EMT Training - First Step Towards a Paramedic Career
If you’re cool-headed enough to thrive in high pressure situations, aren’t put off by blood or dreadful scenes, and have a natural proficiency for biology, anatomy and physiology, then a career as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic may be a perfect job track for you. More important, if you care about helping others and can stay focused in stressful situations, then you could be a perfect candidate for EMT training and EMT paramedic training. EMTs are the first responders who arrive on scene for medical emergencies, health care assistance and 911 calls. Often their EMT training expertise can mean the difference between life and death.
The first step toward becoming an EMT paramedic involves obtaining a basic EMT certification. Before you embark on formal EMT training, it’s wise to determine whether you really have an aptitude for this line of EMT work. You can do this without spending a penny on your EMT training education by volunteering at a local hospital, fire station, or health care facility. There you can get exposure to patients receiving medical care and you will be able to observe nurses and hospital personnel in action. Then you can better determine if EMT work is something you could or want to do.
Enrolling in an American Red Cross Advanced First Aid Provider Course will give you some skills that are also used when taking courses for EMT training. This class will teach you field emergency techniques such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), as well as assessment skills and triage strategies. These are the type of skills you will be called upon to use as an EMT paramedic. By taking this class you can conclude if you have an aptitude for EMT training.
Once you’ve established that emergency medical field work appeals to you, it’s the perfect time to pursue EMT training certification. The path towards a paramedic career begins with EMT training, which is available in all 50 states. The educational requirement to entering EMT training is a high school degree or GED, and often completion of a Math and English entrance exam is required.
An EMT school or EMT training program will also have (at least) these requirements:
- High school diploma or GED
- 18 years of age
- Oral interview
- Drug test, including screening for tuberculosis and hepatitis B
- Pass a physical examination
- Background Check
Once accepted into an EMT training program, there are four groups of medical technician training and three levels of EMT training, each with a degree of accreditation.
- First Responder: A First Responder has completed an approved course consisting of classroom work as well as 40 to 60 hours of hands-on fieldwork. A First Responder has been trained in several patient care responsibilities, including, but not limited to: airway maintenance, emergency oxygen administration, CPR, defibrillation AED, trauma assessment, splinting and bandaging, and emergency childbirth.
- The next level of certification is basic EMT certification. This is usually the entry level for EMTs, designed to provide EMT training in order to help you enter the workforce as an EMT in a relatively short period of time. Basic EMT training consists of approximately 200 additional hours of training. In addition to the skills described above, basic EMT training qualifies you to assess patient needs and administer certain types of medications. Most community colleges offer EMT-Basic classes; they cost approximately $500-$900 and last about 3 to 6 months, or one semester.
- EMT-I/85 (lower level intermediate) and EMT-I/99 (higher level intermediate) are the next level of EMT training. This consists of approximately 250 hours of field work and provides EMT training for patient care at the next level of assistance. Some of the skills acquired are needle-decompression of tension pneumothorax, intravenous cannulation, endotracheal intubation, nasogastric tubes, and the administering of certain medications.
EMT training courses and EMT programs will vary in calendar length. The fast-track EMT basic training programs can be completed in as little as two to six weeks, depending upon the EMS course hours held in one day. Additional time would include the clinicals and the “on the job” EMT training required. Average EMT basic training usually consists of 110-120 hours of EMS classroom instruction covered over a period of 12 weeks to 6 months.
Once you have completed EMT training, you are on your way to a career as a Paramedic. An EMT training certificate allows you to advance towards the next level, that of paramedic training.
EMT Paramedic is the highest level of EMT training, often referred to as EMT paramedic training. This degree of EMT training takes between 12 and 24 months to complete and involves approximately 1,000-1,500 hours of training. Advanced EMT paramedic training courses will take up to 2 years for completion by paramedics in an Associate Degree program. This paramedic school program covers, in more depth, anatomy and physiology, patient assessment survey and triage, airway management, oxygen therapy, treatment of shock, and bleeding control. Care for fractures, spinal injuries, cardiac arrest, and various other medical emergencies are taught in both the classroom and clinicals for hands-on EMT paramedic training. In addition, the paramedic student will have an introduction to pharmacology. At this level you will develop skills and training which provide a paramedic a great amount of professional sovereignty in the field of medical emergency responders.
When advancing from EMT basic training to EMT paramedic, be sure to make note of your state’s requirements, especially if you have trained in one state or country and are looking to certify or continue your education in another. Training can and does vary state to state and country to country.
Currently 46 states in theU.S. require passing the NREMT exam in order to be certified.
To be successful as an EMT, you must be able to lift heavy objects, work indoors and outside, and be prepared to work more than 40 hours a week. Due to the 24 hour nature of the job, you may have to work irregular hours and shifts can be 10-24 hours. Nonetheless, the hours are often guaranteed, the position secure, and the satisfaction of helping others is endless.
For more information on EMT Paramedic Training and Paramedic Schools see Paramedic Training.
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Tags: EMT, EMT certification, emt paramedic, EMT paramedic training, emt training, paramedic, Paramedic schools, Paramedics