Certified Tactical Paramedic Candidate Handbook

Candidate
Handbook
The TP-C examination and certification
program is accredited by the National
Commission for Certifying Agencies
(NCCA)

May
Updated May 2019 – Controlled Document Page 1
2019
 Certified Tactical Paramedic Candidate Handbook

Table of Contents
HOW TO CONTACT THE IBSC 3
HOW TO CONTACT PROMETRIC 3
POPULATION BEING CERTIFIED 4
INTRODUCTION 5
ELIGIBILITY 5
TESTING AGENCY 5
STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION 5
APPLYING FOR AN EXAMINATION 5
SCHEDULING AN EXAMINATION 5
EXAMINATION LOCATIONS 6
CHANGED, MISSED, OR CANCELLED APPOINTMENTS 6
TP-C EXAM CONTENT 6
TP-C CONTENT OUTLINE (BLUEPRINT) 7
TP-C SAMPLE QUESTIONS 10
ON THE DAY OF YOUR EXAMINATION 11
SECURITY 11
INCLEMENT WEATHER OR EMERGENCIES 12
EXAMINATION RESTRICTIONS 12
MISCONDUCT 12
FOLLOWING THE EXAMINATION 13
SCORE REPORTING 13
IF YOU PASS THE EXAMINATION 13
IF YOU DO NOT PASS THE EXAMINATION 14
SCORES CANCELLED BY THE IBSC OR PROMETRIC 14

Updated May 2019 – Controlled Document Page 2

 Certified Tactical Paramedic Candidate Handbook

HOW TO CONTACT THE IBSC

International Board of Specialty Certification (IBSC®)
4835 Riveredge Cove
Snellville, GA 30039 USA
Phone: +1 (770) 978-4400
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.IBSC.org

HOW TO CONTACT PROMETRIC

Prometric
1501 South Clinton Street
Baltimore, MD 21224 USA
Phone: +1 (800) 462-8669
Web: www.Prometric.com

Updated May 2019 – Controlled Document 3

Page
 Certified Tactical Paramedic Candidate Handbook

POPULATION BEING CERTIFIED

The Certified Tactical Paramedic (TP-C) exam candidate is a paramedic professional currently providing
critical care in the austere and care-under-fire environments. The expectation for the TP-C examination
candidate is knowledge in casualty assessment, stabilization, and evacuation in hostile and austere
environments, as well as thorough familiarity with tactical principles, triage, and operational medicine.
Candidates should have significant knowledge of the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care and the
Committee for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care guidelines, management of the full tactical injury spectrum
(from less-than-lethal to CBRNE), force health protection, and medico-legal aspects of Tactical Emergency
Medical Services.

This certification examination is beyond the scope of the average, entry-level field paramedic and is not
intended to evaluate entry-level knowledge; but rather to measure the experienced paramedic's skills and
knowledge of the patient requiring tactical care intervention during the various aspects of providing care in
the austere environment, i.e.: ground ambulance, helicopter, aircraft, marine/boats, etc. The target audience
for the Certified Tactical Paramedic (TP-C) certification examination is any licensed or certified paramedic
functioning in a specialty austere and care-under-fire environment. The broader audience includes the
following:

i. United States as well as foreign militaries

ii. Federal, state and local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers
iii. Private and government operated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies
iv. Various Law Enforcement Organizations
v. Ground ambulance companies supporting tactical care initiatives
vi. Hospitals and various acute care medical facilities functioning in austere environments
vii. Education institutions such as local and state colleges or technical centers that provide
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) training
viii. Other areas around the globe that already require specialty tactical certification

For additional questions related to qualifying for a certification examination, please contact the IBSC at +1
(770) 978-4400 or via [email protected].

