This article may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience.(May 2019) |
A certified flight paramedic (FP-C) is a person who has met the advanced certification requirements for flight paramedics established for this designation by the International Board of Specialty Certification (IBSC),[1] a not-for-profit organization responsible for the administration and development of specialty certification exams for critical care professionals. The FP-C exam was the first specialty paramedic certification offered by the Board for Critical Care Transport Paramedic Certification in 2000.[2] This certification is designed for experienced paramedics who have demonstrated advanced knowledge of critical care medicine.[3]
The FP-C, CCP-C, and/or Critical Care Emergency Medical Transport Program (CCEMTP) certifications are often a requirement to work as a flight paramedic in the United States. The FP-C does not have an associated course and does not endorse any specific course in order to remain impartial and maintain neutrality. The FP-C is considered comparable in difficulty to the Critical Care Paramedic Certification (CCP-C). Experience in the air medical and/or critical care transport fields are recommended before attempting to take the exam.[4] There is no minimum education component required and the examination does not require any field experience. In addition, there is no practical skills test associated with the examination, unlike the NREMT Paramedic exam.[5] A candidate must hold an unrestricted paramedic license in the state or country of practice, and have a significant knowledge of ACLS, PALS, NRP and BTLS/ITLS and current CAMTS standards.[6]