CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY MEDICAL
TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the first priority for an EMT arriving at an emergency
scene?
A. Providing patient care
B. Scene safety
C. Personal safety
D. Calling for backup
B. Scene safety
Because if the scene is unsafe you cannot safely treat or transport
patients.
2. Which best describes the scope of practice for an EMT?
A. Any procedure approved by a physician
B. Skills and procedures authorized by state law and medical
direction
C. Only CPR and AED use
D. Invasive surgical techniques
B. Skills and procedures authorized by state law and medical
direction
EMTs may only perform interventions permitted by regulations
and local medical protocols.
,3. What is the normal respiratory rate for an adult at rest?
A. 8–10 breaths/min
B. 12–20 breaths/min
C. 22–28 breaths/min
D. 30–36 breaths/min
B. 12–20 breaths/min
This is standard reference for adult normal respiration.
4. You arrive at a scene where a patient was stung by a bee and is
wheezing. What is your first action?
A. Administer oxygen and prepare for epinephrine administration
B. Provide oral glucose
C. Apply ice to the sting
D. Immobilize the affected area
A. Administer oxygen and prepare for epinephrine
administration
Wheezing suggests possible anaphylaxis — oxygen and
epinephrine are priorities.
5. What is the most appropriate method to open an airway in a
patient with suspected spinal trauma?
A. Head-tilt, chin-lift
B. Jaw-thrust maneuver
C. Triple airway maneuver
D. Chin-lift only
B. Jaw-thrust maneuver
Jaw-thrust helps open airway without risking cervical spine
movement.
6. Which of the following would be classified as bradycardia in an
adult?
A. 110 beats/min
, B. 80 beats/min
C. 60 beats/min
D. 38 beats/min
D. 38 beats/min
Heart rate below ~60 bpm in adults is considered bradycardia.
7. When suctioning a patient’s airway, how long should each
attempt last (adult)?
A. 20 seconds
B. 15 seconds
C. 30 seconds
D. 10 seconds
B. 15 seconds
Longer suction times may cause hypoxia; 15 s is maximum safe
duration.
8. Which organ is located in the right upper quadrant of the
abdomen?
A. Liver
B. Stomach
C. Spleen
D. Left kidney
A. Liver
Anatomical organ quadrant classification.
9. What is the appropriate oxygen flow rate when using a nasal
cannula for an adult patient?
A. 10–15 L/min
B. 6–10 L/min
C. 1–6 L/min
D. 15–20 L/min
TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the first priority for an EMT arriving at an emergency
scene?
A. Providing patient care
B. Scene safety
C. Personal safety
D. Calling for backup
B. Scene safety
Because if the scene is unsafe you cannot safely treat or transport
patients.
2. Which best describes the scope of practice for an EMT?
A. Any procedure approved by a physician
B. Skills and procedures authorized by state law and medical
direction
C. Only CPR and AED use
D. Invasive surgical techniques
B. Skills and procedures authorized by state law and medical
direction
EMTs may only perform interventions permitted by regulations
and local medical protocols.
,3. What is the normal respiratory rate for an adult at rest?
A. 8–10 breaths/min
B. 12–20 breaths/min
C. 22–28 breaths/min
D. 30–36 breaths/min
B. 12–20 breaths/min
This is standard reference for adult normal respiration.
4. You arrive at a scene where a patient was stung by a bee and is
wheezing. What is your first action?
A. Administer oxygen and prepare for epinephrine administration
B. Provide oral glucose
C. Apply ice to the sting
D. Immobilize the affected area
A. Administer oxygen and prepare for epinephrine
administration
Wheezing suggests possible anaphylaxis — oxygen and
epinephrine are priorities.
5. What is the most appropriate method to open an airway in a
patient with suspected spinal trauma?
A. Head-tilt, chin-lift
B. Jaw-thrust maneuver
C. Triple airway maneuver
D. Chin-lift only
B. Jaw-thrust maneuver
Jaw-thrust helps open airway without risking cervical spine
movement.
6. Which of the following would be classified as bradycardia in an
adult?
A. 110 beats/min
, B. 80 beats/min
C. 60 beats/min
D. 38 beats/min
D. 38 beats/min
Heart rate below ~60 bpm in adults is considered bradycardia.
7. When suctioning a patient’s airway, how long should each
attempt last (adult)?
A. 20 seconds
B. 15 seconds
C. 30 seconds
D. 10 seconds
B. 15 seconds
Longer suction times may cause hypoxia; 15 s is maximum safe
duration.
8. Which organ is located in the right upper quadrant of the
abdomen?
A. Liver
B. Stomach
C. Spleen
D. Left kidney
A. Liver
Anatomical organ quadrant classification.
9. What is the appropriate oxygen flow rate when using a nasal
cannula for an adult patient?
A. 10–15 L/min
B. 6–10 L/min
C. 1–6 L/min
D. 15–20 L/min