Updated May 2019 – Controlled Document 4

Page
 Certified Tactical Paramedic Candidate Handbook

INTRODUCTION solutions for academic, corporate, financial,

The International Board of Specialty Certification government, healthcare, professional associations
(IBSC) is responsible for the construction, and technology markets. Prometric assists with the
administration and maintenance of the Certified development, administration, scoring and analysis of
Tactical Paramedic (TP-C) examination. the Certified Tactical Paramedic (TP-C)
examinations. All CBT examination delivery are
The IBSC does not believe paramedics should work in provided by the Prometric testing center network –
the tactical environment without being certified. The with P&P delivery coordinated through the IBSC
legal risk to the employer and the medical director is office
exponentially increased without validation of clinical
competency. The TP-C certification targets
STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
competency at the mastery level of paramedic practice
IBSC and Prometric do not discriminate among
coupled with entry-level competency over the
candidates on the basis of age, gender, race, color,
knowledge, skills and abilities contained within the
religion, national origin, disability or marital status.
tactical medicine specialty.
REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATION
ELIGIBILITY To be considered for an accommodation under the
To obtain certification, the candidate must: ADA, an individual must present adequate
• Hold an unrestricted license or certificate to documentation demonstrating that his/her
condition substantially limits one or more major
practice as a paramedic
life activities. Only individuals with disabilities
• Complete an approved examination application
who, with or without reasonable accommodations,
• Submit paramedic license or certification for meet the eligibility requirements for certification at
verification and approval the level of the requested examination are eligible
for accommodations.
To maintain certification, the candidate must meet all
eligibility requirements as well as demonstrate For more information related to accommodations,
continued competency by meeting all recertification please contact the IBSC at +1 (770) 978-4400.
Additional information can also be found at
requirements. These requirements can be found on http://www.ibscertifications.org/resource/pdf/A
the IBSC web site at DA.pdf
http://www.ibscertifications.org/exam/exam-
requirements
APPLYING FOR AN EXAMINATION
Register for the FP-C examination via the IBSC
The examination is available in computer based
website at http://www.IBSC.org or by contacting the
testing (CBT) and traditional pencil/paper formats.
IBSC office at +1 (770) 978-4400. After your
The board is not affiliated or part of any other trade
completed registration and fees have been submitted
organization and is not involved with any review
and approved, you will receive an electronic notice
courses offered to the public. If you have questions
confirming your eligibility to take the examination.
concerning the board or the administration of the
An eligibility testing number will be issued along with
examinations, please contact the IBSC at
instructions how to schedule your exam. The period
[email protected] or by calling the IBSC office at +1
of testing eligibility is one year.
(770) 978-4400 – 0900-1700 Eastern Time Monday
– Friday.
SCHEDULING AN EXAMINATION
Check the http://www.IBSC.org website for
TESTING AGENCY scheduled pencil/paper examinations. Computer
The IBSC has partnered with Prometric – a trusted based (CBT) examinations can be scheduled at
leader in global test development and delivery www.Prometric.com/IBSC. Follow the simple
Updated May 2019 – Controlled Document Page 5
 Certified Tactical Paramedic Candidate Handbook

step-by-step instructions to register for your year eligibility period.

examination. A new, complete registration and all examination fee
are required if you chose to reapply for any
EXAMINATION LOCATIONS examination.
The IBSC offers our entire family of examinations
including FP-C® , CCP-C® , CP-C® , TP-C® , or the To change the type of examination (e.g.: from FP-C to
TR-C® exams at conferences, colleges and public CCP-C), contact the IBSC Office at +1 (770) 978-4400
facilities around the world. or [email protected] – additional fees will apply

