How to Pass an EMT-Basic Test

Emergency medical technicians have played an important role in our communities since the mid-1900s. Without the immediate and prompt actions of EMTs, many lives would be lost. An EMT's main goal is to provide emergency treatment and perform first aid interventions to stabilize patients and prepare them for immediate transport. The outlook on an emergency patient's chance of surviving is much greater if he/she is transported within the first hour, known as the golden hour, of illness or injury. To begin this challenging career you have to test for the EMT-Basic, which will then lead you into higher levels of certification.

Instructions

1. Enroll in an EMT-Basic course at your local community college or technical school. Some private ambulance companies and fire stations also offer EMT-Basic courses. These courses could last from a few months up to two years. If you have the time to work toward the two-year associate's degree, then by all means go for it.

2. Study hard and pass the course. The material taught will prepare you to test at the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). Your instructor should provide clear instructions and steps in medical interventions and emergencies. He/she will also teach you the skills needed and what questions to ask in an emergency. You'll also learn anatomy and physiology, which are the foundations of medicine.

3. Register to take the NREMT exam. You can find the application online after you've passed the college course and receive your instructor's approval. There's usually an application fee that must be paid at the time of registration.

4. Pass both the written and skills tests. At the National Registry you will be given a computerized multiple choice test on medical and traumatic emergencies. On a different day you'll be tested on actual skills that include splinting, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and intubations. You'll receive your grades from the written test online within approximately 24 hours. You'll receive the score from your skills test on the same day. If you pass all of these steps successfully, you'll open doors to more education and higher levels in your EMT career such as EMT-Intermediate and the third and highest level, EMT-Paramedic.

Tips & Warnings

• The National Registry provides useful information and study materials pertaining to what you'll be tested on. It's a good idea to research the official site.

References

• National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
• The New Jersey TraumaCenter: The Golden Hour