EMT Exams in Iowa

EMT exams in Iowa judge the level of prowess and proficiency of the aspirants in providing the emergency medical services during the cases of accidents, traumas, and injuries. In order to become an Emergency Medical Technician, the student is supposed to undergo a program program followed by clearing the examinations to acquire the national certification and licensure. The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) is the authority, who is in-charge of holding the EMT tests in the United States of America, including the state of Iowa.

Components of the EMT Exams

Cognitive Exam

It is basically the computer adaptive exam (CAT) that reviews the candidate’s skills in diverse emergency service areas. It includes the following topics:

Airways
Respiration
Gynecology
Obstetrics
Ventilation
Cardiology
EMS Operations

Besides, there a few topics that come as a part of special consideration, such as treating physically challenged people, abuse and assault, neonatology, etc.

Psychomotor Exam

The psychomotor exams aim to test the knowledge and proficiency of an aspirant in the areas, such as management/assessment of trauma patients, bleeding control, traction splinting, management/ assessment of medical patients, immobilization of spinal bone fracture, immobilization of long bone fracture, oxygen administration to the breathing patient, administration of oxygen to an unconscious patient, bag-valve management of an apneic patient, etc.

Registration and Scheduling for the EMT Exam

As the candidate completes his/her program program and makes his/her mind to take up the exams, he/she needs to acquaint the authorities about this intention. The eligible aspirants will receive an eligibility postcard for appearing in the examinations. All the registration and scheduling information will be provided in the enclosed letter. Students, who are aspiring to appear for the tests, can register via the internet, telephone, standard mail, or fax.

Registration and Scheduling through Fax

This is one of the methods to get registered for the EMT exams in the state of Iowa. For registration via this method, you need to have a valid credit card, and furnish its number and expiration date while filling the form. Before faxing the form, make sure that you have entered all the information correctly, as any false information will make the authorities to return you the form and you are required to resend it after amending the errors.

Registration and Scheduling through Standard Mail

This mode of registration is different from all other registration modes as it doesn’t require your credit card information at the time of payment. Candidates, who are going to opt for this registration mode, are supposed to fill up the requisite details in the registration form find in the local bulletin, and make payment either through a check or money order. While making payment through this method, make sure that you have your name printed on the check and the money order so as to ensure the proper assignment of your test fee.

Registration and Scheduling through Internet

The internet is the fastest method to get registered for the EMT exams. It requires you to have a valid Master/Visa card. As you fill up the form, enter your valid credit card number and its expiration date. Upon completion of your registration, a screen will pop-up asking you to choose the appropriate date and location for giving the test.

Registration and Scheduling through Telephone

Registering via the telephone is the second fastest method to register for the Emergency Medical Technician examinations. To register through the telephonic method, you need to have a valid Master/Visa card, and tell the credit card number and its expiration details upon asking. This mode also provides you an opportunity to get registered through the Interactive Voice Response System (IVR) during the non-business hours.

Cancellation and Rescheduling of the EMT Exam

If a candidate doesn’t want to show up on the scheduled date, he/she is required to let know the authorities minimum two days before the examination. Cancelling your test after that can make the authorities to cancel your registration. Moreover, you will not be able to get your fee back.

In order to reschedule the cancelled examination, you will have to wait for the next day or the day after, as rescheduling is not possible on the very same day due to scoring and reporting processes. For example, if your exam is scheduled on Monday, and you want to reschedule it, you can do it either on Tuesday or Wednesday depending upon the availability of space at your preferred location.

Late Cancellation or Missed Appointment

If you don’t notify of your absence, then your absence will be considered as “missed appointment”. In this circumstance, your registration will get cancelled and the fee will also not be refunded.

Besides, in the following cases as well, the aspirant’s fee will not be refunded:

If a candidate does not appear for the exam and doesn’t even notify of his absence.
If he/she arrives late after the exam has already been started.
If the applicant arrives on time, but fails to present a valid identity proof.

Reporting to the Examination Site

All the candidates should report to the exam center minimum 30 minutes before the scheduled examination time. This will provide the aspirants with plenty of time for completing the sign-in process and getting familiarized with the environment of the examination hall and other procedures. Before the official commencement of the test, all the aspirants are required to do signature on a bond, which states that they will not unveil the exam-related confidential information with anyone.

All the candidates are required to present at least two forms of identity proofs. One of them has to be the government-issued ID card, like the state ID, passport, driving license, etc. Also, it should have your signature and photograph on it. Apart from this, all the Paramedics and Intermediates are supposed to bring their current EMT certification or the reinstatement issued by the OEMS (in case, the current certificate is not available).

No candidate is allowed to bring certain things, such as cell phones, laptops, wallets, alarms, iPads, watches, thesauruses, reference materials, notes, iPods, dictionaries, etc.

Note- No employment ID or student ID card will be considered as genuine, and hence, the applicants are supposed not to bring them to the examination center.

Exam Results

In order to clear the EMT exams, the candidate is supposed to score 80 percent marks on an average in all the subjects. After the exams, results and grades of all the candidates are analyzed and reviewed thoroughly to make sure that there is no inaccuracy in the results.

Results of all the aspirants are generated on the certification website and they can view their results by entering their date of birth and social security number.

In order to view your result, you need to follow the below given steps:

Log into the website and click on the option ‘grade report’ from the given set of options.
Next, choose ‘profession’ from the set of options that follow.
A screen will appear in front of you. Enter your DOB and social security number here.
You will be directed to another screen, which will let you know your result.

A student is given 6 attempts to pass the EMT exams. After undergoing 3 unsuccessful attempts, the candidate is supposed to present an official document stating the completion of 24 hours of his/her remedial program. After that, he/she can take 3 additional attempts to clear the exams. If the applicant fails to clear the exams even after 6 attempts, he/she is supposed to undergo the EMT coursework, once again.

One must also note that, in no case, the results will be given to the candidates personally, sent via the mail, or will be told on the phone. If the candidate wants a hard copy of result, he/she can take a printout from the site itself. Students shouldn’t call the certification office in this regard.

Tips for Preparing for the EMT Exams

It is advised to all the aspiring candidates to stay calm and composed, so that they can answer the questions confidently and without any anxiety pangs.
You should practice a lot through online test papers. It will help you in learning time management during the main EMT examinations. Besides, it will also help you in analyzing your weak and strong areas.
Airways and respiration are some of the most important topics, which are likely to be asked by the NREMT. Pay more attention to these topics and study them much in detail.
Although, airways and respiration are amongst the important topics, still, it is advised to all the candidates to cover and study all the information and topics related to the EMT exams.
First, read the questions carefully and try to understand what actually has been asked of you, and then answer them accordingly.
Do not take too many breaks voluntarily, as it will be subtracted from the official time provided to you for solving the paper.