How to Become an Emergency Medical Technician

Anyone who has watched "ER" knows the critical role emergency medical technicians (EMTs) play in providing urgent medical attention to a wide variety of patients. If you want a career with the potential for an immediate impact on people's lives, this challenging work could be just right for you. Here's how to get there.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• First Aid Books
• Thermometers
• CPR Classes
• First Aid Classes
• Thermometers

1. Take as many high school courses as possible in biology, chemistry and health, along with driver's education.

2. Volunteer with your local ambulance/rescue squad. This can provide valuable real-world experience, and many volunteer units offer training in emergency medical procedures such as first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

3. Enroll in a basic EMT training program. These programs consist of 110 to 120 hours of classroom instruction and 10 hours of hospital internship, are offered by municipal police, fire and health departments, and are required by all 50 states in preparation for certification.

4. Pass the EMT-Basic written and practical exams given by your state - or the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians - to become a Registered EMT-Basic.

5. Complete an additional 35 to 55 hours in the classroom and more advanced fieldwork to prepare for examination and certification at the next level of Registered EMT-Intermediate.

6. Become a Registered EMT-Paramedic by completing a rigorous program of 750 to 2,000 hours of course work and internships, culminating in your state's or the National Registry EMT-Paramedic's exams.

7. Maintain your registration through periodic refresher courses and recertification, as required.

Tips & Warnings

• EMT work can be alternately stressful, dangerous and dull. Consider volunteering with a local ambulance unit to get an up-close and personal look at the job before committing to this unique career.

[britt]

on 5/11/2007 Im new to this website,
Is this information all 100% accurate?
Reason being for my curiosity is because Im doing a school project, and I chose to study being an EMT, because when im old enough that's what i plan on doing.
If there's anymore information about it, such as salaries, what it's like to be one,etc please message me at [e-mail]

Thank you if anybody can help.

on 6/30/2006 EMT work has its great moments, but if you work in a small town, expect more calls along the lines of older people with difficulty breathing (who also wet themselves). It's not all the glory they show on medical shows with gunshot wounds every other day. In 2 years of service, I've never seen a gunshot wound, except in pictures during training.

on 6/30/2006 I have been a Firefighter/EMT for 12 years. I would not trade my job for anything. I enjoy not having my boss breathe down my neck, the ability to work one day and have off two, and so many other pluses that I shouldn't keep going. This job is not for the queasy, faint, easily grossed out, weeping heart, or anything else you can imagine. This job is for the men and women that don't care about getting a huge thank you, don't mind getting cold, wet, hot, sweaty, or climb up/out/down/into/out of anything, who get their kicks sitting to the side while the patient and family do their own thing. No one, and I mean no one, should ever expect to get rich, have a normal life, or receive acknowledgment whatsoever for anything good you have done. Expect the world to come to an end if you do something wrong (because, chances are, someone's world is coming to an end).

So, with all of that said, why do I do my job? I don't need thank yous - I need to know I've done all I could. I don't mind getting out in the elements, because chances are, there's someone that needs help. I love the camaraderie that you get from working in the Fire Department - they're your family, too. Never, ever, wait to ask for help, for any reason. I enjoy learning new techniques, and knowing that not only am I bettering myself, I'm also making it better for the patient. I can do this job, because I love it!

on 11/22/2005 Being an EMT has it moments. There are hidden aspects to this job that some may not be aware of. There is a lot of training that takes place, even after you complete you initial training. This is not the normal 9-5 job. Depending on were you work, you may have to work many hours at a time. Most normal schedules are 24 hour shifts. Not every call you get will be the life and death emergency that you were trained for. In fact, life and death situations happen less often than you have been lead to believe on TV. You are likely to see those situations maybe once a month (depending were you work). As for being dull; there is a lot of down time were you really have nothing to do. You tend to see the same things day after day. If after you find out the facts of this type of job, and still want to do it, then good luck. Go talk with people that have been doing this job 10 years or more and find out how they fell about their job, then make your decision. Most people new to this type of job are still caught up in the possible glory of it all.

on 11/22/2005 Being an EMT is anything but "dull." Depending on the area you are in, you're likely to have exciting and memorable experiences nearly every day. Yes, it can be dangerous and stressful, but in the end it really is worth it.