- IBSC's FP-C exam has 135 questions (110 scored, 25 unscored) across two 75-minute sections.
- The raw passing score is 73 correct scored answers out of 110.
- Airway, Anesthesia, and Analgesics is the largest domain at 15% of the exam.
- Fees are $285 with affiliate membership or $385 for nonmembers, tested via Prometric or IBSC Mobile Exam Delivery.
Exam Snapshot: Format, Fees, and Timing
Before diving into content, lock in the mechanics of the exam itself. The Certified Flight Paramedic credential is administered by the International Board of Specialty Certification (IBSC), and candidates sit for it through Prometric's computer-based or remote-proctored testing, or through IBSC's Mobile Exam Delivery option. Knowing the logistics cold means you spend your mental energy on clinical content, not on last-minute confusion about how the test works.
This one-page format is meant to complement, not replace, deeper prep. If you haven't built a full study plan yet, start with the FP-C Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt for a week-by-week roadmap, and pair it with the FP-C Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 10 Content Areas for domain-level depth this cheat sheet can't cover in full.
Domain-by-Domain Cheat Sheet
The exam blueprint splits 110 scored items across ten domains. Memorize these weights so you know where to invest review time - a point of Cardiac content is worth more than a point of Flight Physiology simply because there are more questions drawn from it.
| Domain | Weight | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Airway, Anesthesia, and Analgesics | 15% | Advanced airway management, RSI concepts, sedation/analgesia, ventilator basics |
| Cardiac | 14% | ACS, dysrhythmias, mechanical support, post-arrest care |
| Medical Emergencies | 13% | Sepsis, endocrine, toxicology, environmental, metabolic crises |
| Trauma/Burn | 12% | Multi-system trauma, burns, hemorrhage control, damage control resuscitation |
| Neurological | 11% | Stroke, traumatic brain injury, status epilepticus, ICP management |
| Safety and Transport | 8% | Scene safety, aircraft/ground transport operations, risk management |
| Pediatric | 8% | Pediatric assessment, airway differences, transport considerations |
| Maternal Fetal and Neonatal | 7% | High-risk OB, neonatal resuscitation, transport physiology |
| Flight Physiology | 6% | Altitude physiology, gas laws, stressors of flight |
| Professional Considerations | 6% | Legal/ethical issues, communication, quality assurance |
Cardiac (14%)
Candidates must move fluently between rhythm recognition and interventions used in critical care transport, not just basic ACLS recall.
- Differentiate STEMI equivalents and post-arrest targeted temperature management concepts
- Know indications and complications for mechanical circulatory support devices
- Understand pressor and antiarrhythmic selection during transport
Trauma/Burn (12%)
This domain rewards candidates who can prioritize interventions under time pressure, mirroring real transport scenarios.
- Recognize indications for blood product administration and massive transfusion concepts
- Know burn resuscitation formulas and airway red flags in inhalation injury
- Apply damage control principles to unstable trauma patients in transit
For a granular breakdown of every domain with subtopics and sample content, the FP-C Exam Domains 2026 guide is the better companion resource - this cheat sheet is designed for rapid review, not first-pass learning.
Why Airway, Anesthesia, and Analgesics Dominates the Exam
At 15%, Airway, Anesthesia, and Analgesics is the single largest domain on the exam - larger than Cardiac, larger than Trauma/Burn. Candidates consistently underestimate how much airway-specific pharmacology and technique knowledge this domain demands beyond basic paramedic-level airway skills.
If you're unsure how much weight to give this domain versus others in your final review, treat it as your anchor domain: master it first, then let the remaining study time flow to Cardiac, Medical Emergencies, and Trauma/Burn in that order of weight.
Eligibility Quick Reference
Eligibility for the Certified Flight Paramedic exam is more straightforward than many candidates expect, but the details matter for scheduling.
- An unrestricted paramedic license or certificate is required, along with verification
- Three years of experience in a busy ALS or critical care environment is recommended but not required to sit for the exam
- Testing is available via Prometric (computer-based or remote-proctored) or IBSC Mobile Exam Delivery
For the complete eligibility breakdown, including documentation specifics, see FP-C Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify. If you're weighing whether now is the right time to sit, the How Hard Is the FP-C Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 article walks through the difficulty level relative to your current experience.
Scoring and Results Quick Reference
The scoring model is simple once you understand what counts.
Key Takeaway
Of the 135 total questions, only 110 are scored - the other 25 are unscored pilot items you cannot identify during the exam, so treat every question as if it counts. The raw passing score is 73 correct out of the 110 scored items.
- Two sections of 75 minutes each, with one optional five-minute break between them
- Computer-based and remote-proctored candidates typically receive results within one hour
For a deeper dive into what that raw score threshold means in practice and how questions are weighted by domain, read FP-C Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass. If you want context on how candidates generally perform, check FP-C Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
Renewal Quick Reference
FP-C certification is valid for four years. Renewal happens one of two ways:
- Retesting through the standard exam process, or
- Completing 100 contact hours, which must include 75 clinical hours and 16 clinical hours from an approved FP-C review course
Build renewal planning into your career timeline early rather than scrambling in year four - clinical hour requirements take longer to accumulate than most candidates assume.
Final-Week Review Plan Using This Sheet
In the last week before your test date, use this cheat sheet as a daily checklist rather than a new source of study material. The goal is reinforcement, not fresh learning.
Airway, Cardiac, Medical Emergencies
- Drill RSI pharmacology, dysrhythmia recognition, and sepsis/toxicology scenarios - these three domains together account for 42% of scored questions
Trauma/Burn and Neurological
- Review damage control resuscitation, burn formulas, stroke recognition, and ICP management
Pediatric, Maternal Fetal/Neonatal, Safety and Transport
- Refresh weight-based dosing, neonatal resuscitation steps, and transport safety protocols
Flight Physiology and Professional Considerations
- Review gas laws, altitude stressors, and legal/ethical scenarios; then rest before test day
This sequencing front-loads your heaviest-weighted domains while your energy is highest, then tapers to lighter-weighted domains as fatigue sets in - a practical application of prioritized review rather than generic study advice. For structured practice questions organized by these same domains, the practice test platform lets you drill weak areas directly.
If you're still building out your broader prep strategy, cross-reference this cheat sheet with the FP-C Study Guide 2026 and consider whether the certification aligns with your career goals using Is the FP-C Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026. For cost planning beyond the exam fee itself, see FP-C Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
FAQ
The exam contains 135 total multiple-choice questions: 110 scored and 25 unscored pilot items. Candidates cannot tell which questions are scored during the test, so every item should be treated as important.
The raw passing score is 73 correct answers out of the 110 scored questions. For more detail on how this threshold is applied, see the FP-C Passing Score 2026 guide.
The exam fee is $285 for candidates with an affiliate membership or $385 for nonmembers. A full cost breakdown including review courses and renewal is available in FP-C Certification Cost 2026.
The exam is split into two 75-minute sections with one optional five-minute break in between, delivered via Prometric computer-based or remote-proctored testing, or through IBSC Mobile Exam Delivery.
FP-C certification is valid for four years. Renewal requires either retesting or completing 100 contact hours, including 75 clinical hours and 16 clinical hours from an approved FP-C review course.
Keep this cheat sheet handy alongside deeper resources like the FP-C Requirements guide and FP-C Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling as you finalize your testing timeline, and use the full practice test bank to convert this quick-reference knowledge into exam-day readiness.