CBT examinations are administered at Prometric All examination candidates will adhere to the IBSC
Assessment Centers geographically distributed rules and acknowledge the IBSC has a disciplinary
throughout the world. Assessment Center locations process that affords everyone due process.
are available online. A complete listing of these sites
can be found at www.Prometric.com UNSCHEDULED CANDIDATES (WALK-
INS) ARE NOT ADMITTED TO ANY IBSC
CHANGED, MISSED, OR CANCELLED EXAMINATION.
APPOINTMENTS
For paper/pencil examinations, contact the IBSC PREPARING FOR THE EXAMINATION
Office at +1 (770) 978-4400 or [email protected] The first step is to complete an approved application
and provide proof of paramedic licensure or
For CBT examinations, you can change or cancel your certification. The examination is designed to validate
examination appointment date in the Prometric the unique knowledge and skills of the Tactical
scheduling portal at www.Prometric.com or 800-462- Paramedic. Experience in the critical care and care in
8669. The following rules apply: the austere environment with additional education in
• More than thirty (30) days from your this specialty area are highly recommended to prepare
appointment date – no change fees apply you for being successful on the examination.
• Twenty-nine (29) to five (5) days prior to your
appointment date – a $100 rescheduling or TP-C EXAM CONTENT
cancellation fee applies The Certified Tactical Paramedic (TP- C) Examination
If four (4) or less days prior to your appointment – you consists of 135 questions (125 scored and 10 non-
must: scored pretest questions) and the candidate is
• Cancel your appointment on-line with provided 2.5 hours to complete the examination. The
Prometric certification process is focused on the knowledge level
• Then contact the IBSC at +1 (770) 978-4400 of accomplished, experienced paramedics currently
to reschedule working with and supporting the advanced life
• A $100 rescheduling or cancellation fee will support/critical care needs of TEMS units. The
apply questions on the examination are based in sound
paramedicine with an emphasis on the tactical
You will forfeit your examination registration and environment. The expectation for the TP-C exam
all fees paid to take the examination under the candidate is competency in casualty assessment,
following circumstances. stabilization and evacuation in hostile and austere
• You arrive after the examination start-time for a environments, as well as thorough familiarity with
pencil/paper examination appointment. tactical principles, triage, and operational medicine.
• You are more than 15 minutes late from the start of Candidates must have significant knowledge of the
the exam. Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care and the
• You fail to report for an examination appointment. Committee for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care
• You do not schedule an examination within the one- guidelines, management of the full tactical injury
Updated May 2019 – Controlled Document Page 6
 Certified Tactical Paramedic Candidate Handbook

spectrum (from less-than-lethal to Chemical, medicine in the area of specialty. Seventy-five of the
Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high yield contact hours must be in the CLINICAL category with
Explosives (CBRNE), force health protection, and a TEMS focus. Twenty-five hours may be from
medico-legal aspects of Tactical Emergency Medical various tactical OPERATIONAL education. The
Services. This examination is not meant to test entry- NAEMT TCCC program is acceptable for sixteen of
level knowledge, but rather to test the experienced these CE hours. For CE to be applicable for renewal,
paramedics’ skills and knowledge of tactical medicine. it must have occurred during the four-year period of
certification. See recertification guidelines at
As you prepare for the examination, please consider http://www.ibscertifications.org/recert/recert-
there are a variety of mission profiles throughout the requirements
TEMS spectrum. Please remember this examination
tests the candidates’ overall knowledge of critical care AUDITS
therapies and the TEMS environment, not the The IBSC reserves the right to investigate
specifics of one individual program. Just because your recertification material at any time. You must retain
program does not have working dogs, that does not documentation of all continuing education. Failure to
mean you will not have questions related to the care of submit education when audited will result in denial of
these animals. Likewise, if your program does not eligibility to recertify.
perform care under fire, you still need to understand
this information for the examination. We have DISCIPLINARY POLICIES
included a brief outline below of the topics and skills The IBSC has disciplinary procedures, rights of
included in the exam. As you can see, most of these are appeals, and due process within its policies.
beyond the scope of the average field paramedic. Individuals applying for certification or recertification
Though some outline topics are within the who wish to exercise these rights may contact the
paramedic’s scope of practice, the exam questions will IBSC for copies of the Review and Appeals Process
be related to critical care and are of a much higher Policy and the Denial, Suspension, or Revocation of
level of difficulty. The detailed content outline follows. Certification Policy. Requests to appeal must be
submitted within thirty days (30) calendar days of
MAINTAINING YOUR CERTIFICATION receipt of notice of a determination.
A minimum of 100 contact hours must be submitted
with a clear and direct application to the practice of The detailed content outline follows.

