An EMT certification program is required to work as an emergency medical technician (EMT). Extensive coursework, practical, hands-on training, and standard examinations are all part of the program. The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) administers EMT certification in the United States, though some states have additional certification requirements.
Many universities, technical schools, hospitals, and community colleges offer EMT training programs. There are also a number of fully accredited online EMT certification programs available, allowing working men and women to complete coursework in their spare time. Online or by contacting a state’s Emergency Medical Services Office, you can learn about local and Internet-based training programs.
EMT certification comes in three levels: EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate, and EMT-Paramedic. To become certified at each level, you must complete a longer and more difficult training program. A candidate must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED in order to enroll in any training program.
EMT-Basic certification requires approximately 100 hours of classroom work, as well as several hours riding in an ambulance or observing in an emergency room. EMT-Basic students learn how to assess patients, control blood loss, and use emergency equipment as well as other emergency procedures. To obtain certification, trainees must pass both a written and a practical exam offered by the NREMT after completing coursework and practical training.
At the EMT-Intermediate level, students must complete at least 200 hours of training, which includes both classroom and hands-on experience. Intermediate EMT students learn how to give intravenous fluids to patients and administer emergency medication. After completing the training course, passing the NREMT exams is required for certification.
An EMT-Paramedic must earn a two-year associate’s degree and work in emergency rooms and ambulances for hundreds of hours. Trainees take both specialized emergency procedure classes and general anatomy, physiology, and biology classes. Paramedics must pass the NREMT written and practical exams after graduation. To obtain EMT certification at any level in some states, the standard NREMT exams must be supplemented with additional state-administered tests and training.
A valid EMT certification is good for two years. To keep his or her certified EMT status, an EMT at any level must take a state-sponsored refresher course every two years. This continuing education course ensures that an EMT is mentally and physically capable of providing the best emergency care possible.