FP-C

Certified Flight Paramedic
Certified Flight Paramedic

FP-C is an abbreviation indicating that an individual is Flight Paramedic-Certified. This certification is for paramedics who have demonstrated advanced knowledge of critical care medicine by passing a two-and-a-half-hour exam consisting of 125 multiple-choice questions. As of November 2015 there are only about 5300 certified flight paramedics worldwide.[1]

The FP-C and/or Critical Care Emergency Medical Transport Program certifications are often a requirement to work as a flight paramedic in the United States. The FP-C does not have an associated course, unlike the CCEMTP, although there are review courses and study guides available. The FP-C is considered to be more difficult to obtain than the CCEMTP certification, often requiring experience in the air medical / critical care transport field before attempting to take the exam.[2] However, there is no minimum education component required, and the examination does not require minimum years of experience, therefore new paramedics who just completed basic paramedic school are eligible to take the exam and receive certification. In addition, there is no practical skill test associated with the examination (unlike the NRP exam).[3][4] Many agencies may require prospective employees to demonstrate practical competency in other courses (TPATC, ATLS-audit, CCEMTP, etc.) prior to be considered for employment. A candidate must hold a current paramedic license and have active certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS/PEPP), Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS/ITLS), and other advanced certifications.

Examination

The exam is administered by the Board for Critical Care Transport Paramedic Certification (BCCTPC). Oversight for the exam process is provided by Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP), a statistical body that ensures the certification process is in compliance. The methods used by AMP are consistent with professional and technical guidelines detailed in the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (1999) by the American Educational Research Association, the American Psychological Association and the National Council on Measurement in Education. These standards provide the research framework that is used as a basis for validity of certification. The methodology used meets or exceeds the current professional and governmental standards to assure the defensibility of the exam, as well as meets or exceeds the standards of the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA). Although the FP-C is not officially recognized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT), it has become the standard for Critical Care Paramedic certification and is considered to be the absolute highest level of paramedic certification in the USA. Unlike the NREMT Paramedic examination, which is required in most States for entry-level paramedic licensure, the FP-C is a professional certification that evaluates knowledge that is well above and beyond the basic scope of practice of most licensed paramedics.

Exam Outline of Major Subjects

FP-C Detailed Content Overview

Exam Outline

Board for Critical Care Transport Paramedic Certification, Page 4 (EXAMINATION CONTENT)
Question Category Number of Questions
Trauma Management 9
Aircraft Fundamentals & Safety and Survival 12
Flight Physiology 10
Advanced Airway Management Techniques 5
Neurological Emergencies 10
Critical Cardiac Patient 20
Respiratory Patient 10
Toxic Exposures 6
Obstetrical Emergencies 4
Neonates 4
Pediatric 10
Burn Patients 5
General Medical Patient 16
Environmental 4

Flight Paramedic Patch

Physical FP-C Patch

See also

References

External links

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