WA HOSA Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Exam
2026/2027 | Complete Practice Questions, Correct Answers &
Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1 — PATIENT ASSESSMENT
Questions 1–50
1. What should an EMT do first when arriving at an emergency scene?
A. Take the patient's blood pressure
B. Determine whether the scene is safe
C. Obtain a SAMPLE history
D. Apply oxygen
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Scene safety comes first. The EMT must identify hazards
before entering or beginning patient care so the provider does not
become another victim.
2. In the AVPU system, what does the letter “A” represent?
A. Airway
B. Alert
C. Assessment
D. Anxiety
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AVPU evaluates level of consciousness: Alert, responds to
Verbal stimuli, responds to Painful stimuli, or Unresponsive.
,3. What does the “P” in OPQRST represent?
A. Pulse
B. Provocation or palliation
C. Pressure
D. Pupils
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: OPQRST helps characterize a patient's chief complaint. P
identifies what provokes or relieves the symptom.
4. A patient reports chest discomfort that began 20 minutes ago.
Which OPQRST component identifies when it began?
A. Quality
B. Severity
C. Onset
D. Radiation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Onset determines when and how the symptom started,
including whether it was sudden or gradual.
5. Which question best assesses the quality of pain?
A. “Where does it hurt?”
B. “How severe is it?”
C. “What does the pain feel like?”
D. “When did it begin?”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Quality describes the character of the symptom, such as
sharp, dull, burning, pressure-like, or stabbing.
6. Which finding is considered an obvious life threat during the
primary assessment?
,A. Mild ankle pain
B. Airway obstruction
C. Old bruising
D. Minor headache
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Airway obstruction can rapidly cause hypoxia and cardiac
arrest and therefore requires immediate attention.
7. What is the purpose of determining the mechanism of injury?
A. To establish billing
B. To identify potential injuries that may not be immediately visible
C. To determine the patient's insurance
D. To determine transportation cost
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mechanism of injury helps the EMT anticipate internal or
occult injuries and determine appropriate assessment and precautions.
8. Which history component asks about drug and medication
allergies?
A. SAMPLE
B. OPQRST
C. AVPU
D. DCAP-BTLS
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: SAMPLE includes Signs/symptoms, Allergies, Medications,
Pertinent history, Last oral intake, and Events leading to the illness or
injury.
9. What does the “M” in SAMPLE represent?
A. Mechanism
, B. Medications
C. Mental status
D. Movement
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: M identifies prescription, over-the-counter, and other
medications the patient takes.
10. Why is the number of patients determined during scene size-up?
A. To calculate transport fees
B. To determine whether additional resources are needed
C. To identify the oldest patient
D. To determine the patient's insurance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Multiple patients may exceed the initial crew's capacity and
require additional EMS resources.
11. Which vital signs should generally be obtained as baseline
measurements?
A. Blood pressure, pulse, and respirations
B. Weight, height, and temperature only
C. Vision and hearing
D. Blood glucose only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The HOSA EMT medical-assessment skill specifically requires
baseline blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate.
12. What does “chief complaint” mean?
A. The EMT's diagnosis
B. The patient's primary reason for seeking care
C. The patient's medical history
2026/2027 | Complete Practice Questions, Correct Answers &
Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1 — PATIENT ASSESSMENT
Questions 1–50
1. What should an EMT do first when arriving at an emergency scene?
A. Take the patient's blood pressure
B. Determine whether the scene is safe
C. Obtain a SAMPLE history
D. Apply oxygen
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Scene safety comes first. The EMT must identify hazards
before entering or beginning patient care so the provider does not
become another victim.
2. In the AVPU system, what does the letter “A” represent?
A. Airway
B. Alert
C. Assessment
D. Anxiety
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AVPU evaluates level of consciousness: Alert, responds to
Verbal stimuli, responds to Painful stimuli, or Unresponsive.
,3. What does the “P” in OPQRST represent?
A. Pulse
B. Provocation or palliation
C. Pressure
D. Pupils
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: OPQRST helps characterize a patient's chief complaint. P
identifies what provokes or relieves the symptom.
4. A patient reports chest discomfort that began 20 minutes ago.
Which OPQRST component identifies when it began?
A. Quality
B. Severity
C. Onset
D. Radiation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Onset determines when and how the symptom started,
including whether it was sudden or gradual.
5. Which question best assesses the quality of pain?
A. “Where does it hurt?”
B. “How severe is it?”
C. “What does the pain feel like?”
D. “When did it begin?”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Quality describes the character of the symptom, such as
sharp, dull, burning, pressure-like, or stabbing.
6. Which finding is considered an obvious life threat during the
primary assessment?
,A. Mild ankle pain
B. Airway obstruction
C. Old bruising
D. Minor headache
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Airway obstruction can rapidly cause hypoxia and cardiac
arrest and therefore requires immediate attention.
7. What is the purpose of determining the mechanism of injury?
A. To establish billing
B. To identify potential injuries that may not be immediately visible
C. To determine the patient's insurance
D. To determine transportation cost
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mechanism of injury helps the EMT anticipate internal or
occult injuries and determine appropriate assessment and precautions.
8. Which history component asks about drug and medication
allergies?
A. SAMPLE
B. OPQRST
C. AVPU
D. DCAP-BTLS
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: SAMPLE includes Signs/symptoms, Allergies, Medications,
Pertinent history, Last oral intake, and Events leading to the illness or
injury.
9. What does the “M” in SAMPLE represent?
A. Mechanism
, B. Medications
C. Mental status
D. Movement
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: M identifies prescription, over-the-counter, and other
medications the patient takes.
10. Why is the number of patients determined during scene size-up?
A. To calculate transport fees
B. To determine whether additional resources are needed
C. To identify the oldest patient
D. To determine the patient's insurance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Multiple patients may exceed the initial crew's capacity and
require additional EMS resources.
11. Which vital signs should generally be obtained as baseline
measurements?
A. Blood pressure, pulse, and respirations
B. Weight, height, and temperature only
C. Vision and hearing
D. Blood glucose only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The HOSA EMT medical-assessment skill specifically requires
baseline blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate.
12. What does “chief complaint” mean?
A. The EMT's diagnosis
B. The patient's primary reason for seeking care
C. The patient's medical history
