NRCME FINAL EXAM ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
RATED A+
✔✔Min waiting period for bipolar disorder (there are 2 different ones) - ✔✔6 months
after depressive episode with no suicidal behavior. 1 year after severe depressive
episode, suicidal attempt, or manic episode
✔✔Max certification for schizophrenia and related disorders - ✔✔1 year, but it has to be
well controlled (no side effects from meds, no active psychosis or compromised
judgment)
✔✔Max certification for personality disorders - ✔✔1 year
✔✔Max certification for alcoholism - ✔✔2 years but only for history of alcoholism, not
current dx of alcoholism
✔✔max certification for history of drug abuse - ✔✔2 years
✔✔Glaucoma causes what main clinical concern? - ✔✔loss of peripheral vision
✔✔Diabetics on insulin who have an exemption certificate should test sugars when? -
✔✔before driving and every 2-4 hours while driving
✔✔Min waiting period for thoracic aneurysm repair - ✔✔3 months
✔✔Min waiting period for stable angina - ✔✔3 months with no rest angina or change in
pattern
✔✔Min waiting period for post acute MI - ✔✔2 months
✔✔Max certification for history of stage 3 hypertension (>180/110) - ✔✔6 months
✔✔3 requirements for a passing ETT - ✔✔1. increased SBP of at least 20 without
angina
2. workload capacity >6 METs
3. no significant ST depression
✔✔Min waiting period for bypass graft in extremity - ✔✔3 months
✔✔Max certification for a diabetic on insulin with a federal exemption - ✔✔1 year
✔✔Recommended max certification for diabetic not on insulin - ✔✔2 years
✔✔min waiting period for valve surgery - ✔✔3 months
, ✔✔Min waiting period post MI - ✔✔2 months
✔✔Examiners must retain records for how many years? - ✔✔3
✔✔ vision requirements - ✔✔20/40 each eye and 20/40 both eyes
✔✔peripheral vision - ✔✔70 degrees
✔✔Federal exemption for monocular vision: can certify for how long? - ✔✔1 year
✔✔hearing requirements - ✔✔whisper at not less than 5 feet better ear, or average
hearing loss no greater than 40 dB at 500Hz, 1000Hz, 2000 Hz.
✔✔name 4 otic conditions that are automatic DQs - ✔✔Meniere's, uncontrolled vertigo,
labyrinthine fistula, nonfunctioning labyrinth
✔✔Max cert period for Syncope - ✔✔1 year (needs neurologist clearance)
✔✔Post MI drivers can be certified for 1 year with all 5 of these criteria: (almost the
same criteria for post CABG) (first 4 also apply for CHF drivers) - ✔✔1. Asymptomatic
2. Tolerating meds
3. Satisfactory ETT with workload capacity of 6 METs (has to have this biennially)
4. LVEF >=40%
5. No ST depression on ECG - for post CABG this one is replaced by completely healed
sternal incision
✔✔Stable angina: max cert period - ✔✔1 year
✔✔minimum waiting period post CABG - ✔✔3 months
✔✔Min waiting period for post heart transplant - ✔✔1 year
✔✔Max cert period for post heart transplant - ✔✔6 months
✔✔Min waiting period post PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) - ✔✔1 week
✔✔Min waiting period for pacemaker implantation for sinus node dysfunction - ✔✔1
month
✔✔Min waiting period for pacemaker implantation for neurocardiogenic syncope or
hypersensitive carotid sinus with syncope - ✔✔3 months
RATED A+
✔✔Min waiting period for bipolar disorder (there are 2 different ones) - ✔✔6 months
after depressive episode with no suicidal behavior. 1 year after severe depressive
episode, suicidal attempt, or manic episode
✔✔Max certification for schizophrenia and related disorders - ✔✔1 year, but it has to be
well controlled (no side effects from meds, no active psychosis or compromised
judgment)
✔✔Max certification for personality disorders - ✔✔1 year
✔✔Max certification for alcoholism - ✔✔2 years but only for history of alcoholism, not
current dx of alcoholism
✔✔max certification for history of drug abuse - ✔✔2 years
✔✔Glaucoma causes what main clinical concern? - ✔✔loss of peripheral vision
✔✔Diabetics on insulin who have an exemption certificate should test sugars when? -
✔✔before driving and every 2-4 hours while driving
✔✔Min waiting period for thoracic aneurysm repair - ✔✔3 months
✔✔Min waiting period for stable angina - ✔✔3 months with no rest angina or change in
pattern
✔✔Min waiting period for post acute MI - ✔✔2 months
✔✔Max certification for history of stage 3 hypertension (>180/110) - ✔✔6 months
✔✔3 requirements for a passing ETT - ✔✔1. increased SBP of at least 20 without
angina
2. workload capacity >6 METs
3. no significant ST depression
✔✔Min waiting period for bypass graft in extremity - ✔✔3 months
✔✔Max certification for a diabetic on insulin with a federal exemption - ✔✔1 year
✔✔Recommended max certification for diabetic not on insulin - ✔✔2 years
✔✔min waiting period for valve surgery - ✔✔3 months
, ✔✔Min waiting period post MI - ✔✔2 months
✔✔Examiners must retain records for how many years? - ✔✔3
✔✔ vision requirements - ✔✔20/40 each eye and 20/40 both eyes
✔✔peripheral vision - ✔✔70 degrees
✔✔Federal exemption for monocular vision: can certify for how long? - ✔✔1 year
✔✔hearing requirements - ✔✔whisper at not less than 5 feet better ear, or average
hearing loss no greater than 40 dB at 500Hz, 1000Hz, 2000 Hz.
✔✔name 4 otic conditions that are automatic DQs - ✔✔Meniere's, uncontrolled vertigo,
labyrinthine fistula, nonfunctioning labyrinth
✔✔Max cert period for Syncope - ✔✔1 year (needs neurologist clearance)
✔✔Post MI drivers can be certified for 1 year with all 5 of these criteria: (almost the
same criteria for post CABG) (first 4 also apply for CHF drivers) - ✔✔1. Asymptomatic
2. Tolerating meds
3. Satisfactory ETT with workload capacity of 6 METs (has to have this biennially)
4. LVEF >=40%
5. No ST depression on ECG - for post CABG this one is replaced by completely healed
sternal incision
✔✔Stable angina: max cert period - ✔✔1 year
✔✔minimum waiting period post CABG - ✔✔3 months
✔✔Min waiting period for post heart transplant - ✔✔1 year
✔✔Max cert period for post heart transplant - ✔✔6 months
✔✔Min waiting period post PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) - ✔✔1 week
✔✔Min waiting period for pacemaker implantation for sinus node dysfunction - ✔✔1
month
✔✔Min waiting period for pacemaker implantation for neurocardiogenic syncope or
hypersensitive carotid sinus with syncope - ✔✔3 months
