EMT Exams in New Jersey

EMT exams in New Jersey focus on evaluating the student’s skills in delivering safe and effective emergency medical care. In order to become a successful Emergency Medical Technician, a candidate has to clear the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) examination. The syllabus for this test is designed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

This exam is accepted nearly in all the states of the United States of America. Every state conducts its own exam, based on the curriculum of the NREMT.

Components of the EMT Exam


Cognitive Exam

In order to gain an EMT certification in New Jersey, the student has to clear the cognitive exam, which is a computer adaptive test (CAT). This examination evaluates the candidate’s competence level. A student can expect 70-120 questions, which he/she has to answer in the allotted time of 2 hours. The questions asked in the exam cover the entire syllabus, including:

  • Airway
  • Medical & Obstetrics/Gynecology
  • Trauma
  • Cardiology & Resuscitation
  • Respiration and ventilation
  • EMS operations

To pass the cognitive exam, an applicant has to provide effective entry-level emergency medical care and meet the paradigm of competency. Keep in mind that after answering a question, you cannot make any alterations.

Psychomotor Exam

A student has to display his/her level of competence in a wide range of emergency care skills during his/her EMT program program. The candidate’s instructor must confirm that the applicant must display skills in the following:

  • Trauma Assessment
  • Cardiac Arrest/AED
  • Bag-valve-mask ventilation of an apneic patient
  • Patient assessment/management of a medical patient
  • Oxygen Administration
  • Bleeding Control
  • Medical Assessment
  • Oxygen Administration
  • BVM Ventilation
  • Joint Immobilization
  • Long Bone Immobilization
  • Spinal Immobilization Supine
  • Patient Assessment and Management
  • Spinal Immobilization Seated
  • Patient assessment/management of a trauma patient
  • Traction splinting
  • Shock Management
  • Upper airway adjuncts and suction

A candidate needs to clear a state-approved EMT psychomotor exam.

Examination Registration and Scheduling Procedure

To get registered for the exam, you can use any of the four user-friendly ways.

Registering and Scheduling via Internet

The candidate must have a legitimate Visa or MasterCard in order to register for the exam through the internet.

  • The students are required to create an account on the PSI’s website www.psiexams.com.
  • Candidates will be given the options of locations in a drop down box. Choose the desired location.
  • The student needs to complete the online registration procedure and have to provide accurate information to proceed further.
  • After filling the registration form, the applicant needs to provide his/her Visa or MasterCard number to pay the examination fee.
  • After submitting the form online, the candidate can choose from the available dates to schedule his/her exam.

Registering and Scheduling via Telephone

To register for the test through telephone, a candidate needs to have a valid MasterCard or VISA.

  • A student can register for the exam during the non-business hours through PSI’s Interactive Voice Response System (IVR).
  • If a candidate wishes to register during the business hours, he/she can complete the registration process through registrars.
  • A candidate needs to provide the information about the number and expiry date of the MasterCard or Visa to pay the examination fee.
  • The candidates can choose from the available dates and locations to schedule the exam.

Registering and Scheduling via Fax

Registration and scheduling through the fax is very easy.

  • To register through the fax, an applicant needs to fill the registration form correctly.
  • If the provided information is found missing or incorrect, the form will be returned back to the candidate for modifications.
  • The student needs to provide his/her legitimate VISA or MasterCard number and expiry date in order to disburse the test fee.
  • After correctly filling the registration form, a candidate can fax it to the PSI.
  • A student can fax his/her registration form any time as this service is accessible 24 hours a day.

Note: Fax registration process takes 4 business days.

Registration and Scheduling via Standard Mail

If a candidate doesn’t wish to share his/her card number, he/she can use this service in order to pay the fee.

  • The candidate has to fill PSI’s registration form correctly.
  • An applicant can make the payment of fees through the money order or cashier’s check.
  • On the cashier’s check, the candidate’s name should be printed to make sure that the money is properly assigned.

Note: Personal checks, cash and company checks are not acceptable.

Cancelling and Rescheduling an Examination Appointment


An applicant can cancel his/her appointed exam without forfeiture of the test fee.

The candidate has to call the PSI two days before the scheduled exam to notify the cancellation. An applicant can also use the automated system to notify. This service is available 24 hours a day.

Note: You can’t cancel the exam through voice mail message.

A candidate can reschedule a missed appointment after the 24 hours of the last exam.

  • To reschedule, a candidate has to complete the registration process again.
  • An applicant can re-register using the internet, telephone, fax or standard mail.
  • Once registered, an applicant can choose from the available dates to reschedule the exam.

Missed Appointment or Late Cancellation

A candidate’s registration will be considered as invalid, he/she will not be allowed to give the exam, and the examination fee will not be repaid in the following situations:

  • If the candidate remains absent in the exam.
  • The applicant fails to provide the required identification documentation.
  • The student misses an exam without notifying 2 days before the appointed exam.
  • A candidate approaches the examination hall after the commencement of the exam.

Reporting to the Examination Site

The candidate has to report to the examination site 30 minutes before the scheduled exam time. The applicant has to complete the sign-in procedures and has to present the identification forms.

The student has to provide 2 identification forms. The first identification form must be a valid identification, issued by the Government, which includes military ID, passport, state identification, or driver’s license. It must have the student’s full name along with a photograph and signature. The second identification form must contain the candidate’s legally pre-printed name with signature.

A Paramedic or EMT-Intermediate candidate has to bring the current EMT certification card while reporting to the examination site. In case, if a candidate is unable to provide the required certification card, he/she can bring a reinstatement letter from the Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS).

Exam Results and Retest Information

A candidate can check his/her result right after 24 hours of the exam. An applicant can log into the PSI’s password-secured website to look the available results. If a candidate passes the exam, he/she will be sent the National EMS Certification credentials by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

The NREMT sends a performance sheet to those students, who were unsuccessful in passing the exam. This sheet will provide the information whether the candidate’s performance was “below”, “near”, or “average”. This sheet will help the candidates in improving their weak areas.

If a candidate fails to pass the exam, he/she can apply for a retest after 15 days of the last examination. The applicant will be provided with six attempts to pass the exam. After clearing the first three attempts, the candidate will have to provide his/her official identification documents for the verification of completion of 24 hours of remedial program. In the additional 3 attempts, the candidate has to present the other requirements for the national certification. If an applicant is unsuccessful in cracking the exam in all the six attempts, then he/she has to repeat the entire program and certification procedure.

Tips for Preparing for the Exams

  • Take help of the guides while preparing for the EMT examinations.
  • Go through the study material and EMT text books.
  • Work on your weak areas.
  • Pay special attention to usually asked topics, like airways and respiration.
  • To get familiarized with the pattern of the exam, undertake online practice tests.
  • Be attentive during the program classes and clear your doubts immediately by consulting your instructor.
  • Eat properly and have a good sleep at the night before the exam.

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