Free study resources

One-Pagers

One-page summaries of the topics exams test most, checked against current guidelines.

Exam guides

• Paramedic Certification Exam GuidePreparation for the National Registry Paramedic Certification Examination: format, test plan, eligibility and an 8-week plan
• EMT Exam GuideFormat, test plan, eligibility, study plan and test-day tips for the National Registry EMT exam
• FP-C® Exam GuideIBSC Certified Flight Paramedic: format, blueprint, eligibility and a final 8-week plan
• CCP-C® Exam GuideIBSC Certified Critical Care Paramedic exam: format, blueprint (April 2026 handbook), eligibility, an 8-week plan and IBSC's references

Prehospital & Transport

• EMS Patient AssessmentScene to handoff for EMT and paramedic: XABCDE, history, GCS, reassessment, reports
• EMT By-Complaint Quick PagesWhat the EMT looks for, gives and calls ALS for, and where to transport, for common EMT complaints
• EMT: Soft-Tissue and Musculoskeletal TraumaBleeding control, impaled objects, eviscerations, amputations, splinting, traction splints, pelvic binders, crush and mechanism of injury
• EMS OperationsScene hazards, hazmat, infection control, ambulance and air operations, ICS, legal duties and privacy, at EMT scope
• Common EMS MedicationsClass, use, typical adult dose and key cautions for 21 prehospital drugs, with EMT-scope drugs marked
• Prehospital Stroke and STEMIStroke and LVO screens, last known well, destination, 12-lead, STEMI times, and aspirin and nitro cautions for EMT and paramedic
• Prehospital SepsisField screening, sepsis alert, fluids, pressors and antibiotics en route under SSC 2026, for EMT, paramedic and critical care transport
• Flight PhysiologyGas laws, hypoxia and cabin altitude (FP-C); stressors, aircraft safety and CRM (FP-C and CCP-C)
• Abdominal, GI Bleeding, GU and Dialysis EmergenciesParamedic picture, ALS step and destination for GI bleeding, the acute abdomen, swallowed objects and tubes, children, genitourinary and gynecologic emergencies and the dialysis patient
• Cardiorespiratory Look-Alikes and Special PatientsWhich heart failure, syncope risk, chest pain mimics, lead reversal, IO and crush fluids, oxygen targets, non-cardiac edema, neck bleeds, and patients with special physiology or equipment
• Medical Emergencies: Neuro, Endocrine, Blood and InfectionParamedic recognition, drugs and destination for diabetic and thyroid crises, sickle cell and hemophilia, paralysis, stroke and seizure look-alikes, and infections that cannot wait
• Paramedic Practice: Safety, Quality, Leadership and CommunicationUnit and drug checks, errors and quality tools, EMS system roles, events and disasters, law in the field, communication barriers, delegation, and stopping resuscitation
• Toxins, Stings and Anaphylaxis in the FieldParamedic care for overdoses with a twist, household and street exposures, marine toxins, bites, stings, anaphylaxis and its look-alikes
• Behavioral Emergencies, Agitation and AbuseParamedic care for suicide risk, agitation and sedation, psychiatric presentations that are medical, and abuse, trafficking and assault
• EMT: Airway, Oxygen and Equipment ChecksAirway protection, suction, adjuncts, bag-mask ventilation, CPAP, oxygen cylinders and the shift check
• EMT: Assessment, Vital Signs and Special PatientsMeasuring vital signs correctly, mental status traps, arrest with equipment and devices, pregnancy, infants, single-ventricle children and patients with functional needs
• EMT Operations: Driving, Scene Hazards, Lifting and Infection ControlEmergency driving law and road handling, unit readiness, licensure and mutual aid, technical-rescue scenes, rail and oxidizer hazmat, cleaning and reprocessing, safe moves and crew stress
• EMT Trauma: Mechanism, Bleeding, Head, Chest and SpineMechanism clues, bleeding that will not stop, compensated shock, skull and chest pearls, spinal care when the routine fails, and dog bites
• NREMT Skill Sheets Explained: EMT Psychomotor SkillsWhat the EMT skills exam tests, the stations, how grading works, the critical-fail themes and how to practice
• NREMT Trauma Assessment Skill: Step by StepThe EMT trauma assessment in order: scene, primary survey, transport decision, head-to-toe exam, vitals and reassessment
• NREMT Medical Assessment Skill: Step by StepThe EMT medical assessment in order: scene, primary survey, OPQRST and SAMPLE, focused exam, vitals, treatment and handoff
• NREMT BVM Skill: Ventilating an Apneic PatientBag-valve-mask ventilation of an apneic adult with a pulse: check, open, suction, airway adjunct, seal, rate and volume
• NREMT Oxygen Administration Skill: Non-RebreatherSet up an oxygen cylinder and regulator, prefill and fit a non-rebreather mask, then step down to a nasal cannula
• NREMT Cardiac Arrest and AED Skill: Step by StepThe EMT cardiac arrest station: recognize arrest, high-quality CPR, safe AED use and handing off compressions
• NREMT Bleeding Control Skill: Tourniquet and ShockThe EMT bleeding control and shock management station: direct pressure, tourniquet placement, packing and shock care
• EMT Drugs List: Medications EMTs Can GiveThe national EMT medication scope with indications, contraindications and typical doses; always follow local protocol

