1|Page
NCOEMS Practice Exam 1 (2025–2026)
| US-Aligned EMT & Paramedic Exam
Prep | Realistic Questions, Detailed
Rationales, A+ Student Success
EMTs should wear high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) respirators
when they are in contact with patients who have which of the following?
A. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome)
B. Tuberculosis (TB)
C. Open Wounds
D. Hepatitis B ---CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️B.
You are called to assist a 60-year-old female complaining of a severe
headache. Upon entering the home, you smell a strong odor of natural
gas. What is your first action?
A. Check the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation.
B. Insert a nasopharyngeal airway and assess vital signs.
C. Remove the patient from the house to your ambulance.
D. Open all windows and determine the source of the gas leak. ---
CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️C.
,2|Page
The most common electrical rhythm disturbance that results in sudden
cardiac arrest is called:
A. Pulseless electrical activity
B. Ventricular Fibrillation
C. Ventricular Tachycardia
D. Asystole ---CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️B.
A non-trauma patient was pulseless and apneic. Assisted ventilation was
attempted, but unsuccessful. If the head is repositioned and a repeat
ventilation is unsuccessful, which of the following is the next most
appropriate step?
A. Check for an airway obstruction.
B. Continue with chest compressions only.
C. Attempt ventilations using an alternative method.
D. Continue to reposition the head until assisted ventilations are
successful. ---CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️A.
During the management of a cardiac arrest, the AED gives a 'no shock
advised' message. Which of the following conditions most likely
prompted this message?
A. The patient is in V tach.
B. The patient is hypothermic.
C. The patient is in V fib.
D. The patient's rhythm is asystole. ---CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️D.
,3|Page
ALS and EMS providers are preparing to hyperventilate a patient who
has a suspected brainstem herniation. As capnography becomes
available, what should be the target end-tidal carbon-dioxide level
during hyperventilation?
A. 20-25 mmHg
B. 60-70 mmHg
C. 30-35 mmHg
D. 40-45 mmHg ---CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️C.
Which of the following is the highest priority patient?
A. 57-year-old male with chest pain and systolic blood pressure of 80.
B. 40-year-old female with moderate pain from a leg injury.
C. 75-year-old male who appears confused but responds to commands.
D. 25-year-old female in labor with contractions six minutes apart. ---
CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️A.
Of the following, which body fluid has the most potential to transmit
blood-borne diseases?
A. Nasal discharge
B. Vomitus
C. Amniotic fluid
D. Feces ---CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️C.
, 4|Page
Your patient is an 11-month-old female. How can you determine if she
has a decreased mental status and is responsive to verbal stimuli?
A. She will be upset when you take her from her mother's arms.
B. She will be unable to tell you how old she is if you ask her.
C. She will attempt to locate her parents' voices when they speak.
D. She will try to pull away from a painful stimulus on her toe. ---
CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️C.
What is the best method to asses circulation in an infant?
A. Palpate the carotid pulse.
B. Palpate the brachial pulse.
C. Palpate the radial pulse.
D. Observe capillary refill time. ---CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️B.
A 45-year-old male is experiencing chest discomfort. After placing him
in his position of comfort, your next action should be to:
A. Ventilate the patient with a nonrebreather mask at 15 L/min.
B. Ventilate the patient with the bag-valve mask at 15 L/min.
C. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 15 L/min.
D. Administer oxygen by the nasal cannula at 6 L/min. ---CORRECT-
ANSWER☑️☑️☑️C.
Which patient should receive a rapid trauma survey to determine hidden
injuries?
NCOEMS Practice Exam 1 (2025–2026)
| US-Aligned EMT & Paramedic Exam
Prep | Realistic Questions, Detailed
Rationales, A+ Student Success
EMTs should wear high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) respirators
when they are in contact with patients who have which of the following?
A. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome)
B. Tuberculosis (TB)
C. Open Wounds
D. Hepatitis B ---CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️B.
You are called to assist a 60-year-old female complaining of a severe
headache. Upon entering the home, you smell a strong odor of natural
gas. What is your first action?
A. Check the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation.
B. Insert a nasopharyngeal airway and assess vital signs.
C. Remove the patient from the house to your ambulance.
D. Open all windows and determine the source of the gas leak. ---
CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️C.
,2|Page
The most common electrical rhythm disturbance that results in sudden
cardiac arrest is called:
A. Pulseless electrical activity
B. Ventricular Fibrillation
C. Ventricular Tachycardia
D. Asystole ---CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️B.
A non-trauma patient was pulseless and apneic. Assisted ventilation was
attempted, but unsuccessful. If the head is repositioned and a repeat
ventilation is unsuccessful, which of the following is the next most
appropriate step?
A. Check for an airway obstruction.
B. Continue with chest compressions only.
C. Attempt ventilations using an alternative method.
D. Continue to reposition the head until assisted ventilations are
successful. ---CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️A.
During the management of a cardiac arrest, the AED gives a 'no shock
advised' message. Which of the following conditions most likely
prompted this message?
A. The patient is in V tach.
B. The patient is hypothermic.
C. The patient is in V fib.
D. The patient's rhythm is asystole. ---CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️D.
,3|Page
ALS and EMS providers are preparing to hyperventilate a patient who
has a suspected brainstem herniation. As capnography becomes
available, what should be the target end-tidal carbon-dioxide level
during hyperventilation?
A. 20-25 mmHg
B. 60-70 mmHg
C. 30-35 mmHg
D. 40-45 mmHg ---CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️C.
Which of the following is the highest priority patient?
A. 57-year-old male with chest pain and systolic blood pressure of 80.
B. 40-year-old female with moderate pain from a leg injury.
C. 75-year-old male who appears confused but responds to commands.
D. 25-year-old female in labor with contractions six minutes apart. ---
CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️A.
Of the following, which body fluid has the most potential to transmit
blood-borne diseases?
A. Nasal discharge
B. Vomitus
C. Amniotic fluid
D. Feces ---CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️C.
, 4|Page
Your patient is an 11-month-old female. How can you determine if she
has a decreased mental status and is responsive to verbal stimuli?
A. She will be upset when you take her from her mother's arms.
B. She will be unable to tell you how old she is if you ask her.
C. She will attempt to locate her parents' voices when they speak.
D. She will try to pull away from a painful stimulus on her toe. ---
CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️C.
What is the best method to asses circulation in an infant?
A. Palpate the carotid pulse.
B. Palpate the brachial pulse.
C. Palpate the radial pulse.
D. Observe capillary refill time. ---CORRECT- ANSWER☑️☑️☑️B.
A 45-year-old male is experiencing chest discomfort. After placing him
in his position of comfort, your next action should be to:
A. Ventilate the patient with a nonrebreather mask at 15 L/min.
B. Ventilate the patient with the bag-valve mask at 15 L/min.
C. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 15 L/min.
D. Administer oxygen by the nasal cannula at 6 L/min. ---CORRECT-
ANSWER☑️☑️☑️C.
Which patient should receive a rapid trauma survey to determine hidden
injuries?