How to Become an EMT
Education and training requirements for emergency medical technicians Emergency Medical Technicians(EMTs) are known in the medical world as “first responders.” Fancy a guess as to why that might be? It’s because they’re the first to respond to most medical emergencies. EMTs are dispatched by emergency operators for any number of calls, the most common of which are car accidents, women going into labor, violent traumas, heart attacks and accidents.
If you’re thinking that an EMT job sounds pretty serious and might require a lot of training, you’d be right. It’s incredibly important for EMTs to be well trained to respond to any situation, which is why all 50 states have certification requirements and tests and training is regulated at both the state and federal level. There are some common denominators, though. All emergency medical technicians must be 18 years of age or older, have a high school diploma or GED and pass state certification tests to become licensed.
There are three levels of EMT training. The first level, EMT-basic (EMT-B), covers a variety of different tasks including dealing with fractures, bleeding, cardiac emergencies and respiratory emergencies. EMT-Bs are able to provide basic life support and are limited by state law from performing invasive procedures. To earn the EMT-basic designation, you’ll have to pass the state written and practical exam.
The second level, EMT-intermediate (EMT-I), requires the basic training and the addition of 30 to 350 training hours, which varies depending on the state you’re being licensed in. A sub-category of EMT-I is the EMT-I/85 training. EMTs with the I/85 designation are highly trained in more invasive procedures like administering intravenous fluids and certain types of medications not administered by EMT-Bs like epinephrine, nebulized albuterol and atrovent. A third level of EMT-I training is the EMT-I/99 which is the closest to paramedic certification. The EMT-I/99 level of training allows for the use of certain techniques like cardiac event monitors and needle decompression.
Paramedic (EMT-P) is the highest level of training. Paramedics are trained, usually at community colleges, in anatomy and physiology. In some cases, paramedics are awarded associates degrees for their training and finish the program prepared to take their NREMT (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians). Paramedics are able to complete all the functions of EMT-Bs and EMT-Is and other more advanced techniques like blood transfusions and sutures as well as administering a dramatically expanded list of drugs.
If you’re thinking that an EMT job sounds pretty serious and might require a lot of training, you’d be right. It’s incredibly important for EMTs to be well trained to respond to any situation, which is why all 50 states have certification requirements and tests and training is regulated at both the state and federal level. There are some common denominators, though. All emergency medical technicians must be 18 years of age or older, have a high school diploma or GED and pass state certification tests to become licensed.
There are three levels of EMT training. The first level, EMT-basic (EMT-B), covers a variety of different tasks including dealing with fractures, bleeding, cardiac emergencies and respiratory emergencies. EMT-Bs are able to provide basic life support and are limited by state law from performing invasive procedures. To earn the EMT-basic designation, you’ll have to pass the state written and practical exam.
The second level, EMT-intermediate (EMT-I), requires the basic training and the addition of 30 to 350 training hours, which varies depending on the state you’re being licensed in. A sub-category of EMT-I is the EMT-I/85 training. EMTs with the I/85 designation are highly trained in more invasive procedures like administering intravenous fluids and certain types of medications not administered by EMT-Bs like epinephrine, nebulized albuterol and atrovent. A third level of EMT-I training is the EMT-I/99 which is the closest to paramedic certification. The EMT-I/99 level of training allows for the use of certain techniques like cardiac event monitors and needle decompression.
Paramedic (EMT-P) is the highest level of training. Paramedics are trained, usually at community colleges, in anatomy and physiology. In some cases, paramedics are awarded associates degrees for their training and finish the program prepared to take their NREMT (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians). Paramedics are able to complete all the functions of EMT-Bs and EMT-Is and other more advanced techniques like blood transfusions and sutures as well as administering a dramatically expanded list of drugs.
