r/Paramedics • u/cutesymochi • Jun 08 '25
US Husband keeps failing the NREMT for Paramedic, advice?
My husband has taken the NREMT for paramedic 4 times and has failed each time, I think the most recent was his closest to passing with I think one question missed. He didn’t struggle too much in paramedic school and had high grades and was helping out students with their work so I don’t think he’s not understanding the work.
He didn’t go to school as a kid, he was homeschooled without state testing as far as I’m aware so I personally think part of his problem may be lack of test taking skills. He studied for this test using some of Limmers free material and paid for paramedic coach. He also works 2 jobs as well.
He has I believe 2 more attempts and time is running out for him before he has to retake the school program again. Does anyone have any advice?
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u/Boring_Ostrich9935 Jun 08 '25
I used pocket prep and did close to 1,200 practice test question 2 weeks before my test. It helped immensely
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u/cutesymochi Jun 08 '25
He said the knowledge on pocketprep is wrong and he used it for the first 2 attempts and those were his worst scores.
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u/Boring_Ostrich9935 Jun 08 '25
Odd. I passed first try and that’s the only thing I used
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u/cutesymochi Jun 08 '25
I told him others have used it but he says he fact checked the book and online and pocketprep was wrong. But I believe that sometimes the test may not be looking for answers from the book itself. Did you use it for the new or old test? Because I believe he’s been able to only take the new test.
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u/Boring_Ostrich9935 Jun 08 '25
I can say for sure that pocket prep isn’t wrong. I took my test 2 years ago so I’m not sure what test I did. But many people use pocket prep. If it was so wrong that people can’t pass, no one would use it. Like I said I did well over 1,000 questions 2 weeks before my test so maybe he’s just gotta put more time in.
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u/cutesymochi Jun 08 '25
I agree, I think you took the old one then because I think the new one started being used in 2025 so I hope someone with updated info on pocket prep can answer for the new test.
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u/Shr0omiish Jun 08 '25
I’m curious about what information he was fact checking and what his sources are. Not saying this is the case in his situation, but scope of practice and protocols vary a lot depending on where you’re located, and I wonder if that’s where the mismatch of information he found online vs on Pocket Prep comes in.
Also, every single system of information is capable of having an error. Pocket Prep is generally considered to be one of, if not the best, exam prep program out there. Not just for NREMT but for tons of other industries that have certifications exams as well.
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u/cutesymochi Jun 08 '25
Thank you, I suggested he use Limmer, Pocket prep, and coach to study so if he feels pocket prep is wrong he can still use 2 other materials to check it study with alongside.
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u/Shr0omiish Jun 08 '25
Yep, definitely! I hope he does well the next time around(I know it’s stressful, I’m supposed to take the Paramedic NREMT at the end of the year and I’m not excited about it)
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u/cutesymochi Jun 08 '25
Thank you! God bless you and I hope and pray for you today God willing to pass your test! Good luck!!
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u/Windpuppet Jun 08 '25
This statement makes me question your husband.
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u/cutesymochi Jun 08 '25
Why? He may just be misunderstanding the questions and thinks their wrong initially.
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u/areyoufiredup Paramedic Jun 08 '25
Pocket Prep was the only test prep service I used outside of the textbook materials. As above, I completed the entire catalog of questions on Pocket Prep and passed NREMT on my first try (both EMT-Basic and Paramedic). IIRC, the app will cite sources along with the rationale for the answer to demonstrate why the selected answer is correct/incorrect.
I noticed much of the exam is based on the order in which treatments are provided on scene. So when presented with a scenario, the four possible answers listed may all be valid treatment options, but you are often asked what comes FIRST or what comes NEXT in a particular scenario. Knowing the model for patient assessment is important. The test is NOT trying to trick anyone.
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u/Wonton-Potato Paramedic Jun 08 '25
I failed my first attempt. I'm a terrible test taker. I passed with flying colors on my second attempt. I've had over a decade as a medic, doing critical care, teaching a program and managing my previous dept education. Just because he's been struggling in this doesn't mean he will fail as a provider. It does mean he needs to step back and review his priorities. This is what I did. I realized that the good grades in school weren't enough, I coasted by and did just enough.
He should be using PASS through limmer. 100%
I combined that with the Kaplan Paramedic Prep book and the Crash Course Paramedic flash card book.
Every time I missed an answer, I wrote three paragraphs outlining the concept.
I felt like the only way I would get past my test anxiety is if I knew every concept I could be tested on exhaustively. It changed me as a provider, a student, and a person, all in a positive manner I think.
I learned that I was able to pass this on to other poor test takers, and that's why I moved into teaching before I moved into nursing.
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u/cutesymochi Jun 08 '25
Thank you I think this is awesome advice!!
