The Vermont Department of Health

Computer-Based Testing for EMT Students

Vermont EMS and the National Registry of EMTs

October 2006

The Vermont Department of Health

Change is Coming

Computer-Based Testing (CBT) is new and will mean a number of changes for:• students• course coordinators• Vermont EMS Office staff• the National Registry.

The Vermont Department of Health

Please be patient as we refine this new process. Results for you:• next-day exam results• more flexible exam scheduling• quicker turnaround on NREMT cards• quicker turnaround on VT cards

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Registration Results How Computer-Adaptive Testing is Different

for Students Testing Sites and Fees Pilot Test Results

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Registration

About a month before your course ends, you will create an account on the NREMT web site and complete an application for EMT-B certification.

The Vermont Department of Health

Registration

At the end of the course, your course coordinator will sign onto the site and verify you have completed the course

The Vermont Department of Health

Registration

The Vermont EMS Office will sign onto the NREMT web site and verify you:• are eligible for certification and• have passed the practical exam.

Only AFTER all these steps are completed will you receive a card from the NREMT.

The Vermont Department of Health

Registration

The NREMT will electronically provide VTEMS with the information from your application, speeding up your VT certification.

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Results

You will get your test results emailed to you the day after you take your test.

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Results

Instead of a numerical score, you will get one of three descriptions for the overall test and each section on the test:• above the standard • near the standard• below the standard

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Results

If you need to retest, you must wait 14 days.

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Since the computer selects items based on how well you do, you should expect the exam to be difficult

EVEN IF YOU’RE THE SMARTEST PERSON IN THE CLASS

How Computer-Adaptive Testing is Different

The Vermont Department of Health

How CAT is Different

Expect to feel challenged, even wrung-out after the exam.

THIS IS NORMAL.

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Testing Sites & Fees

Testing sites available in Vermont:• Pearson Testing Center, S Burlington• VT Police Academy, Pittsford

Testing sites available nearby:• Littleton, NH• Keene, NH• Concord, NH• Albany, NY area (3 sites)

The Vermont Department of Health

Testing Sites & Fees

Pearson Vue and NREMT charge $70 for someone to take the EMT-B exam.

VTEMS plans to pay for one attempt for each Vermont student.

A student will have to pay for any retest.

The Vermont Department of Health

Testing Sites & Fees

Pearson does not give refunds, so if you schedule a time and cannot make it, re-schedule. If you miss the appointment, you will have to pay for the next one.

The Vermont Department of Health

Pilot Test Results

Students didn’t know they were going to be challenged, so they felt bad after the test, ESPECIALLY THE BETTER STUDENTS.

Keep in mind: Toward the end of the exam, the vast majority get 50% of the questions right.

The Vermont Department of Health

Pilot Test Results

394 students took pilot test in multiple states EMT-B pass rate was 76.9% Number of questions:

First Responder

EMT-Basic

Minimum 70 70

Maximum 90 120

The Vermont Department of Health

Pilot Test Results

More than 95% of students who finished in minimum number of questions passed.

Average time on the EMT-B pilot test was 45 minutes. The longest time was 110 min. Maximum allowed time is 2 hours.

The Vermont Department of Health