Order entry & processing quiz
Updated
Order Entry & Processing is 22.5% of the 2026 PTCE — about 18 of the 80 scored questions. Calculation items come with full worked solutions — miss one, see every step.
Question 1 of 25
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How many grams of drug are in 500 mL of a 1:500 solution?
The order-entry tables worth memorizing
The cheat tables behind the questions — open what you missed, then drill again.
Sig codes — the high-yield dozen
| Code | Meaning | ISMP note |
|---|---|---|
| QD | once daily | Mistaken as q.i.d. when the tail of a handwritten q reads as an i — ISMP 2024 |
| BID | twice daily | — |
| TID | three times daily | — |
| QID | four times daily | — |
| QHS | at bedtime | — |
| PRN | as needed | — |
| AC | before meals | — |
| PC | after meals | — |
| PO | by mouth | — |
| HS | at bedtime | — |
| OD | right eye | Mistaken for AD (right ear) or 'once daily' — ISMP |
Source: ISMP error-prone abbreviations list (ECRI-hosted) + PTCE outline area 4.1 · verified 2026-08-03
NDC number structure
FDA assigns a 10-digit NDC in 4-4-2, 5-3-2, or 5-4-1; billing systems pad a zero to a standardized 11-digit 5-4-2.
| Segment | Identifies |
|---|---|
| Labeler (first 4–5 digits) | The manufacturer, repackager, or distributor — FDA-assigned |
| Product (middle 3–4 digits) | Specific drug, strength, and dosage form |
| Package (last 1–2 digits) | Package size and type |
Source: FDA — format of the National Drug Code · verified 2026-08-03
DAW codes 0–9
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 | No product selection indicated — substitution permitted (the default) |
| 1 | Substitution not allowed by prescriber ("dispense as written") |
| 2 | Substitution allowed — patient requested the brand |
| 3 | Substitution allowed — pharmacist selected the brand |
| 4 | Substitution allowed — generic not in stock |
| 5 | Substitution allowed — brand dispensed but priced as generic |
| 6 | Override |
| 7 | Substitution not allowed — brand mandated by law |
| 8 | Substitution allowed — generic not commercially available |
| 9 | Substitution allowed — plan requests the brand |
Source: NCPDP — telecommunication standard DAW values (white paper) · verified 2026-08-03
Common questions
How many order entry questions are on the PTCE?
Order Entry & Processing is 22.5% of the exam — about 18 of the 80 scored questions. (Some sites still quote the old 2020 weight; the current outline took effect 2026-01-06.) This is where most of the exam’s math lives.
What sig codes do I need to know?
The frequency set (BID, TID, QID, QHS, PRN, AC/PC) plus routes (PO, SL, subcut) cover most questions. Watch the ISMP error-prone entries — QD, HS, and the eye/ear abbreviations are tested as “which abbreviation should be avoided?” The mini table below flags each one.
How many digits is an NDC number?
FDA assigns a 10-digit NDC in 4-4-2, 5-3-2, or 5-4-1; billing systems pad a zero to a standardized 11-digit 5-4-2. The three segments identify labeler, product, and package.
What's the difference between DAW 1 and DAW 2?
Both dispense the brand, but the reason differs: DAW 1 means the prescriber required the brand (“dispense as written”), while DAW 2 means the prescriber allowed substitution and the patient asked for the brand. The distinction changes copays and reimbursement, which is why the exam tests it.