A paramedic is a profession within the health care field that is often misunderstood by the average person; thus I would like to give an overview on this topic. First be aware that an emergency medical technician (EMT) and paramedic are not limited to working as firefighters or ambulance first responders. An EMT or EMT Paramedic professional can be found in police work, hospitals, private businesses, security facilities such as jails and prisons, and public industries such as casinos or amusement parks.

Currently, in the U.S., there are about 201,000 paramedics employed in various levels of expertise. This certification requires attending paramedic school and becoming licensed. The most basic EMT training involves giving emergency care along with transporting the patient via ambulance to area hospitals. This would be the basic level called EMT-B (basic). Next, intermediate EMT training involves advanced knowledge than basic of managing respiratory, trauma and cardiac arrest. In addition, the intermediate is taught how to administer some medications. This level is often divided into two portions, EMT-I/85 (lower level intermediate) and EMT-I/99 (higher level intermediate). The third and highest advanced level of EMT paramedic school is simply called the EMT Paramedic level. This level of training involves anatomy, physiology and advance medical skills.

Keep in mind, all fifty states and the District of Columbia offer EMT Training Programs. This is also true for the UK and many other countries. Paramedic school programs can be found at many Community Colleges where the Associate’s Degree is offered. The EMT training school can offer its own certification exam or you can opt to take the corresponding State Exam. All EMT paramedics, once certified, are required to re-certify every two years.

An EMT must also receive state certification within the state or region they will be employed. States have their own specific certification requirements for each level of EMT training and paramedic training. The state agencies and EMS boards overseeing the emergency medical services within their state also require accreditation through their agencies for any EMT training programs or EMT paramedic training schools, in order for an individual to be licensed in that state.

If you are considering this very challenging yet rewarding career as a paramedic, let me emphasize that this is not an ordinary 8 to 5 job. Weekends, shift work, emergency calls just as you might be getting off a shift, the hours can be variable an unpredictable. In addition, dealing with life or death situations, suffering people, and high energy moments, ion a daily basis can take its toll. The EMT paramedic in this field can be exposed to diseases, illnesses, long hours, stressful response situations, and in addition, the heavy lifting, loud sirens and adverse weather also plays a part in the work conditions.

Hopefully this overview will help individuals understand just how advanced and important the EMT training can be if you are seriously interested in becoming a paramedic. The best quality to have for doing EMT Paramedic work is to have the desire to help people and save lives. This is an attribute that cannot be taught in paramedic school and no amount of EMT training can help you achieve it. Should you posses these valuable traits, and desire to help people, consider the elite profession of an EMT paramedic.