The New Jersey Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) was the first office of its kind in the United States. Created in 1967, the OEMS is part of the department’s Division of Public Health Infrastructure, Laboratories, & Emergency Preparedness (PHILEP). New jersey EMT training and paramedic training certifications are governed through this agency. The OEMS currently maintains the certification of more than 26,000 Emergency Medical Technician-Basics (EMT-B’s) and 1,700 Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedics (EMT-P’s) in the state of New Jersey.
In New Jersey, anyone that wishes to apply for an EMT-Basic license must have already taken and passed the 120 hour DOT (Department of Transportation) EMT training course. Once this EMT accreditation course has been completed, the applicant in the state of New Jersey can apply to take the written computer based portion of the exam which is directed by the NREMT (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians).
The state of New Jersey has required certification as an EMT-B since January of 2000, ensuring EMS personnel who work in ambulances are able to provide pre-hospital care. The EMS training is now more focused on assessing the patient rather than the diagnosis of the cause of their symptoms. Additionally, as of January 2010, state law extended EMT-Basic certifications to be in effect from 3 years to 5 years. Paramedic certification is good from 24-30 months and there are no grace periods.
New Jersey certification levels and EMS services:
• Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• Mobile Intensive Care Nurse (MICN)
• Paramedic
New Jersey EMS training does not include CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) training as part of the training programs. This is a paramedic school prerequisite for the state of New Jersey and must be completed before acceptance into an EMT training program.
EMT training programs in NJ vary in length and credit hours due to the variables in each program. In addition to the program course hours, clinical experience is required for each training program and EMT paramedic training level.
The New Jersey OEMS (Office of Emergency Medical Services) sets the NJ training requirements and prerequisites for all EMS programs. There is a wide variety of EMT courses and schools throughout the state, including online courses recognized and accredited for state certification. Most EMT training programs are through community colleges, technical schools and hospitals. Hudson County Community College’s Paramedic Program and Ocean County College EMT Training Program are just two of New Jersey’s many paramedic schools offering certification courses.
Reciprocity is accepted and the application process can be found through the OEMS website.
There are additional requirements for pursuing EMT and paramedic training in each region. Read the articles EMT Training and EMT Paramedic Training for details and a list of these requirements.
According to the United States Department of Labor: Employment of Emergency Medical Technicians and paramedics is expected to grow by 19 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
Contact Information
Further information can be obtained by contacting the New Jersey Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS)
P. O. Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 or by calling (609) 633-7777.
New Jersey also has a very active New Jersey Paramedic Programs Association and you will find additional information through their organization.
Important Note from the OEMS: “Due to increased security, ALL visitors to the Office of Emergency Medical Services MUST have a scheduled appointment with OEMS staff. No “walk-ins” will be permitted. Visitors must have a valid government photo ID with them to present to security upon entering the building.”
Physical address: [500-599] John Fitch Way Market and Warren Streets.