NREMT Introduces New Paramedic Psychomotor Competency Portfolio Exam

The Paramedic Psychomotor Competency Portfolio (PPCP) project developed as a result of requiring graduation from a CAAHEP-approved paramedic program or one that holds a current LOR from the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP) for courses that commenced on or after January 1, 2013. 

Recognizing the rigorous, consistent review of paramedic programs through the accreditation process, the National Registry of EMTs began to investigate revision of our paramedic psychomotor examination. 

The National Registry focused on a more scenario-based examination that could also incorporate essential attributes of team leadership and team membership, thus better reflecting actual out-of-hospital care as opposed to continuing to test 12 isolated skills. 

The National Registry developed a portfolio of vital skills that each paramedic student must master in order to qualify for the National Registry Paramedic Certification examination. Each student’s portfolio is tracked by the program throughout the formative and summative phases of education in the classroom, laboratory, clinical and field internship settings. The completed portfolio becomes a part of the student’s permanent educational file and is a prerequisite to seeking National Registry Paramedic Certification.

The National Registry anticipates incorporating the scenario-based examination in several phases with Phase 1 beginning on August 1, 2016. In this first phase, a total of six (6) skills will be tested, five (5) of which are currently evaluated in the National Registry Paramedic Psychomotor examination. One scenario will also be tested and it could reflect either a pediatric, geriatric, or adult patient. A trained paramedic partner will be supplied as part of the examination team and will serve as the candidate’s professional partner. Each candidate will be evaluated in his/her ability to manage a call, lead the team, direct all personnel and resources on scene, effectively communicate, and maintain professionalism throughout the call. The six (6) skills that will comprise the National Registry Paramedic Psychomotor examination effective August 1, 2016, are as follows:

1. Patient Assessment – Trauma
2. Oral Station – Case A
3. Oral Station – Case B
4. Dynamic Cardiology
5. Static Cardiology
6. Out-of-hospital Scenario

The following is a link https://tinyurl.com/NREMT-PPCP to documents and essays used during the laboratory, clinical, and capstone phases of a student’s education. Students and educational programs are welcome to use these documents for non-commercial purposes of educational or scientific advancement.