How to Become a Paramedic in Louisiana
A person experiencing a medical emergency usually encounters paramedics and EMTs, who provide immediate, temporary care and treatment while transporting the person to a hospital. While EMTs can provide basic care during transportation, paramedics have more training which allows them to perform advanced procedures. With the job opportunities for paramedics and EMTs to increase 19 percent between 2006 and 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics now is the perfect time to learn how to become a paramedic if you live in Louisiana.
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Instructions
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Complete an educational program. A number of different colleges and universities offer paramedic programs, including Louisiana State University and South Louisiana Community College. While becoming an EMT at the basic level simply requires completion of a 10 credit-hour course, paramedic programs take approximately two years to complete and culminate with an associate's degree.
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Apply for national certification. Louisiana requires applicants for a paramedic license in its state to have certification from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. To be certified as a paramedic, applicants must complete a certification application, prove completion of an educational program and pay a $110 certification fee.
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Pass certification exam. Once the NREMT certification application has been approved, applicants receive an authorization to test (ATT) letter, which allows them to take the certification exam. The ATT letter provides instructions and a password they can use to register to take the test with Pearson Vue, which provides testing in cities across the United States.
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Apply for a license with Louisiana. After being certified as a paramedic by the NREMT, applicants can apply for a paramedic license with the state of Louisiana. This requires completing application, paying a $50 licensing fee and submitting a copy of your driver's license and a copy of your NREMT certification card to the Louisiana Emergency Medical Services, which is a division of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.
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