Free Practice Questions for CAQ-EM
Exam-style questions and explanations by OpenExamPrep.
Loading practice questions...
Explore More NCCPA Physician Assistant Exams
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
More From This Family
Videos and articles for deeper review.
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 review concepts for the CAQ-EM exam. 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.
Exam sponsor: NCCPA. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
120 questions
Time Limit
3 hours
Passing Score
Scaled (NCCPA-set)
Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Official sources
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
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
Preparing for the CAQ-EM Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Scaled (NCCPA-set)
- Exam length: 120 questions
- Time limit: 3 hours
- Exam / certification fees: $350 Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
CAQ-EM: Suggested Study Strategy
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.