Scheduling my PCP - Primary Care Paramedic exam this week and trying to figure out what to actually bring vs what I'll be given.
Questions I have:
1. Do they provide scratch paper or is it on-screen only?
2. Are you allowed any breaks? The exam is 2 hours and I'm a slow reader
3. How strict is check-in? How early should I arrive?
4. Is a calculator provided or allowed?
I've been focused on studying "PCP" content but I realize I don't actually know what the test day experience is like. The official website is vague.
For those who took it recently — any surprises on exam day that you wish someone had warned you about? And did the difficulty feel similar to the practice tests or completely different?
Worth mentioning: the free pcp patient assessment covers exactly the areas people tend to struggle with most.
Same boat a few months ago. Here's what I'd tell myself:
The PCP exam is more concept-focused than the study guides suggest. They test whether you understand PCP, not just whether you can define it.
My tip: when you see a scenario question, mentally walk through it step by step before looking at the answers. The wrong answers are designed to catch people who jump to conclusions.
Good luck — the fact that you're doing this level of prep means you're going to be fine.
The honest answer is: it depends a lot on your background.
If you're already working in this field, the PCP exam is testing knowledge you probably use daily. The "PCP" sections will feel familiar.
If you're coming in from outside, give yourself an extra 2 weeks and really focus on the practical application questions.
The practice tests here are worth doing repeatedly — I did the same test bank multiple times and found new questions I'd missed each time.
Quick update: just cleared 88% on my most recent PCP practice set using pcp cardiac care and ecg 2. Sitting for the real thing in 2 weeks. Feeling cautiously optimistic.
Failed first attempt, came back to this thread. The consensus on pcp practice test being the make-or-break area is right. Focusing almost exclusively on applied questions this time around.
Related Discussions
- Failed the OFAI — what to do differently the second time5 replies
- Just passed my NFST — here's what actually worked5 replies
- What CPR score do you need to pass? Breaking down the numbers5 replies
- What CPC score do you need to pass? Breaking down the numbers5 replies
- Best free resources for Red Card prep — what's actually worth your time5 replies