How to Become an Ambulance Technician

An ambulance technician (also known as an Emergency Medical Technician or EMT) is a rewarding career. Becoming an ambulance technician takes schooling and dedication, but it is within your grasp. Here you will find how to become an ambulance technician.

Instructions

1. Decide what kind of ambulance technician you want to become. An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) takes a few months of schooling. A paramedic (EMT-P) can take more than a year of education. In fact, it can sometimes take up to two years.

2. Develop and strengthen your people skills. Make sure you are not afraid of blood or other bodily fluids.

3. Get informed on what it takes to perform the job you desire. Taking vital signs, giving oxygen, and performing a few other simple life-saving tasks is the job of an ambulance technician or EMT-B. A paramedic can perform invasive procedures, start IV's, give medications, and read heart rhythms.

4. Find an EMT class in your area. Whether you want to stick with being a basic ambulance technician, or move on to paramedic school, you will still have to start out as an EMT-B. Local hospitals, community colleges and fire departments are good places to find EMT classes.

5. Apply at the organization or company where you wish to work. After graduating from EMT class and passing your state's licensing exam, you are eligible to work on a private ambulance service, a hospital-based service, or even some fire department ambulances (depending on where you live). You may have to apply to be a firefighter in order to work on a fire department ambulance.

6. Make sure you keep your driving record clean. You also need to be sure to avoid a criminal record. Most ambulance companies and fire departments check your background.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember there is a difference between a basic EMT and a paramedic. EMT's can only perform simple life-saving skills. Paramedics are highly-trained professionals with skills similar to emergency room nurses.

• Getting a job as an ambulance technician with a bad driving record or a criminal record is nearly impossble.

• Fear of blood, vomit, urine and feces is not a good trait for an ambulance technician, EMT or paramedic to have.