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New York State Practical Skills Exam

The best example of the Practical Skills Exam comes from Irvington VAC EMS Training Center and Paramedic Benjamin Fontanilles. My lab instructor received his training from this agency and suggested these videos. As such you will see his video at each station first followed by other videos either focusing on skills or another example of the station.

Tips for passing

  • Take a deep breath and relax. If you paid attention during labs you should have practiced these skills that you need more than enough for you to have the skills down.
  • Memorize the skill sheets. Even if you are not practicing with your hands – run through the sheets in your head and actually speaking each checklist item verbally.
  • Practice the exams with someone or recording yourself. Run through the skill sheets. Practice until you can do the list without errors.
  • Focus on the critical. You can miss non-shaded items but if you get everything perfect and miss one of the shaded items you fail the test.
  • The Medical and Trauma assessment should have a first-in bag. Set out items that help you remember the criticals. For example for your ABCs you could put out OPAs to remind you to secure the airway, a Non-Rebreather to remind you to provide oxygen, and a bandaid to remind you to check for major bleeding or do the blood sweep.
  • Verbalize everything. The evaluators are great but they are human too. They may not see you do something from their angle but if they hear you they are less likely to miss you doing something.
  • If you forget to do something – verbalize it when you remember it. And remember – you may have done it and just forgot to say it! Also, if it was questionable whether the examiner saw you do it, hearing you verbalize it, even if a bit later, may be enough to satisfy the examiner so they check that box – they are testing to confirm you have learned the material.
  • If possible do some “easy” stations to get your confidence up.
  • And remember…you can miss TWO stations in the exam without having to take the class. Don’t put pressure on yourself going into the station! If you worry about failing you will be nervous! It is not uncommon for people to fail a station…you get to retest that night with a different examiner.
  • You can review your skill sheets between stations….don’t. Relax. Chat with the other examinees…use the time to take your mind off the exams and RELAX. And take a deep breath before going into the next station.
  • The examiner wants you to pass! You want to pass! Remind your self that YOU WILL PASS.