TP-C CONTENT OUTLINE (BLUEPRINT)

TOPIC AREAS # OF
QUESTIONS
TACTICAL CASUALTY CARE (TECC/TCCC) 55
TACTICAL OPERATIONS 30
PLANNING 21
SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE 19
TOTAL SCORED ITEMS 125

NOTE: Each test form includes 10 unscored pretest items in addition to the 125 scored items for a total of 135 items
in a 2.5-hour test timeframe

Updated May 2019 – Controlled Document Page 7

 Certified Tactical Paramedic Candidate Handbook

1. Tactical Combat/Emergency Casualty Care 6. Medication Administration (4)

(TCCC/ C-TECC) Methodology (11) a.
Provide oxygen therapy
a. Care under fire / Direct Threat Care. b.
Administer analgesia / sedation agents:
b. Tactical field care / Indirect Threat Care. i. Morphine
c. Tactical Evacuation (TACEVAC) / Evacuation ii. Oral routes
Care iii. Parenteral routes
2. Hemorrhage Control (7) iv. Ketamine
a. Recognize wound types/mechanisms at high- v. Versed
risk for life-threatening hemorrhage, both vi. Valium
internal and external c. Administer OTC medication:
b. Reassess efficacy of previously employed i. Anti-inflammatories
hemorrhage control techniques ii. Decongestants
c. Perform hemorrhage control using: iii. Antihistamines
i. Tourniquet iv. Antipyretics
ii. Direct pressure v. Antitussives
iii. Wound packing vi. Antidiarrheals
iv. Wound dressing d. Administer prescription medicines outside of
v. Pressure dressing the DOT paramedic curriculum
vi. Hemostatic agent (e.g., combat gauze, i. Antibiotics
chitogauze) ii. Non-narcotic analgesics
3. Airway (7) iii. Nerve agents antidotes
a. Perform airway assessment iv. Cyanide antidotes
b. Manage the airway using: v. Epi-auto injectors
i. Casualty positioning (e.g., recovery 7. Neurological Emergencies (4)
position) a. Perform neurologic assessment
ii. Basic airway clearance techniques (e.g., b. Manage suspected spinal injuries in the
chin- lift, jaw-thrust) following settings/scenarios:
iii. Suction devices i. Unconscious
iv. Airway adjuncts (nasopharyngeal ii. Blunt trauma
airway (npa) iii. Penetrating trauma
v. Supraglottic airway (SGA) device (e.g., iv. Blast injuries
King, LMA) c. Determine the differential diagnosis of a
vi. Surgical airway (cricothyroidotomy) comatose patient
vii. Endotracheal (ET) intubation d. Manage patients with seizures
viii. Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) e. Perform a baseline neurologic assessment of a
ix. Paralytic agents (e.g., for long term trauma patient
neuromuscular blockade) f. Assess changes in intracranial pressure
x. Verification of tube placement: using clinical findings
1. Bougie g. Perform a focused neurological assessment
2. End tidal CO2 detection h. Assess a patient using the Glasgow coma
3. Esophageal detection device scale
(e.g., bulb, syringe) i. Manage patients with head injuries
4. Breathing (6) j. Administer pharmacology for neurological
a. Assess respiratory status management
b. Use capnography 8. Trauma Management (6)
c. Use pulse oximetry a. Perform patient triage
d. Seal penetrating thoracic wounds with occlusive b. Identify top 3 causes of preventable death
dressing c. Perform START triage
e. Perform needle thoracostomy (e.g., needle d. Perform SALT triage
decompression) e. Use MARCH algorithm
f. Perform tube thoracostomy (e.g., chest tube) f. Differentiate injury patterns associated with
g. Use a mechanical ventilator specific mechanisms of injury
5. Circulation (6) g. Provide care for the patient with thoracic injuries
a. Assess adequacy of perfusion (e.g., monitoring, (e.g., pneumothorax, flail chest, cardiac
physical exam) tamponade)
b. Recognize potential causes of shock h. Provide care for the patient with abdominal
c. Establish vascular access: injuries (e.g., diaphragm, liver and spleen)
i. Peripheral venous access i. Provide care for the patient with orthopedic
ii. Intraosseous access injuries (e.g., pelvic, femur, spinal)
iii. Provide oral fluid resuscitation j. Administer pharmacology for trauma
iv. Perform damage control resuscitation management

