PEBC Part I (MCQ) · Competency 1B Distribution (about 20%)

Prescription Review & Dispensing

Distribution items test how a pharmacist assesses and processes prescriptions: completeness and validity, dose and interaction checks, look-alike names, dangerous abbreviations, labelling, substitution, transfers, refills and compliance packaging.

1B Distribution2 min read6 sections

Checked against the NAPRA Model Standards of Practice (2022); ISMP Canada Do Not Use list (2023) and look-alike/sound-alike list (2023); Narcotic Control Regulations and Food and Drug Regulations Part G; provincial pharmacy regulations; checked 13 Oct 2026. Not affiliated with or endorsed by The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC).

Must-know for the exam

Assess every prescription for appropriateness before dispensing; dispensing exactly as written does not remove responsibility.
Check pediatric doses in mg/kg and renal dosing (gabapentin, enoxaparin, sitagliptin) at intake.
Daily oral methotrexate for RA or psoriasis is an error: contact the prescriber.
Avoid trailing zeros (5.0 mg) and always use leading zeros (0.5 mg).
Confirm unclear look-alike names with the prescriber; use read-back for verbal orders.
Interchangeable generics can be substituted unless 'no substitution' is written; therapeutic substitution needs authority.
Prescriptions and refills generally expire one year after writing; narcotics cannot be refilled.
Transfers include full prescription details, remaining refills and last fill date.
Sublingual nitroglycerin and as-needed drugs stay out of compliance packs.
Final check compares the stock bottle's DIN and strength with the prescription.

On this page · 6 sections

Traps that cost marks

Accepting a fixed adult-style dose for a child without a weight check.
Missing the allopurinol-azathioprine interaction.
Requesting unnecessary clarifications while missing unit conversion safety.
Not recognising trailing zeros as an error-prone expression.
Recommending milk with a chelating antibiotic.
Guessing an illegible drug name from the patient profile.
Either automatically refilling or stigmatising without assessment.
Forgetting that gabapentin is renally cleared.

How this is tested on Part I

Expect intake scenarios with several prescriptions and a profile: identify the most important drug therapy problem, the correct action and what to document.

Intake checks

Allopurinol greatly increases azathioprine toxicity.

Opioid plus benzodiazepine increases sedation and falls.

Oxybutynin opposes donepezil (prescribing cascade).

Duplicate anticoagulation at discharge (warfarin plus enoxaparin).

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Exam-style questions

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Educational practice material for exam preparation only. Not medical advice and not a substitute for current product monographs, clinical guidelines or professional judgement. Questions have not yet been reviewed by a licensed pharmacist.