EMT training and EMT paramedic training, licensing and certification in the state of Georgia are governed by the Georgia Department of Emergency Medical Services, a Division of Georgia Public Health. The Georgia Office of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma oversees the EMS training for the state.

The state of Georgia also requires individuals who have completed GA EMT training to pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam and recognizes the exam certification taken in other states.

Georgia has three levels of EMT training certification: EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate and EMT-Paramedic. In the state of Georgia EMT training programs must meet minimum standards for coursework and clinical experience to be accredited.

To become a certified EMT in the state of Georgia an individual:
• must be at least 18 years of age
• must enroll in EMT-basic training and pass EMT certification (for paramedic levels)
• must pass a fingerprint criminal background check
• must have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent
• must pass a drug screening
• must possess current CPR certification

Most Georgia EMT training programs are through local community colleges and technical schools. Chattahoochee Technical College Paramedic Program and Gainesville State College EMT Training Program are two Georgia paramedic schools offering certification courses.

Georgia requires EMT training programs and paramedic programs to be certified by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT), which only grants accreditation to schools who follow the National Standard Curriculum established by the U.S. Department of Public Transportation. This ensures qualified EMS personnel to be working in the state, as well as access to employment due to the high standards of requirements in regards to certification.

EMT training programs in GA 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 GA EMT training program and EMT paramedic training level. The clinical rotations include fieldwork in different specialty areas such as pediatrics and obstetrics.

Georgia EMTs must also renew their EMT and EMT paramedic certification every two years. This recertification requires completing continuing education (CE) courses during each certification period. In the state of Georgia, 40 hours of approved continuing education courses are required for renewal of EMT certification.

According to the United States Department of Labor:
Employment of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and EMT paramedics is expected to grow by 19 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Full-time paid EMTs and paramedics will be needed to replace unpaid volunteers. It is becoming increasingly difficult for emergency medical services to recruit and retain unpaid volunteers because of the amount of EMT training and EMT paramedic training, and the large time commitment these positions require. Not to mention liability. As a result, more paid EMTs and paramedics are needed. Furthermore, as a large segment of the population—aging members of the baby boom generation—becomes more likely to have medical emergencies, demand will increase for EMTs and paramedics. There will still be demand for part-time, volunteer EMTs and paramedics in rural areas and smaller metropolitan areas.

Job prospects should be very favorable and job opportunities should be best in private ambulance services. Competition will be greater for jobs in local government, including fire, police, and independent third-service rescue squad departments which tend to have better salaries and benefits. EMTs and paramedics who have advanced EMT training education and paramedic training, such as Paramedic level certification, should enjoy the most favorable job prospects as employees and patients demand higher levels of care before arriving at the hospital.

Additional requirements for pursuing EMT training and EMT paramedic training exist, and specifics of these are fairly common state to state. Read the articles EMT Training and EMT Paramedic Training for details and a list of these requirements.

Further information can be obtained by contacting the State EMS Department in Atlanta, GA at http://ems.ga.gov. or by calling the office: 404-679-0547.

The following are EMT training and paramedic schools in Georgia that offer accredited EMT paramedic training programs:

Atlanta Technical College in Atlanta, Georgia offers an EMT paramedic program providing graduates with a Paramedic Technology diploma.

Central Georgia Technical College in Macon, Georgia offers an Associate degree program in paramedicine.

North Georgia Technical College in Clarkesville, Georgia has an EMT paramedic technology diploma that begins
in the fall and takes 5 quarters to complete

Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro, Georgia is a diploma paramedic program consisting of 79 credit hours.

Southwest Georgia Technical College in Thomasville, Georgia has a paramedic training program that is a 6 semester program beginning in the spring and continuing to certification as an EMT paramedic.

Savannah Technical College in Savannah, Georgia provides EMT training programs for both an EMT Paramedic Diploma level and Associate Degree level Paramedic.