EMT Exam For Dummies with Online Practice
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Besides the classroom portion, most EMT courses also have a clinical component, where you may observe on an ambulance or fire engine, in an emergency department, or in a combination of locations. You may need to provide proof of vaccinations and immunizations in order to participate in clinical “ride-alongs.”

These clinical hours are important. You’ll see real patients and perhaps have the opportunity to practice your skills under the watchful eye of an experienced EMS provider. It’s crucial that you don’t miss these sessions; your instructor will certainly consider these hours to be just as important as your classroom sessions.

EMT courses typically have a series of exams and practical skills tests that you have to successfully pass. The exams may be done in the classroom, using pencil and paper; others may be done through a website; and others may even be done outside the classroom.

Check with the instructor at the beginning of the course as to the requirements for completion. The course syllabus should contain that information, along with other requirements and guidelines for the course.

The final exam is a comprehensive test that evaluates your overall knowledge of the course. Usually this is a test created by the instructor; it’s not the NREMT. Passing the final exam doesn’t certify you as an EMT; only the state’s process of using either the NREMT or its own exam can perform that function. However, you have to successfully pass the course to qualify for the certification exam.

If your state requires the NREMT exam as part of the certification process, the practical skills exam portion is likely to be conducted in your course.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book author:

Art Hsieh, MA, NREMT-P is a highly experienced paramedic, clinician, and educator, helping hundreds of students prepare for and pass the national examination process. He is the director of a collegiate paramedic academy and editorial advisor of EMS1.com.

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