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LA COUNTY PARAMEDIC ACCREDITATION EXAMINATION
2026 COMPLETE (110) CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
PARAMEDIC
Prepare for the LA County Paramedic Accreditation Examination with this
comprehensive practice resource designed to strengthen your emergency medical
knowledge and exam readiness. It features exam-style questions covering advanced
life support (ALS), patient assessment, airway management, cardiac emergencies,
trauma care, pharmacology, and local EMS protocols. Use it to reinforce essential
concepts, assess your understanding, and build confidence before test day. An
excellent study aid for paramedics preparing for the Los Angeles County Paramedic
Accreditation Examination.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
ACCREDITATION, LICENSING, & REGULATIONS (Questions 1–15)
Question 1: What is required to function as a Paramedic or MICN in Los
Angeles County?
A. A current California state license only
B. Employment with an approved LA County provider AND a current CA state
license
C. Completion of a paramedic training program only
D. Accreditation by the National Registry of EMTs
Correct answer: B. Employment with an approved LA County provider AND
a current CA state license
Rationale: LA County requires paramedics to be employed by an approved
provider agency and possess a current California state paramedic license .
Question 2: Which LA County reference outlines the criteria for determining
death in the field?
A. Ref 815
B. Ref 832
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C. Ref 814
D. Ref 838
Correct answer: C. Ref 814
Rationale: Ref 814 specifically defines the medical and legal criteria for when
a paramedic may withhold or terminate resuscitation, establishing the
determination of death .
Question 3: What must you assess in order to pronounce death in the field
per LA County protocol?
A. Carotid pulse for 30 seconds
B. Apical pulse for 60 seconds
C. Presence of rigor mortis only
D. Pupillary response to light
Correct answer: B. Apical pulse for 60 seconds
Rationale: Ref 814 requires auscultation of the apical pulse for a full 60
seconds to confirm the absence of cardiac activity before pronouncing death
in the field .
Question 4: According to Ref 815, which document is considered the most
authoritative for honoring a patient's DNR wishes?
A. POLST form
B. Physician's verbal order
C. Family member's request
D. Hospital discharge summary
Correct answer: A. POLST form
Rationale: The POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) is a
signed, portable order that supersedes other informal directives and must be
honored per Ref 815 .
Question 5: Which entity holds ultimate medical authority over the Los
Angeles County EMS Agency?
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A. The County Board of Supervisors
B. The Medical Director
C. The Base Hospital Director
D. The Paramedic Chief
Correct answer: B. The Medical Director
Rationale: The Medical Director is the top medical authority, responsible for
clinical protocols, medical oversight, and quality assurance for the EMS
system .
Question 6: According to Ref 832, when a patient refuses transport and signs
a Release at Scene (RAS) form, which additional step is required?
A. Obtain a second signature from a medical director
B. Document the patient's decision-making capacity
C. Notify the base hospital within 30 minutes
D. Provide a written copy of the patient's medical record
Correct answer: B. Document the patient's decision-making capacity
Rationale: Ref 832 mandates that the paramedic document that the patient
was competent, informed, and voluntarily refused transport before
completing a RAS .
Question 7: Under California Evidence Code §1157.7, what is the primary
purpose of the "Good Samaritan" provision for EMS personnel?
A. To guarantee payment for services rendered
B. To protect EMS providers from civil liability when acting in good faith
C. To require mandatory reporting of all incidents
D. To allow EMS to refuse care to non-compliant patients
Correct answer: B. To protect EMS providers from civil liability when
acting in good faith
Rationale: The Good Samaritan law shields EMS providers from civil suits
when they render emergency care in good faith without gross negligence .
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Question 8: Which of the following is a mandatory component of continuing
education (CE) for a Los Angeles County paramedic?
A. 12 hours of fire safety training every two years
B. 24 hours of clinical CE every three years, including at least 6 hours of
pediatric care
C. 8 hours of law enforcement liaison annually
D. No CE is required if the paramedic maintains state licensure
Correct answer: B. 24 hours of clinical CE every three years, including at
least 6 hours of pediatric care
Rationale: County accreditation requires 24 hours of CE every three years,
with a minimum of 6 hours dedicated to pediatric emergency care .
Question 9: In LA County, which communication system is primarily used for
dispatch to ambulances?
A. ReddiNet
B. VMED28
C. E-911
D. TriageNet
Correct answer: A. ReddiNet
Rationale: ReddiNet is the county-wide radio and data communication
platform used for ambulance dispatch and ongoing communication .
Question 10: What is the role of the Mobile Intensive Care Nurse (MICN) in the
LA County EMS system?