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u/Wonton-Potato Paramedic Jun 08 '25
If he or you ever need a sounding board or some advice, I'm around.
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u/cutesymochi Jun 08 '25
He’s about to buy the paramedic pass app. He doesn’t use Reddit but he has discord or IG, do you use either?
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u/Wonton-Potato Paramedic Jun 08 '25
One of the most valuable skills he will learn from this is how to be there for the next guy. It's important.
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u/CaseyRn86 Jun 08 '25
I would take few days off of the two damn jobs and study then take it. I can’t imagine trying to study and retain info while working two jobs and then squeezing the test in on a day off.
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u/cutesymochi Jun 08 '25
I’ve suggested quitting the second one but he says we need the money because my job can’t afford the bills. I agree with you though, I will suggest this God willing.
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u/CaseyRn86 Jun 08 '25
Even like 4 days to a week. Use that pto. Use the credit card something bc passing is the most umportant thing.
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u/cutesymochi Jun 08 '25
Unfortunately he doesn’t get much PTO. I agree with you though, I think he really needs to take time off and focus on this.
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u/davethegreatone Jun 08 '25
Just remember this is you end up considering homeschooling your kids some day - it has a cost later in life.
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u/EZ-IO-burner Jun 09 '25
NREMT is not easy but it can be predictable, in that the questions typically have 2 very wrong answers, then 2 correctish answers.
It is pretty concerning that he has failed that many times.
My best piece of advice is: BLS before ALS
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u/Shr0omiish Jun 08 '25
Pocket prep. They base their questions and answers on the most current NREMT exam outlines, it’s probably one of the best resources for practice quizzes out there.
Also, if his program used Platinum Planner and he still has access to it, there should also be adaptive tests on there to practice taking the NREMT.
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u/Shr0omiish Jun 08 '25
Outside of school resources like Platinum, Pocket Prep is all I used to study for EMT-B and AEMT and I passed both exams on the first try.
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u/Imaginary-Thing-7159 Paramedic Jun 08 '25
he should spend a solid month with the pro version of pocket prep. hours each day. master every single question to the point where the same content can be presented differently and he’d still get it.
don’t let him waste his last chances. take the month, it’s like taking a breath. if he fucks up the fifth try the stakes of the sixth will be too high.
take the month
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u/MaricLee Jun 08 '25
You've been given good advice here, sorry for some snarky assholes, they infest EMS.
I know failing tests is extremely discouraging but I hope it hasn't got him down. Persistence is a great quality.
Anecdotally I've known medics and emts who are smart and great at their jobs who just vastly overthink what to do when it comes to written tests.
My advice is to not overthink questions. The NREMT isn't trying to trick him, as difficult as it can be. Tell him to think of what he would do on a real life medical call. And if he sees an answer on the test that mentions a medication or intervention he has never heard of, it's probably not the answer he should choose.
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u/cutesymochi Jun 08 '25
Thank you, he’s passionate about health care and loves helping people and serving his community. He’s great at what he does and I hate to think that there are people out there who thinks people like him shouldn’t be a paramedic simply because he’s not the best test taker around when he loves what he does and is good at it. I think he’s over thinking it.
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u/nsmf219 Jun 08 '25
I can’t accept that people are “great on the job but can’t pass the test”. This is an entry level test. I’ve seen some truly terrible providers pass the test. It’s all in formation that is needed for the job and that’s just the start. There will be tons more foundational info he needs after passing that test that school doesn’t cover.
He needs to learn how to take a test. If not, maybe this field is not so good for him. Any mildly decent program should teach you. That’s all your doing the last stretch of the program.
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u/cutesymochi Jun 08 '25
You can be great at doing something but terrible at test taking. It could be a variety of reasons why he sucks at the test and that’s what we’re trying to figure out and work out for him.
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u/nsmf219 Jun 09 '25
Keep telling yourself that. The NR exam is entry level. It’s not there to trick you or make you feel bad.
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u/cutesymochi Jun 11 '25
You’re free to think this field isn’t for him, but he’s passionate about what he does and loves it so I don’t think he plans on backing down.
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u/nsmf219 Jun 12 '25
Do you want a provider who can’t pass an entry level test taking care of your family? By luck he should have got it the third time.
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u/Borkdadork Jun 08 '25
Test anxiety? A doctor could help with that.
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u/swaggerrrondeck Jun 08 '25
How? You can’t be medicated and be a medic in most areas? Also if a test gives anxiety then you shouldn’t be a medic
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u/ktofer Jun 08 '25
You suggest that someone with test anxiety shouldn’t be a paramedic.
You also made a claim that people can’t be a paramedic while on medication in most areas.
