EMT Exams in Alaska

EMT exams in Alaska aim to provide the certification to those persons, who are skilled at providing the first aid in various scenarios of casualties, like accidents, traumatic injuries, or any other medical conditions. In order to practice his proficiency, a candidate is required to pass the EMT exams and obtain a national certificate. It is mandatory for the aspirants to clear all the exams within the given number of attempts failing to which would not make him/her entitled to practice as a qualified Emergency Medical Technician.

In Alaska, EMT exams are conducted by NREMT (The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians).

Components of EMT Exams in Alaska

Cognitive Exams

Cognitive exams organized by NREMT is basically the computer adaptive test (CAT), in which, the appearing candidates are expected to complete 70-120 questions in the allotted 2 hours of time.

Cognitive exams cover the following topics:

Airway, respiration, and ventilation
Cardiology and resuscitation
Trauma
Medical and obstetrics/gynecology
EMS care

In order to clear an exam, a candidate must present the expected levels of competency and meet the standard levels. Passing standard is generally defined by the demonstration of safe and efficacious entry level emergency medical care.

Psychomotor Exams

Throughout the EMT program, a student is expected to demonstrate his skills in wide range of emergency care skills. You will be tested in several subjects, like traction splinting, patient assessment, management of medical patient/patient assessment, bag-valve-mask ventilation of an apneic patient, upper airway adjuncts and suction, spinal immobilization, long bone fracture immobilization, mouth-to-mouth supplementation with oxygen, cardiac arrest management/AED, supplemental oxygen administration to patient, and bleeding control/shock management.

Registration and Scheduling for Examination

If PSI finds a candidate to be eligible to take up exams, it will send him the postcard approving his/her eligibility and instructing him/her the ways to register, pay and schedule exams. However, there are certain rules that candidate should abide by:

It is mandatory for candidates to take exams within six months of being approved as eligible candidate.
In case, the candidate fails, he/she gets two more attempts to qualify the exam. But, the aspirant needs to avail these attempts within the six-month time of authorization.

Internet Registration and Scheduling

Registering over the internet is the fastest way to register and schedule an exam appointment. In order to register over the internet, candidate is required to present their Master/VISA card. Candidates registering over the internet can log into http://psiexams.com/ and can register themselves at any time. One needs to complete the following steps in order to register over the internet:

Log onto PSI’s website and select the link associated with Alaska’s website. Complete the form by filling the requisite information and register yourself at the same website.
Once you fill and send the registration form, you will be given the dates and exam locations to choose from. You can select your desired date and location.

Telephonic Registration and Scheduling

Next to the internet, telephone is the fastest method to register oneself for EMT exams in Alaska. You can register through PSI’s IVR (interactive voice response) system during non-business hours. Telephone registration will ask you for your valid Master/VISA card, so make sure that you have it with you while registering over the telephone.

While registering over the telephone, you will be asked to tell your credit card number and its expiration date. Register as per their directions.

Fax Registration and Scheduling

Like internet and telephonic registration, you are supposed to have a valid credit card for the sake of registering for EMT exams via fax. Fax forms are available 24 hours a day. If any of the information that you have filled in the form is incorrect, your form will be returned for rectifications.

Registration and Scheduling via Standard Mail

This method is meant for those, who do not want to share their credit card information and want to pay through checks and money orders. In order to proceed through this method, one need to fill the registration form, attach the money order and send it to the PSI’s address. Normally, it takes 2 weeks to complete the registration through this way.

Cancellation or Rescheduling the Appointment

If you do not wish to appear in the exam on the date that you have selected earlier, you can cancel the appointment, but cancellation has to be made 2 days prior to the examination date. However, if you fail to inform 2 days prior to the appointment date, you will not be refunded with any money. For example, if your exam is scheduled on Wednesday, then you should inform till Monday failing to which you will not be refunded any fee.

Late Cancellation or Missed Appointment

In the following circumstances, your appointment will be cancelled and you will not be returned any fee that you have already paid:

If a candidate doesn’t want to appear for the exam and he/she doesn’t inform 2 days prior to the date of examination.
Without any notice, you do not appear for the examination.
Arrive late at the premises when the exam has already been commenced.
If you fail to provide the requisite and mandatory documents to appear for the exams.

Reporting to the Examination Site

It is advisable to all the candidates appearing for the EMT exams in Alaska to report at least ½ hour before the scheduled exam time in order to avoid the last minute confusion. Reaching 30 minutes before the scheduled time will allow you to sign in and go through the identity verification process. If you arrive late, you might not be allowed to sit in the examination and moreover, your fee will also not be refunded.

In order to appear for exams, you need to present the following identification proofs:

All the candidates are required to give two forms of identification out of which, one has to be government issued identification ID (such as driving license, resident id, passport, etc.). The ID card should mandatorily have your photograph and signature.
Moreover, EMT paramedic and intermediate candidates are required to bring their current EMT certification card to the center in order to appear for the test.

Exam Results

In case, a candidate is unsuccessful in passing the EMT exams in Alaska, he/she will be notified through a feedback by NREMT. A candidate may reappear for examinations after 15 days of the last examination date. If a candidate meets all the requirements of NREMT, he/she will be given 6 attempts to qualify the exam. After 3 unsuccessful attempts, a candidate is required to present the verification document of completion of twenty-four hours of remedial program. Post that, candidate is allowed to take three more attempts to clear the examination.

If a candidate fails to clear the exams after 6 attempts, he/she has to repeat the entire EMT program.

Tips for Preparing for Exams

It is advisable that you should prepare in the planned manner as it will augment your chances of cracking the exams.
Use good student material and do not omit any topic or information.
Note down main points on a notepad as jotting down will make you memorize faster.
Read each and every question twice to understand what is being asked exactly.
Respiration and airways are two topics, which are most likely to be asked by NREMT in the examination. Study them thoroughly and in detail.
Pay more heed to the topics which you think you are weak in and nail them.
Answer only what is being asked and do not assume things on your own.