I just received my NREMT cert and NH license. I am looking to test for my Massachusetts reciprocal license and am curious as to how the test is. Is it as hard as the national registry? I wouldn't call it hard, just tricky. Has anyone reciprocated with mass before?
You will have to contact the Massachusetts OEMS for specifics (the application is on their web site but there's no list of testing sites as they are scheduled "as needed"). The BLS practical consists of 5 stations:
CPR / AED
Trauma Assessment
Medical Assessment
Splinting (upper extremity and Hare Traction)
Spinal Immobilization (KED or Long Board)
You may be able to get the state sheets from OEMS. CPR / AED is being tested to 2010 protocols so if you haven't renewed your CPR card yet this might be a good time so you can see what's changed.
If you're coming from a service that uses the Sager splint instead of the Hare traction splint it would be a good idea to find someone who's got a Hare traction splint and review its use since the state tests on Hare, not Sager.
As far as the written exam, I'd say that the questions aren't *harder* but they're much less well-written. I took my NREMT-P and my MA medic written exams within a month of each other and have to say that the National written exam was probably one of the more difficult (but well written) exams I've ever taken (this includes ones taken for my BA) and the Massachusetts exam had some questions that were just plain bizarre (ex: What size BP cuff should you use on a 6-month-old? Uh...one that fits?).
Based on conversations with former students it seems like the MA basic hasn't improved that much - I believe that the 3rd party testing service simply buys questions from the National Registry testbank (or similar) and doesn't bother vetting them for Massachusetts protocols (I have heard stories of questions regarding tourniquets and MAST pants, neither of which are in the BLS protocols for MA). On the up side, it seems like once folks pass the MA basic written exam they seldom have issues with the NREMT-Basic exam.
I just received my NREMT cert and NH license. I am looking to test for my Massachusetts reciprocal license and am curious as to how the test is. Is it as hard as the national registry? I wouldn't call it hard, just tricky. Has anyone reciprocated with mass before?
I found the MA test to be slightly less difficult than the NR though this may be have been because I was a bit perturbed by the adaptive aspect of the national test.
Also, I took my class in Colorado, and despite not being certified in Colorado at that time, I did not have to do the MA practical. I have no idea why OEMS chose to waive that part, but if I were you I would contact them to see if that is possible for you. It saved me a lot of time and a fair bit of money.