Updated May 2019 – Controlled Document Page 8

 Certified Tactical Paramedic Candidate Handbook

k. Perform fracture dislocation management vi. Employ critical stress mitigation

l. Reduce dislocations techniques
9. Burn Patients (4) 14. Medical Mission Analysis (8)
a. Perform an assessment of the burn patient a. Provide medical mission analysis
b. Calculate the percentage of total body surface i. Pre-mission
area burned ii. Establish and manage a casualty
c. Calculate fluid replacement amounts based on collection point
the patient’s burn injury and physiologic iii. Infiltration
condition iv. Actions on objective
i. Rule of tens v. Exfiltration
ii. Parkland formula vi. Post-mission
iii. Brooke formula vii. Special population (e.g., pediatric,
10. Remote Assessment/Surrogate Care (4) elderly, language)
a. Perform a remote assessment/surrogate care b. Provide medical threat assessment
b. Determine situational variables impacting i. Environmental hazards (e.g., heat,
rescue cold, wind, rain)
c. Communicate finding to command staff for ii. Tactical threats (e.g., weapons, dogs,
integration into extraction plan improvised explosive devices (IEDs)
d. Direct surrogate to assess the need for life iii. Hazardous materials
saving medical care iv. Weapons of mass destruction
e. Direct a surrogate to provide lifesaving medical (WMD)/(CBRNE)
care 15. Legal Aspects of TEMS: Comply with legal
11. Rescue / Extraction (5) aspects of the following: (7)
a. Perform threat extraction a. HIPAA
b. Use methods of rescue breaching (e.g., b. Evidence preservation and Chain of Custody
evacuation through drywall, cinderblock, c. Scope of Practice
window) d. Illegal Search and Seizure and other Fourth
c. Recommend extraction method based on the Amendment Issues
casualty’s specific injuries 16. Force Health Protection (3)
12. Incident Command System/Chain of Command a. Manage work/rest/sleep cycles
and Interface with EMS (2) b. Evaluate pertinent medical history of
a. Use a centralized command and control system assigned personnel
b. Interface with local medical authority c. Identify immunizations and chemoprophylaxis
13. Tactical Team Operations (4) (e.g., malaria) for a given team and settings
a. Identify specialized equipment and its use in d. Identify aspects of hydration for a given
tactical operations and TEMS: team and setting
i. Personal protective equipment e. Identify aspects of nutrition and food safety
(PPE)/uniforms for a given team and setting
ii. Breaching/diversionary f. Identify aspects of field sanitation for a given
iii. Firearms/weapons: clear and render team and setting
safe g. Monitor team use of tactical protective
b. Stage standardized team medical equipment equipment (e.g., ballistic eyewear, body
c. Understand basic tactical movement technique armor, Nomex gloves)
and their importance to team safety 17. Environmental Factors (4)
i. Demonstrate open field movement a. Manage environmental emergencies
ii. Cover and concealment b. Manage weapons of mass destruction (WMD)/
iii. Fatal funnel (CBRNE) casualties
iv. Stack i. Administer antidotes
v. Wedge ii. Perform field decontamination
vi. Slicing the pie 18. Manage Injuries and Complications Associated
vii. Clearing threats with Less Lethal Weapons (5)
d. Situational awareness to personal, patient a. Chemical munitions (e.g. CS, OC)
and team safety in a tactical operation b. Electrical conductive weapons
i. Implement noise/light discipline c. Impact weapons
ii. Manage stress response d. Light/sound diversionary devices (e.g. flash-
iii. Execute 5 S’s (seize, secure, bang)
search, segregate, speed) 19. Canine Management (3)
iv. Use the contact and cover a. Manage working dog trauma
technique b. Manage environmental emergencies in dogs.
v. Employ PIE (proximity, immediacy,
expectancy) END OF DETAILED CONTENT OUTLINE

Updated May 2019 – Controlled Document Page 9

 Certified Tactical Paramedic Candidate Handbook

TP-C SAMPLE QUESTIONS perform a rapid assessment of the medical

situation to allow whom to make informed
1. When a dog and handler are preparing for a decisions regarding mission goals and priorities?
mission in a hot, dry environment, the medic a. Medical Director
should hydrate the working dog by: b. Point Operator
a. Injecting crystalloid intramuscularly into c. Team Leader
several of the large muscle groups. d. Breacher
b. Establishing an IV in the foreleg to
provide fluids and maintain a saline lock. 5. For a tactical medic to render safe the pistol of a
c. Infusing crystalloid subcutaneously into downed officer, he should:
the dog's scruff between the shoulder a. Drop the magazine, clear the chamber,
blades. uncock and select safe.
d. Relying on oral hydration with an b. Drop the magazine, clear the chamber,
electrolyte-balanced solution. pull the trigger and select safe.
c. Clear the chamber, drop the magazine,
2. The counter-sniper/observer team has informed uncock and select fire.
the team commander of a casualty via radio. d. Clear the chamber, crop the magazine,
What factors will determine the priority of when pull the trigger and select safe.
to rescue this casualty?
a. The location of the casualty in relation to 6. A team member has sustained a single gunshot
a door or breaching point. wound to the lower abdomen from a 9 mm
b. The number and location of other pistol. He is alert, fully oriented, and
hostages and any other injuries. complaining of severe abdominal pain. He has a
c. How big is the blood pool and are there palpable radial pulse, but appears pale and
any signs of any movement? diaphoretic. Vital signs include a pulse of 120
d. If there are any hostages or non- and respiratory rate of 24. You have established
combatants in the path of a direct peripheral intravenous access. What is the most
assault. appropriate fluid administration plan at this
time?
3. A tactical team member has received a gunshot a. 500 ml of 6% hetastarch solution
wound to his right upper leg with significant (Hextend)
hemorrhage. As the rescue element prepares to b. 1L of Lactated Ringer's solution rapid
affect the rescue, the downed officer should be infusion
directed to: c. 1L of Normal Saline solution rapid
a. Apply direct pressure to the wound and infusion
lay still. d. Restrict fluids and continue to monitor
b. Apply a tourniquet and then play dead.
c. Seek cover or concealment and apply a Answers
tourniquet when tactically feasible. 1=C 2=A 3=C
d. Make a run for the closet point of cover 4=C 5=A 6=D
and concealment and then await rescue.

4. One mission of the tactical paramedics is to

Updated May 2019 – Controlled Document Page 10

 Certified Tactical Paramedic Handbook

ON THE DAY OF YOUR EXAMINATION purposes. Candidates may be subjected to a metal

On the day of your examination appointment, report detection scan upon entering the examination room.
to the Prometric Assessment Center no later than your
scheduled testing time. Once you enter the The computer monitors the time you spend on the
Assessment Center, look for the signs indicating examination. The examination will terminate if you
Prometric Assessment Center Check-In. IF YOU exceed the time limit. A digital clock – located at the top
ARRIVE MORE THAN 15 MINUTES AFTER of the screen – indicates the time remaining for you to
THE SCHEDULED TESTING TIME YOU WILL complete the examination.
NOT BE ADMITTED.
Only one question is presented at a time. The question
To gain admission to the Assessment Center, you must number appears on the left portion of the screen. The
present acceptable photo identification. Identification entire question appears on-screen (i.e., stem and four
must be valid and include your current name and options labeled – A, B, C and D). Indicate your
photo. choice by either entering the letter of the
option you think is correct (A, B, C or D) or
Acceptable forms of primary identification include clicking on the option using the mouse. Your
photo ID’s such as a current: answer appears in the highlighted window below the
1. driver’s license question. To change your answer, enter a different
2. gov’t issued identification card option by clicking on the option using the mouse. You
3. passport may change your answer as many times as you wish
4. military identification card during the examination time limit.

