SARTECH II Exam | Latest Update 2026/2027 | 200 Questions
and Verified Answers | NASAR Search & Rescue Technician II
Certification Study Guide | A+ Graded
1. The Provisional International Civil Aviation Organization (PICAO) defines search and rescue as:
A) The act of finding and returning to safety the survivors from an emergency incident
B) The location of persons in distress
C) Helping persons in distress
D) A rescue problem
Answer: A) The act of finding and returning to safety the survivors from an emergency incident
Explanation: PICAO's definition emphasizes both finding (search) and returning to safety (rescue) as a
unified operation.
2. T.J. Setnicka, author of "Wilderness Search and Rescue," stated that SAR was essentially:
A) A rescue problem
B) A transportation problem
C) A retrieval operation
D) A search operation
Answer: B) A transportation problem
Explanation: Setnicka viewed SAR as a transportation problem because the core challenge is moving
resources, personnel, and the subject through difficult terrain.
,3. What are the three categories of fundamental SAR skills?
A) Search, rescue, and medical
B) Search, rescue, and survival/support
C) Navigation, tracking, and communication
D) Planning, operations, and logistics
Answer: B) Search, rescue, and survival/support
Explanation: The three fundamental SAR skill categories are search (locating the subject), rescue
(retrieving and providing care), and survival/support (including navigation and sustainment).
4. What does NASAR stand for?
A) National Association for Search and Rescue
B) North American Search and Rescue
C) National Agency for Search and Rescue
D) North Atlantic Search and Rescue
Answer: A) National Association for Search and Rescue
Explanation: NASAR is a notforprofit membership organization of dedicated paid and unpaid SAR
professionals that offers formal training opportunities.
5. What is the purpose of the SAR TECH certification criteria?
A) To provide a national standard for all emergency responders
, B) To evaluate three levels of search responder so that a measurable level of individual and crew
capability could be made available for Incident Commanders
C) To replace all other SAR training programs
D) To certify only paid professional rescuers
Answer: B) To evaluate three levels of search responder so that a measurable level of individual and
crew capability could be made available for Incident Commanders
Explanation: The SAR TECH certification criteria were developed to evaluate three levels of search
responder capability for use by Incident Commanders.
6. Which two organizations coordinate member countries' efforts to provide SAR services on a global
basis?
A) WHO and UNICEF
B) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
C) NATO and the United Nations
D) FEMA and the Red Cross
Answer: B) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization
(IMO)
Explanation: ICAO and IMO coordinate international SAR efforts through agreements such as the
International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual.
7. What are the five stages of a SAR operation?
A) Alert, response, search, rescue, recovery
B) Awareness, initial action, planning, operations, and conclusion
, C) Detection, location, extraction, stabilization, transport
D) Notification, mobilization, deployment, action, demobilization
Answer: B) Awareness, initial action, planning, operations, and conclusion
Explanation: The five stages provide a framework for managing SAR operations from initial notification
through postmission activities.
8. Which international conventions pertain to SAR?
A) Geneva Convention and Hague Convention
B) Convention on International Aviation, International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, and
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
C) Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement
D) North Atlantic Treaty and UN Charter
Answer: B) Convention on International Aviation, International Convention on Maritime Search and
Rescue, and International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
Explanation: These conventions establish the legal framework for international SAR cooperation and
responsibilities.
9. What is the role of the Command function in ICS?
A) To provide logistical support
B) To provide overall management of an incident
C) To handle media relations
D) To coordinate with outside agencies
and Verified Answers | NASAR Search & Rescue Technician II
Certification Study Guide | A+ Graded
1. The Provisional International Civil Aviation Organization (PICAO) defines search and rescue as:
A) The act of finding and returning to safety the survivors from an emergency incident
B) The location of persons in distress
C) Helping persons in distress
D) A rescue problem
Answer: A) The act of finding and returning to safety the survivors from an emergency incident
Explanation: PICAO's definition emphasizes both finding (search) and returning to safety (rescue) as a
unified operation.
2. T.J. Setnicka, author of "Wilderness Search and Rescue," stated that SAR was essentially:
A) A rescue problem
B) A transportation problem
C) A retrieval operation
D) A search operation
Answer: B) A transportation problem
Explanation: Setnicka viewed SAR as a transportation problem because the core challenge is moving
resources, personnel, and the subject through difficult terrain.
,3. What are the three categories of fundamental SAR skills?
A) Search, rescue, and medical
B) Search, rescue, and survival/support
C) Navigation, tracking, and communication
D) Planning, operations, and logistics
Answer: B) Search, rescue, and survival/support
Explanation: The three fundamental SAR skill categories are search (locating the subject), rescue
(retrieving and providing care), and survival/support (including navigation and sustainment).
4. What does NASAR stand for?
A) National Association for Search and Rescue
B) North American Search and Rescue
C) National Agency for Search and Rescue
D) North Atlantic Search and Rescue
Answer: A) National Association for Search and Rescue
Explanation: NASAR is a notforprofit membership organization of dedicated paid and unpaid SAR
professionals that offers formal training opportunities.
5. What is the purpose of the SAR TECH certification criteria?
A) To provide a national standard for all emergency responders
, B) To evaluate three levels of search responder so that a measurable level of individual and crew
capability could be made available for Incident Commanders
C) To replace all other SAR training programs
D) To certify only paid professional rescuers
Answer: B) To evaluate three levels of search responder so that a measurable level of individual and
crew capability could be made available for Incident Commanders
Explanation: The SAR TECH certification criteria were developed to evaluate three levels of search
responder capability for use by Incident Commanders.
6. Which two organizations coordinate member countries' efforts to provide SAR services on a global
basis?
A) WHO and UNICEF
B) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
C) NATO and the United Nations
D) FEMA and the Red Cross
Answer: B) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization
(IMO)
Explanation: ICAO and IMO coordinate international SAR efforts through agreements such as the
International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual.
7. What are the five stages of a SAR operation?
A) Alert, response, search, rescue, recovery
B) Awareness, initial action, planning, operations, and conclusion
, C) Detection, location, extraction, stabilization, transport
D) Notification, mobilization, deployment, action, demobilization
Answer: B) Awareness, initial action, planning, operations, and conclusion
Explanation: The five stages provide a framework for managing SAR operations from initial notification
through postmission activities.
8. Which international conventions pertain to SAR?
A) Geneva Convention and Hague Convention
B) Convention on International Aviation, International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, and
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
C) Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement
D) North Atlantic Treaty and UN Charter
Answer: B) Convention on International Aviation, International Convention on Maritime Search and
Rescue, and International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
Explanation: These conventions establish the legal framework for international SAR cooperation and
responsibilities.
9. What is the role of the Command function in ICS?
A) To provide logistical support
B) To provide overall management of an incident
C) To handle media relations
D) To coordinate with outside agencies
