COPR Examination Study Guide

Canadian Organization of Paramedic Regulators

General Information

• The guide is crafted for Entry to Practice Examination preparation.
• Offers tips, strategies, and sample questions.
• Reference to the COPR Entry to Practice Examination Handbook is recommended for exam structure and policies.

Examination Background

• Purpose: Protect the public by ensuring certified individuals possess necessary competencies.
• Follows the American Psychological Association Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing.

Competency Profile

• Based on the National Occupational Competency Profile (NOCP) 2011 for paramedics.
• Detailed profile available on the Paramedic Association of Canada website.

Examination Development Process

• Blueprint Development: Outlines content, structure, and competency weighting.
• Item Development: Questions crafted by subject matter experts (SMEs) following the blueprint.
• Item Review: Ensures consistency with Canadian standards and checks for stereotypes.
• Professional Editing: Ensures clarity and language appropriateness.
• Examination Monitoring & Approval: SMEs review and approve each examination.

Standard Setting

• Utilizes Modified Angoff method and/or Statistical Equating to establish passing scores.

Examination Format

• Computer-based.
• EMR Examination: 100 questions, 2 hours.
• PCP/ACP Examination: 200 questions, 4 hours.

Question Types & Cognitive Levels

• Types:
  • Patient Profiles
  • Case Scenarios
  • Stand-alone multiple-choice
• Cognitive Levels: (increasing order of difficulty)
  • Knowledge
  • Application
  • Critical Thinking

Examination Taking Strategies

1. Study thoroughly beforehand.
2. Read questions and all answer choices carefully.
3. Attempt answering before looking at options.
4. Eliminate wrong options for difficult questions.
5. Guess if unsure, as there are no penalties for wrong answers.
6. Review flagged questions if time permits.
7. Do not dwell too long on individual questions.
8. Make changes only with a good reason during review.

Sample Examination Questions

• Sample questions provided for EMR, PCP, and ACP categories.
• Each question includes explanations of cognitive levels and correct answers.
• Reference pages from textbooks are provided for each answer.

Preparatory Tests

• Simulate the exam format with 60 questions.
• Available online for $75.00 plus tax.
• Tests use the same software as the actual examination.

Appendix A: Abbreviations and Acronyms

• Provides a comprehensive list of common abbreviations used in paramedic practice.

Appendix B: Reference Textbooks for COPR

• Lists textbooks used in paramedic education across Canada.
• Intended for transparency and not required for purchase.

Textbooks Include:

• Emergency Medical Responder: A Skills Approach
• Basic Life Support Manual
• International Trauma Life Support
• Nancy Caroline's Emergency Care in The Streets
• Pre-hospital Emergency Pharmacology
• Sanders Paramedic Textbook

Note:

• COPR thanks Canadian educational institutions for validating textbook lists.