EMT-Basics Exam

Overview
The written EMT Exam is a multiple-choice exam taken by those seeking employment in the field. The exam tests your knowledge of various areas of emergency medical care, training methods for responding to terrorism and HAZMAT emergencies, patient assessment and trauma response.

Test Dates
Most exams are administered as needed. Check with your state Department of Health, EMS division for exam dates and application deadlines.

Test Locations
Check with your state for the location of your exam.

Test Structure
The EMT exams vary by state, but in general, they run about 3 hours and consist of 100 multiple-choice problems. They may include the following types of questions:

• Basics of Emergency Medical Care
• Medical Terminology
• Topographic Anatomy
• Anatomy and Physiology by Body System

Scoring
Because the EMT exam is multiple-choice, it is scored by a machine which determine your raw score. The raw score is then converted to a scaled score, according to an unpublicized formula.

In most states, you will need to receive a scaled score of at least 70 to pass. If you are entitled to veterans' service points, these are added to your passing scaled score to boost your rank on the eligibility list. The highest scorers go to the top of the list.