What Training Is Required to Become an EMT?
An EMT, or Emergency Medical Technician, does not require the same training as a physician or nurse but needs to complete coursework, hands-on training, and certification procedures before being allowed to work with patients in need of urgent care. Despite these demands, the average salary for an EMT is only around $27,000.
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Formal Training Required
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To enter any type of EMT training program, you first need to earn a high school diploma or GED. EMT programs are divided into three different levels: Basic, Intermediate, and Paramedic. The coursework becomes harder at each level. As you advance, you will also have more hands-on training and less classroom work. For example, at the Intermediate level you may need to accumulate up to 350 hours of training.
Certification & Licensing
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EMTs in all 50 states are required to be licensed by the state to provide emergency medical care. The requirements for obtaining this license vary from state to state. Most of the states will require that you pass an examination after completing each level of coursework. The exam normally includes a written test, plus skills testing. For example, at the basic level, you may need to demonstrate your ability to properly check someone's blood pressure.
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Advancement
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As an EMT, you will be required to continue your education in order to meet your certification requirements every two years. The good part about this requirement is that you will be able to advance more easily in your career. After completing the third level of coursework, you can become a paramedic. Other EMTs continue their education and become registered nurses or physicians. Some EMTs use their combined education and experience to move into administrative positions with emergency medicine, such as becoming dispatchers or instructors.
Work Environments
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One common misconception about EMTs is that they all work for hospitals in their emergency medical departments. While a large number do, this is not the only employment possibility available. Government agencies, such as the police and fire departments, also hire EMTs because medical services are sometimes needed in their work as well. Typically, these agencies pay higher salaries and offer better perks, including pensions, than do hospitals and private ambulance services. As a result, competition for these jobs is tougher.
Risks Associated with EMT Work
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According to the Bureau for Labor Statistics, working as an EMT can pose many challenges. The risk of being exposed to contagious diseases, including hepatitis B, is higher than for other professions. Physical injury to one's self can occur because of the demands of kneeling, leaning over, squatting, and lifting patients. Some patients may be mentally unsound and could be dangerous. Additionally, the work can be emotionally draining. Combined with the irregular hours and long work weeks (the average is about 50 hours per week), being an EMT can be difficult.
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