TITLE: EMS Education – Cognitive Summative Examinations

DOCUMENT #: 2022-2-EMSC

DATE ADOPTED: January 21, 2022

ADOPTED BY: Indiana Emergency Medical Services Commission

This document clarifies what is required of a certified training institution for all EMS certification classes in terms of the number and scope of in-course tests which are required in 836 IAC 4-2-1(c)(6) and 836 IAC 4-2-2(13)(C) of the EMSC rules.

Most in-course requirements are delegated to the certified training institutions. However, Indiana has been struggling for several years with poor test scores for the cognitive certification examination that is required from the National Registry of EMTs. In reviewing the lower performing training institutions in terms of poor NREMT test passing rates, the pattern that was discerned is that the lower performing training institutions are not offering an end of course assessment. Conversely, the highest performing training institutions all offer a cognitive summative examination. Upon the review and recommendation of the EMS Commission's EMS Education Oversight Committee, the EMS Commission has determined that further guidance on in-course cognitive testing is necessary to address the low pass rates for Indiana.

To be compliant with the requirement of in-course tests in 836 IAC 4-2-1(c)(6) and 836 IAC 4-2-2(13)(C), EMS certified training institutions must have a Cognitive Summative Examination at the end of each training program for all levels (EMT, Advanced EMT, and Paramedic).

The cognitive summative examination must meet these minimal requirements: