100+ Free CAQ-EM Practice Questions
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A patient with cellulitis has rapidly spreading erythema, severe pain out of proportion, crepitus, and bullae. Diagnosis?
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Key Facts: CAQ-EM Exam
120
Total Items
NCCPA CAQ
3 hrs
Exam Time
NCCPA
$350
Exam Fee
NCCPA
3,000 hrs
Practice Required
Prior 6 yrs EM-PA
NCCPA CAQ-EM is the PA subspecialty credential for emergency medicine. 120 items, 3 hours, $350. Eligibility: 3,000 hours EM practice + 150 EM CME. Master ATLS primary survey, sepsis bundle (Hour-1), STEMI activation criteria, stroke tPA window (4.5h) and EVT extended window (24h DAWN/DEFUSE-3), and toxidrome recognition.
Sample CAQ-EM Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your CAQ-EM exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A 58-year-old man presents with crushing substernal chest pain for 45 minutes. ECG shows 3 mm ST elevation in leads II, III, and aVF. The hospital has 24/7 PCI capability. What is the maximum acceptable door-to-balloon time?
2A 62-year-old woman presents to a non-PCI capable hospital with anterior STEMI. The nearest PCI center is 3 hours away. What is the most appropriate management?
3A 55-year-old man with chest pain has a HEART score of 3. Initial high-sensitivity troponin is below the 99th percentile. What is the most appropriate disposition?
4A 70-year-old presents with NSTEMI. Which finding most strongly supports an early invasive strategy (within 24 hours)?
5A 67-year-old with acute decompensated heart failure has BP 90/60, cool extremities, and lactate 4.5. What is the most appropriate initial therapy?
6A patient with new-onset atrial fibrillation has heart rate 165, BP 80/50, and altered mental status. What is the most appropriate immediate management?
7A 45-year-old with palpitations has a regular narrow-complex tachycardia at 180 bpm, BP 120/70. Vagal maneuvers fail. What is next?
8Which ECG finding is most consistent with acute pericarditis?
9A 75-year-old with sudden severe tearing chest pain radiating to the back has BP 200/110 in the right arm and 160/90 in the left. What is the diagnostic test of choice?
10A patient with type A aortic dissection requires what initial management?
About the CAQ-EM Exam
NCCPA Certificate of Added Qualifications in Emergency Medicine — for PAs practicing in EDs. Covers high-acuity resuscitation (ACLS/PALS, sepsis, shock), trauma (ATLS, primary/secondary survey, MTP), cardiovascular emergencies (STEMI, dissection, PE), pulmonary emergencies, neurologic emergencies (stroke window, status), GI/GU emergencies, peds and OB emergencies, toxicology and environmental, infectious/sepsis, airway and procedures, and EM professional practice.
Questions
120 scored questions
Time Limit
3 hours
Passing Score
Scaled (NCCPA-set)
Exam Fee
$350 (NCCPA)
CAQ-EM Exam Content Outline
Cardiovascular Emergencies
STEMI activation, dissection, PE, AFib RVR, decompensated HF, tamponade
Trauma
ATLS primary/secondary survey, MTP, FAST, blunt vs penetrating, pelvic binder
Resuscitation & Shock
ACLS, septic vs cardiogenic vs distributive shock, REBOA, ROSC care
Toxicology & Environmental
Toxidromes, antidotes (NAC, fomepizole, atropine/2-PAM), heat/cold, envenomations
Abdominal/GI/GU
Appendicitis, SBO, ectopic, testicular torsion, AAA, mesenteric ischemia
Pulmonary
Asthma/COPD exacerbation, PE, pneumothorax, ARDS, NIV vs intubation
Pediatrics & OB Emergencies
Bronchiolitis, intussusception, NAT, preeclampsia/HELLP, postpartum hemorrhage
Neurologic
Stroke (4.5h tPA, 24h EVT), status epilepticus, meningitis, ICH, SAH (Hunt-Hess)
Infectious / Sepsis
Hour-1 sepsis bundle, source control, necrotizing fasciitis (LRINEC)
Procedures & Airway
RSI, US-guided central line, chest tube, lateral canthotomy, CSF/joint tap
Professional Practice
Documentation, EMTALA, handoffs, ethics, observation vs admission
How to Pass the CAQ-EM Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Scaled (NCCPA-set)
- Exam length: 120 questions
- Time limit: 3 hours
- Exam fee: $350
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
CAQ-EM Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Hour-1 sepsis bundle?
Surviving Sepsis Campaign Hour-1 bundle: measure lactate (re-measure if >2 mmol/L), obtain blood cultures BEFORE antibiotics, broad-spectrum antibiotics, 30 mL/kg crystalloid for hypotension or lactate ≥4 mmol/L, vasopressors (norepi first-line) to maintain MAP ≥65 mmHg if persistent hypotension. All actions ideally within first hour of recognition.
When is tPA still indicated for stroke?
Alteplase 0.9 mg/kg (max 90 mg) within 4.5 hours of last-known-well in eligible ischemic stroke patients without contraindications (recent surgery, active bleeding, INR >1.7, BP >185/110 unresponsive). Tenecteplase 0.25 mg/kg increasingly used. Endovascular thrombectomy extends to 24h in carefully selected LVO patients (DAWN, DEFUSE-3) with favorable imaging mismatch.
How is necrotizing fasciitis recognized?
Clinical features: pain out of proportion, rapid spread, systemic toxicity, crepitus (late), bullae, skin necrosis. LRINEC score (CRP, WBC, Hgb, Na, Cr, glucose) flags risk; ≥6 suggests nec fasc but cannot rule out. Imaging (CT) shows gas in tissue planes. Treatment: emergent surgical debridement + broad-spectrum antibiotics (vanco + pip-tazo + clinda for toxin suppression).
How should I study for CAQ-EM?
Plan 80-120 hours over 10-14 weeks. Work the NCCPA CAQ Emergency Medicine content blueprint, drill weighted-domain practice questions, complete required Category 1 CME, and submit experience requirements (typically ≥3,000 hours specialty practice in the prior 6 years and ≥150 specialty CME) before sitting the exam.