Trauma & Emergency

• Trauma: Primary and Secondary SurveyxABCDE priorities, hemorrhage control, shock classes, damage control resuscitation and chest injuries for trauma exams
• BurnsBurn depth, TBSA, fluid resuscitation, inhalation injury, special burns and ABA referral criteria for exam review
• Hypothermia, Heat Stroke and DrowningSwiss staging, rewarming and hypothermic arrest, cooling heat stroke, drowning and frostbite for emergency and critical care exams
• Spinal Motion RestrictionSelective SMR, technique, penetrating trauma, children and cord injury, for EMT, paramedic and CEN
• Mass Casualty Triage and Incident CommandSTART, JumpSTART, SALT, the 2021 field triage guideline, ICS and EMS MCI roles, hazmat zones, PPE, decon and refusal, for EMT, paramedic and CEN

Cardiovascular & Hemodynamics

• Hemodynamic NormalsNormal adult values, key formulas and how to read the waveforms behind them
• Shock Types at a GlanceHemodynamic patterns, exam findings and first treatments for each shock type
• Vasopressors and InotropesReceptors, doses, SSC 2026 septic shock order, push-dose pressors and extravasation
• ACS and STEMITerritories, time goals, first drugs and complications
• Pericarditis, Effusion and TamponadeDiagnosis, ECG vs STEMI, colchicine and recurrence, tamponade signs and drainage, postoperative and post-MI syndromes
• Aortic Dissection and Hypertensive EmergencyStanford types, heart rate and BP targets, BP goals by condition and IV antihypertensives
• Rhythm Gallery21 drawn strips: how to name each rhythm and the first move exams expect
• BLS, High-Quality CPR and ChokingRecognition, compressions, breaths and AED for adults, children and infants, choking relief, special cases and team roles (2025)
• ACLS Algorithms in Brief2025 AHA adult arrest, bradycardia, tachycardia and post-ROSC steps on one page
• Temporary PacingTranscutaneous, transvenous and epicardial pacing: settings, thresholds and troubleshooting

Respiratory & Airway

• ABG Interpretation in 6 StepspH, PaCO₂, HCO₃⁻, compensation, anion gap and oxygenation, with worked examples
• Ventilator Modes and SettingsModes, lung-protective targets, peak vs plateau, alarms and SBT readiness
• ARDSBerlin and Global definitions, lung-protective ventilation, PEEP, proning, paralysis, steroids, ECMO and the nursing care
• Ventilator Liberation and TracheostomySAT and SBT, cuff leak and steroids, HFNC or NIV after extubation, stridor, trach care and NTSP emergencies
• Pulmonary EmbolismESC 2019 and AHA/ACC 2026 risk classes, diagnosis, anticoagulation, lysis, catheter therapy and RV support
• Asthma and COPD ExacerbationsSeverity signs, first treatments, oxygen targets, NIV and ventilating obstructive lungs
• Chest Tubes and PneumothoraxTension pneumothorax, the drainage system, bubbling and tidaling, troubleshooting and removal
• CapnographyNormal values, waveform patterns, CPR and ROSC, tube checks and sedation monitoring
• Airway and RSIAssessment, adjuncts, RSI drugs, failed airway, tube checks, DOPE, pediatric tubes

Sepsis, Renal & Metabolic

• Electrolyte ImbalancesNa, K, Ca, Mg and phos: normals, ECG clues, safe replacement, hyperkalemia steps

Neuro, Sedation & Toxicology

• Neuro: ICP and StrokeICP, herniation, EVD care, osmotics, GCS, stroke and seizures
• Toxidromes and AntidotesToxidromes, antidotes and decontamination for exam review

Maternity & Pediatrics

• Obstetric EmergenciesPPH, preeclampsia and eclampsia, late-pregnancy bleeding, delivery emergencies and maternal arrest
• Newborn Care and ResuscitationApgar, NRP 9th edition steps, SpO2 targets and newborn vital signs for exam review
• Pediatric Assessment and EmergenciesPAT, vital signs, airway infections, febrile seizures, dehydration, arrest, choking and abuse
• Pediatric Vital Signs and Drug Doses for EMSNormal vitals by age, the hypotension rule, length-based weight and common prehospital pediatric doses

Mechanical Circulatory Support

• IABP ManagementCounterpulsation, triggers, the four timing errors, nursing care and weaning
• Impella Heart PumpMicroaxial pumps for shock and high-risk PCI: signals, purge, alarms, care
• ECMO EssentialsVA vs VV, the circuit, monitoring, troubleshooting and ECPR for CCRN, CMC, CSC and transport exams
• LVAD BasicsHeartMate 3 parameters, alarms, complications, anticoagulation and arrest care for critical care and transport exams