EMT Training and Career Headquarters

Welcome to the EMT Training Headquarters! Our mission is to help you successfully prepare for a career as an EMT by providing you with information on EMT training, testing, interviews, and careers. Are you ready to make a difference in your world?

Will Paramedic and EMT Training Require a College Degree?

Are you interested in pursuing a career in a robust and recession-proof field? You may want to consider working to become an EMT or paramedic. It can be very satisfying to work as an EMS personnel. If you enjoy making a positive difference in the lives of others, enjoy tackling new challenges, look forward to working in a group setting and are physically fit, then you can really succeed as an EMS personnel. The fact that the aging baby boom generation will require tremendous medical attention over the coming years bodes well for the job security and job prospects for EMT personnel. One of the major elements of importance to aspiring EMTs and paramedics is the educational requirements of becoming a part of the EMS personnel. It is important to take a close look at what is required to enroll for a certified EMT training course.

A college degree is not required to work in EMS but a high school diploma or GED is necessary before beginning EMT training. It is absolutely important that you have solid reading, math and study skills in order to succeed as an EMT or paramedic. If you are currently a high school student or know someone in high school who is interested in pursuing a career as an EMS personnel, it is important to know that biology, chemistry, math, computer and technology courses should be focused on. After completing high school you can complete an EMT program, which typically lasts several months, at community colleges throughout the country. Upon completion of the EMT training program, you will be eligible to take a standardized State exam in order to earn licensure. Testing for State licensure does not require a college degree. You may want to consider pursuing a longer paramedic program, which will increase your earning potential. Testing for paramedic licensure also does not require a college degree.

Working as an EMT or paramedic can be an incredibly satisfying experience since you would be directly helping others in a variety of ways. As the baby boom generation continues to age and require extensive medical attention, the demand and job prospects for EMTs and paramedics will remain high. A college degree is not necessary to take required standardized state licensure exams to become an EMT or paramedic. It is necessary to earn a high school diploma or GED and complete post-high school training program in order to be eligible to take the licensure exams.

Clinical Rotations for the EMT

Are you interested in pursuing a career as an emergency medical technician (EMT)? An EMT is a vital part of emergency services, as lives depend on the rapid reaction and care provided by EMTs and paramedics. On your journey to becoming an EMT, you will have to successfully complete both classroom curriculum and clinical rotations during EMT training. If you are truly committed to pursuing a career as an EMT, it is important for you to understand what to expect during clinical rotations.

EMT TrainingThere are generally two types of clinical rotations that a student must complete, including the ambulance clinical rotation and Emergency Department clinical rotation. Ambulance clinical rotation provides the EMT student hands-on experience working as part of an ambulance crew. Under strict supervision, you will be able to apply your classroom education to real-life settings and scenarios. You will gain a greater understanding and appreciation for all the elements of working on an ambulance crew, including checking the ambulance during the beginning of your shift, providing patient care and handing the patient to the Emergency Department staff. The Emergency Department clinical rotation gives the EMT student the opportunity to witness how the ED operates and how a patient is assisted once the ambulance crew turns the patient over to the ED. As is the case with ambulance clinical rotations, ED clinical rotations will be done under strict supervision and will allow EMT students to apply classroom education to practical situations. Once clinical rotations are completed, your supervisor should complete a student evaluation form.

There are some important general rules that any EMT student should follow during clinical rotations. It is important that the EMT student is dressed properly and focused for the tasks to come. The EMT student should have identification ready to show at all times. It is also vital that the EMT student strictly follows all rules and regulations and has appropriate paperwork filled out after completion of rotations.

If you really want to pursue a career as an EMT, you must be prepared for both classroom learning and hands-on clinical rotations. The two types of clinical rotations that EMT students must typically complete include ambulance clinical rotations and Emergency Department clinical rotations. It is absolutely essential that you dress appropriately, have identification ready to present, follow all rules and regulations and have appropriate paperwork filled out at the end of your clinical rotation.

Enrolling In Online EMT Training

If you are interested in beginning the journey to becoming an emergency medical technician (EMT), you will be required to complete extensive coursework that will prepare you for the unique challenges you will encounter on the job. Do you lead an incredibly busy life? Do you have a family to support? Under these circumstances, you may be best served to complete online EMT training. This is a very convenient way to pursue a career as an EMT. In this article, we will briefly take a detailed look at benefits associated with enrolling in online training courses.

Online EMT TrainingThe biggest advantage of enrolling in online training programs is that it provides you with a greater degree of flexibility in comparison to attending traditional classroom courses. You have greater discretion in terms of creating your own study schedule. You can also study at your own pace as opposed to having to follow a classroom pace. If you are a fast learner, this can be very beneficial. Another significant benefit of enrolling in online EMT courses is that it cuts out lengthy travel time. If you are already working a job or completing an internship, this can be very beneficial to you. You can complete some coursework before your job or after depending on your preference. Additionally, online EMT courses tend to be cheaper than traditional classrooms, but you still obtain all the same benefits. It is commonly argued that only traditional classrooms offer real interaction among students and with instructors. However, online courses have come a long way in terms of the level of interaction provided. You can communicate with the entire class through your computer microphone and participate in message boards and live chats. If you enjoy a fast pace learning environment, online EMT courses can provide this. Answers are given immediately in real time and exams are scored faster.

