pre-registration Examination Guidelines describe two parts. The written examination has 100 MCQs over a maximum of 180 minutes, uses SI units and generic drug names, and allows a scientific calculator. Candidates who pass sit an oral examination of up to 20 minutes in two stations: medication knowledge and pharmaceutical care (including role play), and legal and ethical practice with supply chain management. A written pass is valid for 12 months. Sessions are held in February and September, with special sessions possible; the September 2026 written examination was on 18 September 2026 and the oral on 4 October 2026.

Time Limit

Up to 180 minutes (written); up to 20 minutes per candidate (oral)

Passing Score

60% in the written examination and 60% in the oral examination

Exam / Certification Fees

20,000 RWF for Rwandan pharmacists and pharmacy technicians; USD 40 for EAC applicants; USD 100 for other non-nationals

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.

30%

Applied Therapeutics

Medication therapy management, laboratory interpretation, and management of malaria (including Rwanda's multiple first-line therapy strategy), HIV, TB, cardiovascular, renal and endocrine disease.

15%

Pharmacology and Toxicology

Pharmacokinetic calculations, mechanisms of action by organ system, anticancer and antimicrobial drugs, and antidotes.

15%

Pharmacy Practice

Drug-related problems, counselling, medication errors, WHO-UMC causality assessment, ADR reporting to Rwanda FDA, cold chain and stewardship.

15%

Pharmaceutics

Dilution, alligation and displacement calculations, BCS, emulsions and suspensions, stability, sterilisation and enteric coating.

15%

Supply Chain Management

Months of stock, max-min ordering, emergency order points, ABC and VEN analysis, EOQ, FEFO, VVMs, donations, GDP and Incoterms 2020.

10%

Pharmacy Laws and Regulations

Roles of NPC and Rwanda FDA, narcotics control, falsified medicines, clinical trial approval, CPD and professional ethics.

Preparing for the Rwanda National Pharmacy Council Pre-Registration Examination Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 60% in the written examination and 60% in the oral examination
  • Assessment: The NPC Pre-registration Examination Guidelines describe two parts. The written examination has 100 MCQs over a maximum of 180 minutes, uses SI units and generic drug names, and allows a scientific calculator. Candidates who pass sit an oral examination of up to 20 minutes in two stations: medication knowledge and pharmaceutical care (including role play), and legal and ethical practice with supply chain management. A written pass is valid for 12 months. Sessions are held in February and September, with special sessions possible; the September 2026 written examination was on 18 September 2026 and the oral on 4 October 2026.
  • Time limit: Up to 180 minutes (written); up to 20 minutes per candidate (oral)
  • Exam / certification fees: 20,000 RWF for Rwandan pharmacists and pharmacy technicians; USD 40 for EAC applicants; USD 100 for other non-nationals Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Rwanda National Pharmacy Council Pre-Registration Examination: Suggested Study Strategy

1Use the published weights: applied therapeutics is 30% of the written paper, and supply chain management is 15%.
2Practise supply chain calculations such as months of stock, max-min order quantities and EOQ, using the USAID Logistics Handbook listed in the NPC references.
3Review Rwanda's malaria guidance, including the multiple first-line therapy strategy, and first-line HIV and TB regimens and their interactions.
4Prepare for the oral by rehearsing patient counselling, prescription problem-solving and the legal roles of NPC and Rwanda FDA.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of the NPC pre-registration examination?

The NPC guidelines describe a written examination of 100 MCQs lasting up to 180 minutes, followed for successful candidates by an oral examination of up to 20 minutes in two stations covering pharmaceutical care, legal and ethical practice, and supply chain management.

What is the pass mark?

The pass mark is 60% for both the written examination and the oral interview. A candidate who passes the written paper but fails the interview may sit one additional interview; failing that, the written examination must be retaken.

How much does the examination cost?

NPC lists pre-registration knowledge assessment fees of 20,000 RWF for Rwandan pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, USD 40 for EAC applicants and USD 100 for other non-nationals. Registration and licence fees are separate.

Who is eligible to sit the examination?

Applicants need a bachelor's degree in pharmacy and a completed one-year professional internship in Rwandan settings. Non-Rwandans also need registration and a good-standing certificate from their home council, and proof of English or French proficiency if they trained in another language.

Are these questions official NPC examination items?

No. They are independent English-language practice MCQs written by OpenExamPrep across the six areas listed in the NPC guidelines. They are not official NPC questions and do not replace preparation for the oral examination.