You are prohibited from misrepresenting your identity To move to the next question, click on the next button in
or falsifying information to obtain admission to the the lower right portion of the screen. This action will
Assessment Center. move you forward through the examination question by
question. If you wish to review any question or questions,
click the back button

The “gear” icon on the bottom left of the screen allows

The following security procedures apply during the you to change the color of the pages.
examination:
• Examinations are proprietary. No cameras, notes, You may leave a question unanswered and return to it
tape recorders, personal electronic devices, pagers or later. The “question mark” icon on the bottom of the page
cellular phones are allowed in the testing room. will return you to the overall instruction page. To return
• No guests, visitors or family members are allowed in to the exam, click the "continue exam” icon on the
the testing room or reception areas. bottom of the page.
• All personal items will be placed in a locker and will
not be accessible during the examination. You may flag questions for later review by clicking the
“flag” button at the bottom of the page.
SECURITY
IBSC and Prometric maintain examination You can eliminate answers by using the “strike-through”
administration and security standards that are designed feature by right clicking on the mouse. To remove the
to assure all candidates are provided the same “strike-through” right click again.
opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. Each
Prometric Assessment Center is continuously monitored All unanswered and flagged questions will be noted on
the left side of the screen – net to the actual question
by audio and video surveillance equipment for security
Updated May 2019 – Controlled Document Page 11
 Certified Tactical Paramedic Handbook

number. This will provide a list of flagged and examination.

unanswered questions. When you have completed the • You will be provided with a wipe-off board to use
examination, you will be prompted several times to exit during the examination. You must return the wipe-off
and finish the examination. Be sure to answer each board the Assessment Center staff at the completion
question before ending the examination. There is no of testing, or you will not receive a score report. No
penalty for guessing. documents or notes of any kind may be removed from
the Assessment Center.
For pencil/paper examinations, the candidate will be • No questions concerning the content of the
required to complete the following: examination may be asked during the
• manually complete the scantron sheet examination.
• ensure all answers are properly marked • Eating, drinking or smoking will not be
• when changing answers, ensure all improper permitted in the Assessment Center.
marks are properly erased • You may take a break whenever you wish, but you
• provide exam feedback on the back of the will not be allowed additional time to make up for
scantron sheet time lost during breaks.

INCLEMENT WEATHER OR EMERGENCIES MISCONDUCT

In the event of inclement weather or unforeseen If you engage in any of the following conduct during
emergencies on the day of an examination Prometric the examination, you may be dismissed, and your
will determine whether circumstances warrant the scores will not be reported. Examination fees will be
cancellation, and subsequent rescheduling, of an forfeited. Examples of misconduct include:
examination. The examination will usually not be • creating a disturbance, becoming abusive, or
rescheduled if the Assessment Center personnel are able otherwise uncooperative;
to open the Assessment Center. • display and/or use electronic communications
equipment such as pagers, cellular phones,
You may visit the Prometric website at personal electronic device;
www.Prometric.com prior to the examination to • talk or participate in conversation with other
determine if your Assessment Center has closed. Every examination candidates;
attempt is made to administer the examination as • give or receive help or is suspected of doing so;
scheduled; however, should an examination be canceled • leave the Assessment Center during the
at an Assessment Center, all scheduled candidates will administration;
receive notification regarding rescheduling or • attempt to record examination questions or make
reapplication procedures. notes;
• attempt to take the examination for someone else; or
If power to an Assessment Center is temporarily • are observed with notes, books or other aids.
interrupted during an administration, your
examination will be restarted. The responses provided Violation of any of the above provisions results in
up to the point of interruption will be intact, but for dismissal from the examination session. The
security reasons the questions will be scrambled. candidate’s score on the examination is voided and
examination fees are not refunded. Evidence of
misconduct is reviewed to determine whether the
EXAMINATION RESTRICTIONS
candidate will be allowed to reapply for examination.
• Pencils will be provided during check-in.
If re-examination is granted, a complete application
• Possession of a cellular phone or other electronic
and fee are required to reapply.
devices (including smart watches) is strictly
prohibited and will result in dismissal from the