I’m hoping you can expand on either or both statements
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u/Similar-Reindeer-351 Jun 08 '25
Maybe you should let him figure out why he’s not passing the testing. He’s a grown man. I know you mean well, but this testing in all honesty, is his opportunity to fix. Step away and let him figure it out for himself. It probably doesn’t help for him to feel like you are hovering around putting yourself in the middle of his certification. I’m sure it creates anxiety and he feels inadequate and insecure. He has a mother, he doesn’t need another one. I know this sounds harsh, but you can’t fight his battles.
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u/PuckerGaper Jun 08 '25
I passed on my last attempt. Download chat GBT pro. Upload files and study material on there. Reference the text book on there as well. I would talk to chat gbt while in the car. Or doing things around the house. You can ask it anything. Then i used chat GPT to make over 400 flash cards. I used a lot of different study material but using GPT as a TOOL. Was very helpful. Just be careful. Make sure you reference all your materials on there.
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u/Extreme_Challenge557 Jun 08 '25
https://www.treasurecoastmi.com/dr-marjoire-bowers-consulants
I took this 2 day class and it helped tremendously. They also provide a login for LC ready i think it was called, which has tons of practice questions and sample tests.
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u/thedesperaterun Army Airborne Paramedic Jun 08 '25 edited Jun 08 '25
if he passed the tests during class, then he is familiar with what the tests should look like (eg. 3 ‘right’ answers and one ‘best’ one) and has done well. When I took my test, I prepped using jblearning only. Sure, there were one or two questions where I didn’t like their reasoning, but I didn’t quit using it. It sounds like he is either making excuses (study preps are wrong) or is WAY overthinking (study preps are wrong).
The study preps aren’t perfect. Spending your time “fact-checking” the three wrong questions you find in 100 is discounting the 97/100 that would have helped you pass. And if he only used it for the first two attempts, what is his excuse for the more recent two?
Maybe he just quizlet-ed through school?
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u/cutesymochi Jun 08 '25
I’m positive he didn’t, he’s relying super heavily on the book but I think what’s happening is he studied but like a lot of us, forget some more nuanced stuff which may make a answer appear wrong if you’re only remembering the big picture but is actually correct but you needed to remember the nuance.
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u/Human-Pressure504 Jun 08 '25
Hope he ain’t making the same mistakes I did. I took it for times. For me it was BLS first I was overthinking everything
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u/UpperDecker4skyn Jun 08 '25
Kaplan makes a book and has resources. Suggest he goes through one of the workbooks and then tries again. Also have online flash cards and what not with the book
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u/RevanGrad Jun 08 '25
Try full code really helped me pass the scenario questions.
Its used by ER docs for continued ed credits.
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u/DAWGSofW4R Paramedic Jun 08 '25
Gotten a lot of good information in here, but I’ll add my two cents. Practice NREMT tests can be had from multiple places, PocketPrep is probably the best one but he can find a bunch if he just googles it. Definitely do as many of those as he can get his hands on, and really find a way to focus on the ones he got wrong. Based on how the NREMT is structured I’m guessing there’s a specific category he’s struggling with.
As for the test anxiety, the two things that helped me were A) I passed didactic, I passed clinicals, I passed my internship. None of which would have happened if I didn’t know the material. B) the beauty of a multiple choice test is that it literally gives you the correct answer. It’s right there on the page. You don’t need to come up with a paragraph or two worth of short answer out of thin air. Obviously picking that single answer out is easier said than done, but you can totally trick your brain into believing it is actually that easy, especially when combining it with A) and lastly C) while there technically is a time limit, I don’t think I’ve met a single person that was still answering questions by then, so in reality that’s a non issue.
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u/MeasurementSeveral51 Jun 08 '25
use the app medic tests and take the practice NREMT. sounds like what he needs is testing practice
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u/lonewolfe12345 NRP Jun 09 '25
Hey! So I used pocket prep for my attempt. That helped me pass.
I advise when he gets questions wrong on the mock exams to look up the whys, look at the explanations that explain why the answer is correct and why his answer is incorrect. This helps with the formatting of the question when he takes the real thing and it helps him understand the concepts at a deeper level.
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u/NoUserNameForNow915 Jun 09 '25
I’m a terrible test taker. Always have been. I missed my first paramedic exam by 14 points (equivalent to a question and a half).
Second time around I passed.
These are the strategies I used:
Asked for TWO white boards. One I used as a dump before taking the test (like a study guide). The second I used for my scratch paper.
After about 20-25 questions I took at 15-30 second “break”. Closed my eyes, doodled on my scratch paper did anything besides think about the test.
Read the question, covered the answers with my hand (or did not advance to read the answers) and wrote down my response IN ORDER of how I would do them. Then I would go back and match up my answers with test answers. If there was no match at all, I would re-read the question more slowly and do it again.
