Free Practice Questions for NREMT

Exam-style questions and explanations by OpenExamPrep.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card

100+ Questions

100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More NREMT EMS Certifications

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.

VideoBest Manual Blood Pressure Cuffs for Nursing Students (2026): 5 Aneroid Sphygmomanometers ReviewedThis exam VideoBest Medical Penlights for Nurses & Clinical Students (2026): 5 Top Picks ReviewedThis exam VideoFREE NREMT EMT Exam Guide 2026: 6-Week Study PlanThis exam VideoNREMT EMT CAT Format 2026: Scoring + Retake RulesThis exam ArticleFREE NREMT EMT Exam Guide 2026: 6-Week Study Plan16 min read ArticleNREMT EMT CAT Format 2026: Scoring + Retake Rules10 min read ArticleBest Medical Penlights for Nurses & Clinical Students (2026): 5 Top Picks Reviewed13 min read ArticleBest Manual Blood Pressure Cuffs for Nursing Students (2026): 5 Aneroid Sphygmomanometers Reviewed13 min read

Exam Review

Key Facts: NREMT Exam

80%

2025 EMT Percent Passing

NREMT annual report, Certification Examination; not stated as first-attempt

950

Scaled Passing Point

100-1500 scale on unsuccessful-candidate reports; not percent correct

70-120

CAT Items

Includes 10 unscored pilot items

39-43%

Primary Assessment

Current EMT examination specifications

$104

Examination Fee

Per attempt

2 hours

Examination Time Limit

NREMT EMT specifications

The EMT examination has 70-120 items, including 10 unscored pilots, with a two-hour limit and a $104 fee per attempt. The five patient-care domains took effect April 7, 2025; Primary Assessment accounts for 39-43%. Initial-certification retesting requires a 15-day wait from results posting, with 20 National NCCP competency credits after a third failure. Eligibility deadlines still apply.

Sample NREMT Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the NREMT exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the proper technique for opening the airway of an unresponsive patient with a suspected cervical spine injury?

A.Head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver

B.Jaw-thrust maneuver

C.Neck-extension technique

D.Modified chin-lift with neck rotation

Explanation: The jaw-thrust maneuver is the preferred technique for opening the airway when a cervical spine injury is suspected because it opens the airway without extending the neck. The head-tilt/chin-lift is contraindicated in suspected spinal injuries because it can worsen spinal cord damage.

2An oropharyngeal airway (OPA) should be sized by measuring from the:

A.Center of the mouth to the angle of the jaw

B.Corner of the mouth to the earlobe or angle of the jaw

C.Tip of the nose to the earlobe

D.Bridge of the nose to the chin

Explanation: An OPA is correctly sized by measuring from the corner of the mouth to the earlobe or the angle of the jaw. An incorrectly sized OPA can push the tongue back and obstruct the airway (too large) or fail to maintain airway patency (too small).

3A nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) is properly sized by measuring from the:

A.Corner of the mouth to the earlobe

B.Bridge of the nose to the angle of the jaw

C.Tip of the nose to the earlobe

D.Nostril to the corner of the mouth

Explanation: An NPA is sized by measuring from the tip of the nose to the earlobe. Unlike the OPA, the NPA can be used in patients who have an intact gag reflex because it is inserted through the nostril and sits behind the tongue without stimulating the posterior pharynx.

4You respond to a 4-year-old child who is choking and becomes unresponsive. After placing the child on a flat surface, what is your next action?

A.Perform a blind finger sweep of the mouth

B.Attempt ventilations, then begin CPR if unsuccessful

C.Begin CPR starting with 30 chest compressions, then look in the mouth before ventilating

D.Perform 5 abdominal thrusts followed by 5 back blows

Explanation: When a choking patient becomes unresponsive, you should begin CPR starting with chest compressions. After each set of 30 compressions, look in the mouth for visible objects before attempting ventilations. Blind finger sweeps are no longer recommended because they may push the object deeper into the airway.

5A patient who aspirates a foreign body is most likely to have it lodge in the:

A.Left main bronchus

B.Right main bronchus

C.Trachea at the level of the carina

D.Left lower lobe bronchus

Explanation: Aspirated foreign bodies most commonly lodge in the right main bronchus because it is shorter, wider, and more vertically oriented than the left. This anatomy makes the right side the path of least resistance for inhaled objects, which is why right-sided aspiration pneumonia is also more common.

6You arrive at a scene to find a 60-year-old male unresponsive on the floor. His wife states he was eating steak when he grabbed his throat and collapsed. After confirming unresponsiveness, you open his airway and attempt ventilation but cannot achieve chest rise. What should you do next?

A.Perform a finger sweep and reattempt ventilation

B.Reposition the head and reattempt ventilation

C.Begin 30 chest compressions, check the mouth, then reattempt ventilation

D.Immediately perform abdominal thrusts

Explanation: When the initial ventilation attempt fails, the first corrective action is to reposition the airway and reattempt ventilation. Improper head positioning is the most common cause of failed ventilation. If the second attempt also fails, then begin CPR with chest compressions.

7In which of the following patients would a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) be contraindicated?

