AEMT cognitive exam in 3 weeks - pharmacology at 64%, how worried should I be?
I'm scheduled for my AEMT cognitive exam through NREMT in 3 weeks and averaging around 78% on full practice tests. I know you need to pass both cognitive and psychomotor to get certified. My EMT-Basic experience helps but some AEMT-specific content - IV access, IO procedures, advanced airway management - is newer territory for me.
I've been studying about 2 hours every day for the past 6 weeks. Pharmacology is my weakest area, specifically memorizing indications, contraindications, and dosing for epinephrine, nitroglycerin, glucagon, and the other AEMT-scope meds. When I took an AEMT practice test focused specifically on pharmacology last week, I scored 64% - that section needs serious work.
For the psychomotor stations, I've been practicing with a partner but we're not always sure we're following the skill sheets correctly. Is there a resource for watching recorded psychomotor skill run-throughs? Some classmates have done state-sponsored skills labs but I haven't found one near me.
YouTube has a lot of psychomotor skill sheet run-throughs posted by EMS instructors. Search the specific NREMT skill sheet name exactly and you'll find current versions. The ventilation and hemorrhage control station videos were the most useful ones I found.
Pharmacology was 18-20 questions on my cognitive exam. Know epinephrine dosing for anaphylaxis and cardiac arrest cold - they test both routes and both doses. That single drug probably accounts for 4-5 questions on its own.
Pharmacology clicked for me when I organized the medications by body system instead of memorizing them in a flat list. Cardiac together, respiratory together, metabolic together. That grouping made recall under pressure much more reliable than any other method I tried.
Passed AEMT last year. The cognitive exam cuts off when it determines your competency level so don't panic if it ends at 70 questions or runs to 135. Just answer each question as carefully as you can and trust your preparation.