I hid my timer.
I made sure I used the bathroom and had a full stomach before I went in.
I did not pick up a study guide/ book etc 24 hours before testing.
I took a shot of vodka literally before I walked in the door. Now I’m not necessarily advocating drinking, but as someone who has extreme test phobia, it had always helped me in the past to calm my nerves just enough to take the edge off, but not enough to get hammered. And no, I’m not a drinker- I maybe have 2-4 drinks a year. So take this last one with a grain of salt.
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u/rads2riches Jun 09 '25
He needs to learn how to learn. Active recall is huge which is essentially quizzing onself. Think pocket prep and create flashcards. He needs to drill.
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u/yungcruton Jun 09 '25
I used Medic Tests and passed the second time around. It has chapters/sections that you can do for specific areas. You can also do quick 25 or 50? (Don't remember) quizzes that can hones in on the areas that may be a struggle (and actually tells you). And the practice NREMT test on there is nearly a replica of the current NR, minus a few question types (how they are set up). I recommend to give it a try! Tell him to keep his head up and dont be intimidated!
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u/HappyAthletic35 Jun 10 '25
Definitely buy one the practice test books. Make sure it's up to date (don't use one from 2016 cause practice changes). Whenever you miss a question go to that chapter in the paramedic text book and study that particular topic. Just repeat this and keep trying! Does he know where is weak areas are?
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u/zorga333 Jun 10 '25
Use medictests.com use the test simulator and it will tell you what areas to work on. Then go to the Kaplan purple book and review them. Practice test taking strategies. When looking at an answer answer it in your head and then go to the answers and see if that answer is there. If it isn’t, try to cross out two because they are unreasonable and then pick the best out of the remaining options
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u/CalmSet6613 Jun 11 '25
Does he have test anxiety? I know he probably has it at this point but I highly suggest hypnotism for test taking. People may say it's voodoo or witchcraft but it does work especially for people struggling to pass a test like this who clearly have the knowledge and the intellect.
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u/official_NREMT NREMT Official Account Jun 11 '25
Hi u/cutesymochi!
In case your husband hasn't seen it, this page on our site might be helpful for your husband. It explores the AEMT and Paramedic Certification Examinations that launched in July 2024.
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u/AdPlastic8699 Jun 12 '25
I just recently passed my NREMT-P. I recommend pocketprep the questions on there are a very similar format as the national exam is. I studied everyday for about an hour or so a day for about 2 weeks and then scheduled my exam. I had about 1500 questions answered and I was passing the mock exams that they have available with like 74-80%. I walked out of the testing center confident that I had just became a nationally registered paramedic it felt great. Good luck to your husband !
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u/OldDirtyBarber NRP Jun 08 '25
I’ve worked with some excellent paramedics who failed four times or more.
I know this is a longshot however, perhaps you should talk to someone about test, anxiety, and see if there is some potential help he could have with that
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u/Terrible-Rough9059 Jun 08 '25
Move on to a different career path. Four times failure will not make him a good healthcare provider. Sorry.
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u/CaseyRn86 Jun 08 '25
On the surface that seems true, but in reality it’s not. I’m a good test taker so I passsd it first time. But my ex failed 3 times and got it on 4th and she is an amazing smart medic. She just isn’t a good test taker. And the rn and paramedic exams are notorious for not testing what u really need to know and having really stupid tricky questions. So even if you know the right answer there’s a good chance you’ll miss it if you don’t pick up on the trickery.
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u/MaricLee Jun 08 '25
I've known people who know the answers and what to do in real life / real time, but completely overthink it when it comes to written exams. Test anxiety does not mean a provider is indecisive or bad at what they do.
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u/Terrible-Rough9059 Jun 08 '25
Its a pretty good indicator. Move on to a different field after 2 failed attempts. Sorry
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u/IslandStrawhatMan Jun 08 '25
A written test isn’t an indicator of anything. I know some very book smart / great test taking people who end up flopping in real life when things actually matter.
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u/Suspicious_Dingo_271 Jun 12 '25
He should just use medictest and the Kaplan paramedic prep book. The medictest app has a call simulator mode that really helps with the test. Do 150 questions on it everyday in every section for 2 hours a day, maybe for about a month and he’ll be good. My class did a two week paramedic program and had a 94% pass rate with these tools.
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u/Snaiperskaya Jun 08 '25
Learn test taking strategies. Multiple choice questions for NREMT usually have one painfully wrong answer, one less wrong answer, one answer that's kinda right if you squint or don't read the question closely, and one right answer. The newer style questions are a little harder to prepare for but not if you practice.
Also, big fan of PocketPrep. Very similar style of questions and similar content. Good for practicing reading the question and doing process of elimination on answers.