Updated May 2019 – Controlled Document Page 12

 Certified Tactical Paramedic Handbook

FOLLOWING THE EXAMINATION

FOR COMPUTER BASED TESTING: After you The IBSC no longer provides the passing candidate
finish the examination, you are asked to complete a with a raw score nor a breakdown of the
short evaluation of your testing experience conducted examination score by topic area. Exam results are
by Prometric. Score reports will be e-mailed to the e- reported pass/fail. If you did not pass the exam, you
mail used when registering within one hour of the will receive an examination report indicating
examination. subject areas of relative strength and weakness. The
diagnostic report can assist you if you decide to
FOR PENCIL/PAPER TESTING: After you finish retake the exam. This change is necessary to
the examination, you will return all materials to the endorse the philosophy that certification is the goal
examination proctor in the envelopes provided. and that the raw score number beyond the passing
Scores are reported in printed form only, in person or score does not matter.
by U.S. mail. For international candidates, scores will
be sent via electronic mail to a verified candidate email The domain scores on the score report are not used
provided at the time of registration and in printed to determine pass-fail decision outcomes. They are
from via U.S. Mail. Scores are NOT reported over the only provided to offer a general indication
telephone or by facsimile. regarding your performance in each domain. The
examination is designed to provide a consistent and
precise determination of your overall performance
SCORE REPORTING
and is not designed to provide complete
To pass any IBSC examination, your score must
equal or exceed the passing score. The passing information regarding your performance in each
domain. You should remember that areas with a
standard for each IBSC exam is established using
larger number of items will affect the overall score
standard-setting techniques that follow best
practices in the testing industry. more than areas with a fewer number of items. The
precision and consistency of scores diminishes with
The passing standard for each certification exam is fewer items, and therefore, sub-scores should be
interpreted with caution, especially those that
set by a designate IBSC Subspecialty Board, Test
Committee or Subject Matter Expert Group. correspond to domains with very few items.
Members of these groups are nationally recognized
Numeric scores are not provided for examinees who
specialists whose combined expertise encompasses
pass to ensure that the scores are not used for
the breadth of clinical knowledge in the specialty
purposes other than licensure and certification. For
area. Members include educators, managers and
providers, incorporating the perspectives of both example, numeric scores should not be used for
the education and practice environments. In setting hiring and promotion decisions because the IBSC
exams are not designed for these purposes.
the passing standard, the committee considers
many factors, including relevant changes to the
knowledge base of the field as well as changes in the IF YOU PASS THE EXAMINATION
characteristics of minimally qualified candidates If you pass the examination, your score report will
for certification. state “pass” without a score breakdown. You will
receive a certificate and wallet card within 8 weeks
The passing standard for an exam is based on a from our partners at The Award Group. Your
specified level of mastery of content in the specialty certification lapel pin and patch will be sent under a
area. Therefore, no predetermined percentage of separate mailing within 3 weeks of your testing date.
examinees will pass or fail the exam. The committee Your certification is valid for a four-year period.
sets a content-based standard, using the modified-
Angoff method.
Updated May 2019 – Controlled Document Page 13
 Certified Tactical Paramedic Handbook

IF YOU DO NOT PASS THE EXAMINATION SCORES CANCELLED BY THE IBSC OR

Should you fail the examination, additional detail is PROMETRIC
provided in the form of raw scores by major content IBSC and Prometric are responsible for the integrity of
category. A raw score is the number of questions you the scores they report. On occasion, occurrences, such
answered correctly. As an example, in domain “A”, as computer malfunction or misconduct by a
the score of 7/12 means you correctly answered 7 of candidate, may cause a score to be suspect. IBSC and
the 12 questions. Providing this data allows the Prometric are committed to rectifying such
candidate to direct their review and study material discrepancies as expeditiously as possible.
to address those domains in which you were not Examination results may be cancelled if, upon
successful. You may retake the examination after 30 investigation, a violation or discrepancy is discovered.
days. The retesting process is outlined at
http://www.ibscertifications.org/resource/pdf/Retes
ting%20Policy.pdf

Updated May 2019 – Controlled Document Page 14

 Certified Tactical Paramedic Handbook

Updated May 2019 – Controlled Document Page 15