You've decided to become an EMS professional. You went through the details of choosing which program to attend, financial aid, and selecting your classes. You withstood the long class hours, the grueling sleepless nights of studying, the challenging exams, and let’s not forget, the endless cups of coffee. After all the hard work, you passed EMT school! Congratulations! You should be very proud of yourself, we are!

Next step: pass the NREMT.

This one test is the only thing between you and landing your dream job. You’ve come this far, and you’re not going to let this stand in your way. 

    At this point, you’ve hopefully been studying regularly to pass this difficult test. The NREMT is more than tricky scenarios and poorly-worded questions. You have to learn how to take the test itself as much as understanding the content within it. So here at EMTprep.com, we’ve decided to provide some insight on how to best prepare for the NREMT testing environment. 

What to Expect on Your Test Day:

1. The NREMT is taken on a computer at a proctored testing center such as at a college or university. 

That’s right, no more paper and pencil. We’ve all grown up taking tests with a #2 pencil and a scantron. So this style of testing could make the test feel more challenging if you aren’t used to it. Our advice: choose an online test preparation software, such as EMTprep.com to study with. This can help you get used to computer-based testing. EMTprep’s study material is also designed to mimic the NREMT, giving you as close to the real test as possible.

2. The NREMT cognitive portion (for the EMR, EMT, and Paramedic levels) is a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT), meaning the questions you are tested on are based on how you have answered previous questions (right or wrong). For example, if you answer a few questions correct in a certain category at a certain competency level, the CAT algorithm will then pull a slightly harder question from the NREMT’s database. This continues throughout the entire exam until a level of competency is determined and the examination ends. How exactly is this determined? Nobody knows!

3. Every person taking the NREMT around you is taking a different version of the test. Since the questions are measured on your competency level, the exam is never the same again. 

4. According to the NREMT organization, the computer will shut off the exam when it is 95% confident that you have or have not reached the standard level of competency needed to pass the exam. This means the exam could shut off early or make you stay late. 

5. If you are preparing to take the AEMT exam, you will be given a linear computer-based test. Instead of getting a range of questions, you will receive exactly 135 questions and you will have to complete the exam in 2 hours or less. What is a linear computer-based test? The simplest way to describe it is a computer-based version of an old school paper and pencil style exam. Think scantron-esque, but on a computer. 

When will I receive my results?

24-48 hours after you finish your exam. We've heard of students receiving their scores within 12 hours, but the range varies. 

     Most importantly, the more you prepare now before your test, the easier it will be. The NREMT is not one you can cram for the night before or even a couple of days before. Grab a study buddy, make flashcards, open your textbook, use EMTprep.com, study your class notes, and stay focused. Give yourself AT LEAST two weeks to regularly study for this exam.

Remember why you chose this profession in the first place. Remember, at EMTprep we're with you until you pass your test. 

Resources

"About NREMT Examinations." National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.. Web. Sep 13. .