A.A semiconscious patient with an intact gag reflex

B.A patient with suspected basilar skull fracture

C.A patient with a history of asthma

D.A patient who is seizing

Explanation: An NPA is contraindicated in patients with suspected basilar skull fractures because the airway could potentially enter the cranial vault through a fractured cribriform plate. Signs of basilar skull fracture include raccoon eyes, Battle sign, and cerebrospinal fluid leaking from the nose or ears.

8An EMT is suctioning a patient with thick oral secretions. What is the maximum duration for each suctioning attempt in an adult?

A.5 seconds

B.10 seconds

C.15 seconds

D.20 seconds

Explanation: Suctioning in an adult should not exceed 15 seconds per attempt to prevent hypoxia. Prolonged suctioning removes oxygen along with secretions, potentially worsening the patient's condition. The patient should be pre-oxygenated before suctioning and re-oxygenated immediately afterward.

9A non-rebreather mask (NRB) should be set to deliver oxygen at a flow rate of:

A.1-6 LPM

B.6-10 LPM

C.10-15 LPM

D.15-25 LPM

Explanation: A non-rebreather mask is a high-flow oxygen delivery device that should be set at 10-15 LPM, delivering approximately 60-90% oxygen concentration. The reservoir bag must be fully inflated before placing it on the patient. Flow rates below 10 LPM risk the reservoir bag collapsing during inspiration.

10A nasal cannula delivers supplemental oxygen at flow rates of:

A.1-6 LPM, delivering 24-44% oxygen

B.6-10 LPM, delivering 44-60% oxygen

C.10-15 LPM, delivering 60-90% oxygen

D.1-4 LPM, delivering 90-100% oxygen

Explanation: A nasal cannula is a low-flow oxygen device that delivers 1-6 LPM, providing approximately 24-44% oxygen concentration. Each additional liter per minute increases the delivered oxygen by approximately 4%. It is the most commonly used oxygen delivery device for patients needing mild supplemental oxygen.

About the NREMT Exam

The National Registry EMT certification examination assesses entry-level EMT competence through CAT. Certification also requires eligible education and state-approved BLS skills competency; passing this examination alone does not grant certification or state authority to practice.

Exam sponsor: National Registry; delivered through Pearson VUE. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Variable-length assessment

Time Limit

2 hours

Passing Score

950 passing point on unsuccessful-candidate scaled reports (100-1500)

Exam / Certification Fees

$104 per attempt

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: 80%. 2025 EMT Percent Passing (Certification Examination); not identified here as first-attempt or a personal prediction This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website

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.

39-43%

Primary Assessment

General impression, consciousness, airway, breathing, circulation, baseline observations, life threats, and immediate care or transport needs.

20-24%

Patient Treatment & Transport

Scope-appropriate airway, ventilation, circulation, medication, special-population care, transport, and handover decisions.

15-19%

Scene Size-Up & Safety

Pre-arrival planning, scene hazards, PPE, identifying and triaging patients, and requesting resources.

10-14%

Operations

Equipment readiness, medication and supply inventory, documentation, and responder well-being.

5-9%

Secondary Assessment

Focused physical assessment, patient history, investigation of findings, and reassessment to refine care.

Preparing for the NREMT Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 950 passing point on unsuccessful-candidate scaled reports (100-1500)
Assessment: Variable-length assessment
Time limit: 2 hours
Exam / certification fees: $104 per attempt 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

NREMT: Suggested Study Strategy

1Prioritize Primary Assessment, the largest domain at 39-43%, while reviewing all five published domains.

2Explain which finding changes the immediate care or transport decision; do not rely on keyword matching.

3Distinguish an ABCDE assessment from adult cardiac arrest: begin the CPR sequence with compressions and provide ventilation as trained.

4For adult head/neck trauma, use a jaw thrust without extension first. If jaw thrust and an appropriate airway adjunct cannot open the airway, use head tilt-chin lift to enable ventilation while limiting spinal movement.

5Interpret oxygen saturation with symptoms, perfusion, measurement limitations, and the applicable protocol; a displayed number alone does not establish adequate care.

6Choose and size airway equipment using current training, device instructions, and patient findings; reassess airway patency and ventilation after intervention.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the published NREMT EMT pass rate mean?

The National Registry 2025 annual report lists EMT Percent Passing (Certification Examination) as 80%. That label is not a stated first-attempt rate, a 2026 result, or a prediction for an individual candidate.

How many questions are on the EMT examination?

The CAT examination delivers 70-120 items in two hours, including 10 unscored pilot items. Pilots are not identified. The count is an examination rule, not the number of practice questions or flashcards on this site.

Can I predict my result from hard questions?

No. Perceived difficulty and the item count do not establish pass or fail. The examination assesses overall entry-level competence; successful candidates do not receive a detailed score report.

How should I organize revision?

Our optional 60-hour, 4-6-week plan starts with a diagnostic review, then covers all five current domains and mixed scenarios. Adjust it to course feedback and your errors; neither the hours nor a practice percentage guarantees readiness.

What changed in April 2025?

The EMT examination adopted five patient-care domains and technology-enhanced items on April 7, 2025. Scene Size-Up and Safety, Primary Assessment, Secondary Assessment, Patient Treatment and Transport, and Operations replace the older topic-based blueprint.