FP-C
Encyclopedia
FP-C is an abbreviation indicating that an individual is Flight Paramedic
-Certified. This certification is for paramedic
s who have demonstrated their knowledge of critical care medicine
by successfully passing a two-and-a-half-hour exam consisting of 125 multiple-choice questions. As of August 2009 there are only about 2000 certified flight paramedics worldwide.
The FP-C and/or Critical Care Emergency Medical Transport Program certifications are often a requirement to work as a flight medic
. The FP-C does not have an associated course unlike the CCEMTP, though there are brief review classes and study guides available. The FP-C is considered to be more difficult to obtain than the CCEMTP certification. The candidate must hold a current paramedic license.
(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).
FP-C is not officially recognized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) board, but has become the standard for Critical Care Paramedic certification.
Flight medic
A Flight Medic is a generic term used to describe a Paramedic that functions in an aeromedical environment. Typically the Flight Medic will work with a registered nurse, physician, Respiratory Therapist, or another Paramedic. The Flight Paramedic is usually highly trained and has years of clinical...
-Certified. This certification is for paramedic
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
s who have demonstrated their knowledge of critical care medicine
Critical Care Medicine
Critical Care Medicine is a peer-reviewed medical journal in the field of intensive care medicine. It is the official publication of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, and is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. The editor-in-chief is Joseph E. Parrillo....
by successfully passing a two-and-a-half-hour exam consisting of 125 multiple-choice questions. As of August 2009 there are only about 2000 certified flight paramedics worldwide.
The FP-C and/or Critical Care Emergency Medical Transport Program certifications are often a requirement to work as a flight medic
Flight medic
A Flight Medic is a generic term used to describe a Paramedic that functions in an aeromedical environment. Typically the Flight Medic will work with a registered nurse, physician, Respiratory Therapist, or another Paramedic. The Flight Paramedic is usually highly trained and has years of clinical...
. The FP-C does not have an associated course unlike the CCEMTP, though there are brief review classes and study guides available. The FP-C is considered to be more difficult to obtain than the CCEMTP certification. The candidate must hold a current paramedic license.
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 TestingStandards for Educational and Psychological Testing
The Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing is a set of testing standards developed jointly by the American Educational Research Association , American Psychological Association , and the National Council on Measurement in Education...
(1999) by the American Educational Research Association
American Educational Research Association
The American Educational Research Association, or AERA, was founded in 1916 as a professional organization representing educational researchers in the United States and around the world....
, the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
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).
FP-C is not officially recognized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) board, but has become the standard for Critical Care Paramedic certification.
FP-C Exam Outline of Major Subjects
- Acid-BaseAcid-base homeostasisAcid–base homeostasis is the part of human homeostasis concerning the proper balance between acids and bases, in other words, the pH. The body is very sensitive to its pH level, so strong mechanisms exist to maintain it...
Balance- Regulation of acid-base balance
- Acid-base derangements
- AirwayAirwayThe pulmonary airway comprises those parts of the respiratory system through which air flows, conceptually beginning at the nose and mouth, and terminating in the alveoli...
- Rapid Sequence Induction inclusive of standard medications
- Intubation and all other airway procedures
- Surgical cricothyroidotomy
- Needle cricothyroidotomy
- Airway medications – their uses, limitations, and contraindications
- CAMTS
- Flight Following Standards
- Proper flight crew uniforms and protective equipment
- Minimum crew training and staffing standards
- Cardiac
- Knowledge of cardiovascular disease and cardiac anomalies
- 12 Lead EKG Interpretations
- Cardiac Anatomy/Physiology
- Cardiac Pharmacology
- Thrombolytic Therapy
- Understanding of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) operation
- Mechanics, indications, troubleshooting, and contraindications
- Hemodynamic monitoring
- Arterial lines and air transport
- Pacing, synchronized cardioversion, defibrillation, and drugs
- Flight Physiology
- Knowledge of the gas laws and their effect on patients
- Neurological
- Treatment/recognition of elevated intracranial pressure, cerebral bleeds, etc
- Neuroprotective agents, vasoactive agents, loop diuretics, etc.
- Indications, limitations, and contraindications
- Signs and symptoms of head injuries, ICP, cerebral perfusion pressures
- Mechanism of Injury and Head Injury dynamics.
- OB/GynObstetrics and gynaecologyObstetrics and gynaecology are the two surgical–medical specialties dealing with the female reproductive organs in their pregnant and non-pregnant state, respectively, and as such are often combined to form a single medical specialty and postgraduate training programme...
- Fetal circulation
- Maternal complications, such as Pregnancy Induced Hypertension.
- Delivery Complications
- Maternal Medications
- Pediatric and Neonatal
- Pediatric and Neonatal Resuscitation
- Physiological differences
- Pharmacology
- Pediatric assessment
- Respiratory and Airway differences
- Common Injuries
- Anatomical differences
- Pediatric psychosocial issues
- Non-accidental traumaChild abuseChild abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
- Orthopedic injuries
- Isolette use
- Respiratory
- Evaluation of arterial blood gases and treatment for abnormal values
- Ventilator settings and parameters
- Equipment, uses and troubleshooting
- Managing the rapidly deteriorating patient condition
- Safety Issues
- Part 135 safety issues
- Flight Stressors
- Aircraft Operations- fixed and rotary wing
- Crash safety
- Survival issues
- Proper safety gear
- StressStress (medicine)Stress is a term in psychology and biology, borrowed from physics and engineering and first used in the biological context in the 1930s, which has in more recent decades become commonly used in popular parlance...
- Recognizing substance abuse and related issues
- Coping with death and dying
- Interpersonal relationships
- Equipment failures
- Thoracic
- Signs and symptoms of early versus late cardiac tamponade
- Procedures pertaining to thoracic injuries
- Needle thoracentesis, pericardiocentesis, thoracostomy tube placement, etc
- Treatment/signs and symptoms of:
- Cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax, hemothorax, etc.
- TraumaPhysical traumaTrauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...
- Administration of blood products
- Fluid replacement
- Injury Dynamics and Predictable Patterns
- Define Newton’s 1st Law
- Predictable patterns of injury due to mechanisms
- Many questions are scenario based with multiple stem questions
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 |
See also
- International Association of Flight ParamedicsInternational Association of Flight ParamedicsThe International Association of Flight and Critical Care Paramedics is a non-profit organization that represents critical care paramedics that transport critically ill or injured patients by means of airborne or ground vehicles...
- Critical Care Emergency Medical Transport ProgramCritical Care Emergency Medical Transport ProgramThe Critical Care Emergency Medical Transport Program is an educational program for paramedics, registered nurses, and registered respiratory therapists who perform interfacility transports, moving very sick patients from one hospital to another for further care and treatment. It was developed by...
- Flight nurseFlight nurseA Flight Nurse is traditionally a specialty where highly trained Registered Nurses provide comprehensive prehospital and emergency and critical care to all types of patients during aeromedical evacuation or rescue operations aboard helicopter and propeller aircraft or jet aircraft.Flight Nurses are...