Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Tests

The Emergency Medical Technician tests (EMT) are required as part of the certification for in the field of emergency medicine. The different types of EMT tests vary by state and passing three levels of them are necessary in order to fully qualify for certification by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).

Most states require a high school diploma or GED before qualifying to take the EMT tests. It is also required that the individual be both mentally and physically healthy and able to work in any environmental and weather conditions in the field. If you have a criminal history, the NREMT may place certain restrictions on the license for which your EMT certification will qualify you.

As of January 2007, all levels of the EMT are administered by computer. You are not required to bring anything more to the test site than two forms of identification, one of which must be a photo ID. The computer will keep track of how well you perform the test, and if it becomes a 95% statistical certainty that you have passed or failed, it will end the test immediately. All questions are multiple choice with four answer options. You receive points for correct answers, and no penalty exists for wrong answers. The best way to prepare for the tests is to take EMT courses. Most facilities and their related websites also offer practice test resources. If you fail any part of the EMT test, you must wait 15 days before you can retake it.

The three levels of required testing begin with the EMT-Basic, which typically consists of first responder medical knowledge such as CPR, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and the Heimlich maneuver. Many people may take this level of the test simply to learn the fundamentals of emergency health care. The second and third levels are the EMT-Intermediate and the EMT-Paramedic. To be certified to apply for a license to work as an EMT, an individual must pass all levels of the test.

Test results are posted to the NREMT website (www.nremt.org) within 24-48 hours of completion. This website is also where you apply to take an exam, register for and schedule an exam, and pay test fees. It is important to note that NREMT certification is not a legal license to practice emergency medicine. Instead, it is certification by a private body of emergency medical service experts which is necessary to apply for and receive a license to practice emergency medicine in a particular state. However, the range, scope, and title of your license will be largely dependent upon the state in which you take your EMT tests.