The New AEMT and Paramedic Certification Examination
WHY ARE YOU MAKING THE CHANGE TO THE NEW AEMT AND PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS? 

The new AEMT and Paramedic Certification Examinations are supported by the best research and science that is currently available, and more closely aligns with the examination experience of other health professions. Additionally, the move to the new ALS Certification Examination for AEMTs and Paramedics aligns with the requirements of the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), our accreditor.  

IF A CANDIDATE FINISHES THEIR EMS COURSE IN THE SPRING OF 2024, CAN THEY JUST WAIT UNTIL JULY 1 AND TAKE THE NEW AEMT AND PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS?

Yes, they can. Candidates should work directly with their education program director and faculty to determine when they are ready to test and the proper time to test. The existing examination process will continue until June 30, 2024. Beginning July 1, 2024, candidates will be required to take the new AEMT and Paramedic Certification Examinations. These decisions need to be made collaboratively between the school and the student. 

DOES THE NEW AEMT AND PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS COMBINE THE TWO EXAMINATIONS – COGNITIVE AND PSYCHOMOTOR? 

The new AEMT and Paramedic Certification Examinations measure entry-level competency of the candidate in a single examination. 

The new AEMT and Paramedic Certification Examinations will evaluate a total of six domains: 

  1. airway, respiration, & ventilation
  2. cardiology & resuscitation
  3. medical, obstetrical, and gynecology
  4. trauma
  5. operations
  6. clinical judgment
HOW MANY QUESTIONS ARE ON THE NEW AEMT AND PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS? 

We are in the final stages of evaluation and will release the minimum/maximum number of questions at the completion of our analysis.  

WHAT IF A CANDIDATE TAKES THEIR COGNITIVE EXAMINATION BY JUNE 30, 2024, BUT DOES NOT COMPLETE THEIR PSYCHOMOTOR EXAMINATION? WILL THEY STILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THE PSYCHOMOTOR EXAMINATION? 

No. Candidates who do not complete both the current cognitive and psychomotor examinations by June 30, 2024, will have to take the new AEMT or Paramedic Certification Examination. 

IF A CANDIDATE ALREADY PASSED THE PSYCHOMOTOR EXAMINATION, WILL THEY NEED TO TAKE THE NEW AEMT AND PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS AS WELL? 

If a candidate has successfully passed either the psychomotor or cognitive examinations, but has not passed the other examination by June 30, 2024, the candidate will be required to take the new AEMT or Paramedic Certification Examination. 

If a candidate has successfully passed both the psychomotor and cognitive examinations by June 30, 2024, they will be certified by the National Registry. 

WHAT ABOUT A CANDIDATE WHO HAS PASSED BOTH THE COGNITIVE AND PSYCHOMOTOR EXAMINATIONS PRIOR TO JULY 1, 2024? IS THEIR CERTIFICATION STILL VALID? 

Yes, if a candidate has successfully passed both the psychomotor and cognitive examinations by June 30, 2024, the candidate will be certified by the National Registry. 

WHAT ABOUT A CLINICIAN WHOSE CERTIFICATION EXPIRES AFTER JULY 1 AND PLANS TO RECERTIFY BY EXAMINATION (RBE)? 

The clinician will take the new AEMT or Paramedic Certification Examination. 

WHAT IF A CANDIDATE’S PATT ORIGINALLY SAID THEY COULD TAKE THE PSYCHOMOTOR EXAMINATION AFTER JULY 1, 2024? 

All PATT expiration dates have been changed to the psychomotor discontinuation date of June 30, 2024. If candidates are seeking to be certified before their PATT expiration, they will have to successfully pass both the psychomotor and cognitive examinations by this date to become certified. Candidates also have the option to wait until after July 1, 2024, and they will only have to take the new AEMT or Paramedic Certification Examination. There will be no PATTs issued after June 30, 2024. 

WILL CANDIDATES NEED ADDITIONAL EDUCATION (TRAINING) FOR THE NEW AEMT AND PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS?

AEMT and paramedic educational programs will need to educate and evaluate students on their ability to make clinical judgments, communicate effectively, and exhibit leadership skills required during the management of an EMS call in order for candidates to be able to successfully complete the new AEMT and Paramedic Certification Examinations. Many programs may already teach this, and some may not. Programs will need to review their curricula and determine what adjustments are needed. 

WILL THE NEW AEMT AND PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS STILL BE ADMINISTERED BY PEARSON VUE? 

Yes. We have been working in collaboration with our partners to ensure the new AEMT and Paramedic Certification Examinations will be ready to be administered beginning July 1, 2024. 

WILL THE TESTING LOCATIONS AND PROCEDURES CHANGE? 

The new AEMT and Paramedic Certification Examinations will be given at Pearson VUE sites; we will have more complete scheduling information after January 1, 2024. We will continue to make the current psychomotor examination available in as many locations as possible. 

Download FAQ