PHECC Advanced Paramedic exam-day guide
PHECC Advanced Paramedic · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
PHECC-issued candidate documentation and photo ID
Bring the ID specified in your exam invitation. Exact accepted ID types and whether photocopies are allowed vary by sitting, so confirm with the provider (PHECC or your approved training institution) before the day.
Exam invitation / scheduling confirmation
Print or save the confirmation showing your name, candidate number, date, time, and venue. You may be asked to show it at registration.
Uniform and personal protective equipment
Wear the uniform and footwear your programme requires for practical stations. Bring your own clinical PPE (gloves, eye protection, mask) if the provider requires candidates to supply it; confirm the PPE policy with the provider.
Stethoscope
Bring your own stethoscope. A working, correctly functioning stethoscope is normally needed for assessment and auscultation stations. Label it clearly.
Watch with a seconds display
A plain analogue or digital watch is useful for timed skills (e.g., CPR cycles, scene times). Confirm whether smartwatches are permitted; if unsure, bring a non-smart watch.
Pen and notebook
Bring a pen for any written elements, candidate declarations, or notes permitted by the provider. Check whether notes are allowed in the practical area.
Refresh the current PHECC Clinical Practice Guidelines
Review the current CPGs relevant to your scope of practice, particularly skills likely to be assessed (e.g., airway management, cardiac arrest, trauma, medical emergencies). Use the current edition only.
Practise skills to current CPG sequence
Rehearse each skill aloud and in real time, including scene safety, patient assessment, consent, hand hygiene, and documentation, so the sequence is automatic on the day.
Plan travel and arrival time
Confirm the venue, parking, and public transport options. Aim to arrive with buffer time before registration; confirm the required arrival time with the provider.
Arrange rest and hydration
Practical exams are physically and cognitively demanding. Prioritise sleep in the days before and bring water if permitted in the holding area.
Confirm exam-day contact details
Have the provider's contact number saved in case of delay or emergency on the morning. Confirm the provider's late-arrival and absence policy in advance.
Plan the day
Re-read the current PHECC CPGs for your scope and rehearse each practical skill in real time with a peer, verbalising scene safety, consent, assessment findings, and handover. Focus on weak stations rather than re-learning everything.
Confirm logistics: venue, start time, ID requirements, uniform/PPE policy, and what equipment you must bring. Contact the provider with any unanswered questions now, not on the morning.
Protect sleep and avoid last-minute cramming marathons. A rested performance on practical stations is usually worth more than extra hours of reading.
Pack your bag: ID, invitation, uniform, stethoscope, watch, pen, PPE as required. Lay out clothing. Re-check travel plans and set alarms.
Do a light review only: skill sequences and key safety checks (scene safety, hand hygiene, consent, time-critical interventions). Stop studying early and eat a proper meal.
Eat breakfast, hydrate, arrive at the venue with buffer time. Dress in the required uniform and check you have all packed items before leaving.
At registration, follow examiner instructions, confirm your candidate number, and ask about the format (number of stations, timing signals, rest areas) if it has not been explained.
At each station: read or listen to the scenario carefully, state scene safety and introduce yourself, obtain consent, and perform the skill in the current CPG sequence. Verbalise your findings and actions clearly.
Manage time within each station: prioritise time-critical actions, then complete secondary steps. If you make an error, correct it calmly and continue; do not abandon the station.
At handover or completion, summarise the patient's condition, interventions, and any outstanding priorities. Use clear, structured communication.
Follow the provider's instructions on leaving the practical area and on when and how results will be issued. Do not discuss station content with candidates who have not yet been examined.
Rules to check
Bring the photo ID specified in your invitation. Accepted ID types and whether copies are permitted vary, so confirm with the provider before the day.
Wear the uniform and PPE required by your programme. If you are unsure whether you must supply your own PPE, confirm with the provider in advance.
Follow all examiner and invigilator instructions, including where to wait, when to enter and leave stations, and any restrictions on communication between candidates.
Do not discuss station content, scenarios, or examiner questions with other candidates during the exam day. Confidentiality of exam content is normally a condition of sitting; confirm the exact policy with the provider.
Ask about break and restroom arrangements at registration. The provider sets the break policy and timing signals; do not assume you can leave a station area without permission.
If you need to leave the exam for illness or an emergency, notify an examiner or invigilator immediately. The provider's policy on absence, withdrawal, or rescheduling applies, so confirm it in advance.
Scoring and pass criteria are set by the provider. Ask in advance how stations are marked and what the pass standard is rather than relying on second-hand information.
If you believe an error or irregularity affected your performance, report it to the chief examiner or invigilator on the day and follow the provider's appeals or feedback process afterwards.