If you are interested in pursuing a career as an EMT, you may want to look into enrolling in online courses. What do you gain from online EMT courses? You get greater flexibility, the opportunity to work at your own pace, the ability to save money while learning the same material as traditional classroom courses and a strong interactive experience.

Tips For New Students

Have you made the decision to pursue a career as an emergency medical technician (EMT)? The process involved in becoming an EMT is challenging and the work you will do as an EMT is even more grueling. However, working as an EMT is incredibly satisfying and rewarding. You will be called on to save and sustain lives. Before you have the opportunity to get the call, you must really prove yourself by successfully completing rigorous coursework. In order to be successful in EMT training, you should follow some important tips. Let’s take a close look at how you can thrive in training.

EMT TrainingMany EMT students start school after having had a long hiatus in terms of academic exposure. It may be several months or years since you have been in the classroom to learn. It is absolutely critical that you are ready to being a student again. This means that you will have to meet strict deadlines, arrive to class on time and study regularly. You cannot afford to start slow and sluggishly and risk being behind in your coursework. It is also an excellent idea for you to do some independent research before starting class. With so many resources available on the Internet, read up on the material you will likely be exposed to in the classroom. This will allow you to feel very comfortable with the topics when your instructor introduces them to you. It is important that you familiarize yourself with the course schedule, requirements and expectations. Finally, it is important that you stay engaged in the course. You can do this by striving to maintain perfect attendance, taking good notes and asking your instructor questions. All your hard work and engagement will ultimately pay off.

If you have decided to pursue a career as an EMT, you will be required to complete rigorous coursework. In order to succeed in school, it is important that you are mentally prepared for the time and work commitment. If you have not been in school for some time, it is important that you are ready to dive back in. You must also be familiar with the expectations of the course and maintain a high level of enthusiasm throughout.

EMT Training and Career Center Fact of the Week #1

Welcome to the EMT Training and Career Center Fact of the Week video series. This week, we discuss the three general levels of EMT training as well as the topics that are covered in each level of training.

Getting a Head Start with EMT Practice Exams

Attending an EMT training course will prepare you with the skills required for life in the field. You will learn the necessary emergency medical procedures and techniques to make you an effective responder when emergencies happen. However, at the culmination of your training, you will have one last hurdle to overcome before you are able to receive the certification you will need to be licensed to practice as an EMT in any state in the country: the certification exam.

As you may be aware, many states now use the standard EMT-Basic certification exam offered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, or NREMT. Some states allow the candidate to take either a state exam or the NREMT exam, and a small handful of states require candidates to sit for state-approved exams only, although this number seems to be diminishing.

EMT TrainingWith the NREMT exam quickly becoming the national standard for EMT certification, this makes preparing for the test much easier for EMT candidates. With many states moving toward this standardized exam, you may now begin to prepare for the test itself well-ahead of actually taking it. One of the best methods to prepare you for success on the NREMT is through the use of practice exams.

There are many practice exam modules available online to choose from which will allow you to walk through actual practice questions from the test right from your computer. One of our favorites is the EMT-Basic exam preparation system offered by our friends at EMT National Training. Their practice module has some very useful features which we haven’t found in other exam preparation software, most notably very detailed progress tracking and simple practice exam setup.

In addition to helping you successfully prepare for certification at the conclusion of your training, practice tests can be an excellent way for individuals get a sense of what topics will be introduced during training that should be focal points for exam study later on. We would recommend beginning to use an NREMT practice exam system at the beginning of your training course as it will allow you to see how the topics covered in your training will be introduced and presented in the exam itself.

With proper preparation, you can successfully pass the exam at the conclusion of your EMT training.

EMT Salary Trends and Statistics

If you’re interested in becoming an EMT and making the investment in the time required to successfully complete your EMT training, then it’s understandable that you might want to know know what you can expect in terms of the EMT salary. In this article, we’ll briefly explore a few trends and statistics with respect to the EMT salary and how the various levels of training can influence pay figures.

EMT-B Certification

Obviously, the entry-level training associated with the EMT-Basic certification will merit a lower salary than those jobs associated with higher levels of training. According to Payscale.com, the wage range for individuals holding EMT-Basic certification is $8.47 to $15.05 per hour. This translates into an annual EMT salary range of between $18,701 and $37,375. These numbers do factor in an average amount of overtime pay across the national data points that were taken.

EMT-I Certification

As we progress up the training scale to the certification level of EMT-Intermediate, the numbers to tend to show some positive progression. For individuals who have completed intermediate level training as an emergency medical technician, the hourly range grows to $9.73 to $19.46 per hour and an annual salary range of between $21,297 and $52,394.

