The NREMT Announces Plan to Incorporate the Revised AHA Guidelines on NREMT Exams By Gregg S Margolis, PhD. Posted 02/22/2006
The NREMT recognizes that the EMS community is in a transition period as medical directors, EMS agencies,
EMS educational programs, and States implement the 2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and
Emergency Cardiovascular Care. In conjunction with this transition, the NREMT will be revising examinations
as follows:
After June 1, 2006 the NREMT will publish interim pencil-and-paper
EMT-Basic and First Responder Exams. After September 1, 2006 the NREMT will publish
interim Paramedic, EMT-Intermediate (85 and 99) Exams. The interim examinations will
be constructed so that candidates will not be penalized for being trained over either
2000 or 2005 AHA Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
After January 1, 2007 all NREMT cognitive and psychomotor exams will
reflect 2005 American Heart Association
Guidelines for Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
During the transition period, practical exam skill sheets will continue to reflect 2000 guidelines;
however instructions to examiners will be modified so that candidates correctly performing to 2005 guidelines
are not penalized.
This transition plan is predicated on assumption that the American Heart Association releases educational
materials supporting the new guidelines as scheduled and may be modified if the AHA changes the scheduled
release time for educational materials.
