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

The Vermont Department of Health  Registration  Results  How Computer-Adaptive Testing is Different for Students  Testing Sites and Fees  Pilot Test Results

The Vermont Department of Health 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.

The Vermont Department of Health Results  You will get your test results ed to you the day after you take your test.

The Vermont Department of Health 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

The Vermont Department of Health Results  If you need to retest, you must wait 14 days.

The Vermont Department of Health  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.

The Vermont Department of Health 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 Minimum70 Maximum90120

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