A. Provide on-scene advanced airway management only
B. Serve as a medical control liaison and assist with complex medication
orders
C. Operate the ambulance during transport
D. Perform all pediatric assessments in the field
Correct answer: B. Serve as a medical control liaison and assist with
complex medication orders
LA COUNTY PARAMEDIC ACCREDITATION EXAMINATION
2026 COMPLETE (110) CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
PARAMEDIC
Prepare for the LA County Paramedic Accreditation Examination with this
comprehensive practice resource designed to strengthen your emergency medical
knowledge and exam readiness. It features exam-style questions covering advanced
life support (ALS), patient assessment, airway management, cardiac emergencies,
trauma care, pharmacology, and local EMS protocols. Use it to reinforce essential
concepts, assess your understanding, and build confidence before test day. An
excellent study aid for paramedics preparing for the Los Angeles County Paramedic
Accreditation Examination.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
ACCREDITATION, LICENSING, & REGULATIONS (Questions 1–15)
Question 1: What is required to function as a Paramedic or MICN in Los
Angeles County?
A. A current California state license only
B. Employment with an approved LA County provider AND a current CA state
license
C. Completion of a paramedic training program only
D. Accreditation by the National Registry of EMTs
Correct answer: B. Employment with an approved LA County provider AND
a current CA state license
Rationale: LA County requires paramedics to be employed by an approved
provider agency and possess a current California state paramedic license .
Question 2: Which LA County reference outlines the criteria for determining
death in the field?
A. Ref 815
B. Ref 832
, Page 2 of 37
C. Ref 814
D. Ref 838
Correct answer: C. Ref 814
Rationale: Ref 814 specifically defines the medical and legal criteria for when
a paramedic may withhold or terminate resuscitation, establishing the
determination of death .
Question 3: What must you assess in order to pronounce death in the field
per LA County protocol?
A. Carotid pulse for 30 seconds
B. Apical pulse for 60 seconds
C. Presence of rigor mortis only
D. Pupillary response to light
Correct answer: B. Apical pulse for 60 seconds
Rationale: Ref 814 requires auscultation of the apical pulse for a full 60
seconds to confirm the absence of cardiac activity before pronouncing death
in the field .
Question 4: According to Ref 815, which document is considered the most
authoritative for honoring a patient's DNR wishes?
A. POLST form
B. Physician's verbal order
C. Family member's request
D. Hospital discharge summary
Correct answer: A. POLST form
Rationale: The POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) is a
signed, portable order that supersedes other informal directives and must be
honored per Ref 815 .
Question 5: Which entity holds ultimate medical authority over the Los
Angeles County EMS Agency?
, Page 3 of 37
A. The County Board of Supervisors
B. The Medical Director
C. The Base Hospital Director
D. The Paramedic Chief
Correct answer: B. The Medical Director
Rationale: The Medical Director is the top medical authority, responsible for
clinical protocols, medical oversight, and quality assurance for the EMS
system .
Question 6: According to Ref 832, when a patient refuses transport and signs
a Release at Scene (RAS) form, which additional step is required?
A. Obtain a second signature from a medical director
B. Document the patient's decision-making capacity
C. Notify the base hospital within 30 minutes
D. Provide a written copy of the patient's medical record
Correct answer: B. Document the patient's decision-making capacity
Rationale: Ref 832 mandates that the paramedic document that the patient
was competent, informed, and voluntarily refused transport before
completing a RAS .
Question 7: Under California Evidence Code §1157.7, what is the primary
purpose of the "Good Samaritan" provision for EMS personnel?
A. To guarantee payment for services rendered
B. To protect EMS providers from civil liability when acting in good faith
C. To require mandatory reporting of all incidents
D. To allow EMS to refuse care to non-compliant patients
Correct answer: B. To protect EMS providers from civil liability when
acting in good faith
Rationale: The Good Samaritan law shields EMS providers from civil suits
when they render emergency care in good faith without gross negligence .
, Page 4 of 37
Question 8: Which of the following is a mandatory component of continuing
education (CE) for a Los Angeles County paramedic?
A. 12 hours of fire safety training every two years
B. 24 hours of clinical CE every three years, including at least 6 hours of
pediatric care
C. 8 hours of law enforcement liaison annually
D. No CE is required if the paramedic maintains state licensure
Correct answer: B. 24 hours of clinical CE every three years, including at
least 6 hours of pediatric care
Rationale: County accreditation requires 24 hours of CE every three years,
with a minimum of 6 hours dedicated to pediatric emergency care .
Question 9: In LA County, which communication system is primarily used for
dispatch to ambulances?
A. ReddiNet
B. VMED28
C. E-911
D. TriageNet
Correct answer: A. ReddiNet
Rationale: ReddiNet is the county-wide radio and data communication
platform used for ambulance dispatch and ongoing communication .
Question 10: What is the role of the Mobile Intensive Care Nurse (MICN) in the
LA County EMS system?
A. Provide on-scene advanced airway management only
B. Serve as a medical control liaison and assist with complex medication
orders
C. Operate the ambulance during transport
D. Perform all pediatric assessments in the field
Correct answer: B. Serve as a medical control liaison and assist with
complex medication orders