Paramedic Certification

As you would expect, individuals who hold Paramedic certification are the highest paid responders in the emergency medical services field. The median hourly wage for a certified Paramedic is currently $23.77 per hour, although some positions do pay upwards of this number for those who have a strong history of practical field experience. This can lead to annual salary numbers well over the $50,000 per year mark and some Paramedics have reported annual salary data of close the the $80,000 mark. If you are hoping to maximize your salary as an emergency medical services professional, you should give serious though to working toward Paramedic certification. However, be advised that this is no easy task. Paramedic training is incredibly intensive and will require a candidate to hold advanced training and certification as well as a great deal of hands-on experience.

Where Is the EMT Salary the Highest?

The salary can vary greatly by geographical location and the highest salary numbers tend to come from major U.S. metropolitan areas. Currently, the highest salary figures can be found in New York and California, although other states high on the list include Texas, Illinois, and North Carolina.

In summary, the alary is never going to be high enough to reward emergency medical professionals for their service to their communities. If you are interested in undertaking training and beginning a career as an emergency medical technician, then you will be making sacrifices for the safety and well-being of the citizens in your area. The rewards of this exciting career can often outweigh the long hours and the meager pay.

Preparing for the NREMT Exam

After successfully completing your EMT training to become an emergency medical technician, you will need to sit for a certification exam. This exam is the final step in your EMT training to ensure your readiness to complete the duties required as an EMT. Since this exam is a critical step in the process of training, it is helpful to review some fundamental preparation techniques to help you achieve the best score possible for your test.

The EMT certification exam is a tool to evaluate your ability to process and retain the knowledge which you have gained through the course of your training. As such, you should try to progressively increase the amount of time that you study for the test as you progress through the training modules. Due to the fact that courses tend to very often be condensed into short time frames, it is best to begin getting into the habit of dedicating a few hours per week to studying very early on in your training program. There is no benefit to waiting until the end of the course to study as you will only increase the amount of stress and it’s much easier to comprehend and retain the material as it is presented.

Study When You Are Most Awake and Alert

EMT TrainingYou’ve probably heard this rule before during your school years, however, it holds true for your EMT certification exam as well. When you are awake and alert, your mind processes and retains information at a much higher rate. This will vary for each individual, but find the time of day that works for you and stick with it.

Find the Best Location to Study

Another key to knowledge retention when you are preparing for your training exam is finding the right location to study. Research has proven that the best environments for mental function for the majority of individuals will be both quiet and cool. Find a place that won’t include distractions or noise (perhaps a local library) and that also won’t be so hot that it induces fatigue or sleepiness.

Eat a Proper Diet

Although many of us like to load up on caffeine when we study, too much caffeine can cause a lack of focus. Additionally, avoid eating snacks which are high in sugar as they will leave you fatigued and less likely to be able to focus for long periods. Don’t study when you’re hungry and eat healthful foods such as fruits and vegetables and you’ll be much more likely to stay focused for a long period of time.

Break Up Your Study Schedule

In addition to making sure that you aren’t cramming when you study for your training exam, don’t try to study for hours upon end with no breaks. Research has indicated that the ideal block of time for knowledge retention is 45 minutes at a time. During your studies, try to prepare for 45 minutes at a time then take a break and perhaps go for a short walk or move around a bit.

By making an effort to properly and effectively study for your certification exam, you will ensure that you complete this last step in your EMT training successfully.

Welcome to the EMT Training and Career Headquarters!

Thank you for visiting the EMT Training and Career Headquarters. We have a simple mission: to provide you with the resources you need to best prepare for an exciting career as an emergency medical technician. We hope to offer you up to date and accurate information regarding EMT training courses, requirements for certification, and even job opportunities which may be available in your town or region.

A career as an EMT can truly be a very exciting and rewarding choice. While the profession does require an investment in your future by enrolling for the required EMT training for your state, opportunities for employment are steadily on the rise in many areas of the country. With work opportunities available through a variety of employers such as hospitals, private ambulatory services, and governmental agencies such as fire departments, locating a rewarding position in the emergency medical services field is possible no matter where you live.

EMT TrainingYou may have already spoken with an emergency medical technician or paramedic about their job and work experiences. One of the common themes that will come up over and over when you talk with individuals who has already been through EMT training and started out on their career path is that the job offers a challenging and dynamic working environment. EMTs and paramedics experience new situations each and every day on the job and as such, are continually adding to their foundation of knowledge and experience.

After completing EMT training and setting out to establish your own career, you will discover that employment opportunities in the field frequently offer flexible schedules, good benefits, and in some cases additional employment perks such as financial reimbursement for continuing on with your paramedic or advanced EMT training. All of these factors make employment as an emergency medical technician an incredibly attractive career opportunity if you are seeking stable employment within the healthcare industry. There is also room for advancement on most working environments which can lead to increased responsibilities and enhanced pay grades, meaning that you can develop a long-lasting and stimulating career in this field.

We hope that you’ll take some time to browse through all of the resources offered here at the EMT training and Career Headquarters and utilize them to prepare yourself for an exciting career as an emergency medical technician.

EMT Requirements by State

If you have spent any amount of time researching EMT training and certification, you’ve probably noticed that each state has its own certifying agency. While EMT training standards are set at a federal level by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, or NREMT, it is not required that a state adopt these standards. Currently 46 states utilize NREMT standards in at least one level of their EMT training, however, the state agencies are ultimately responsible for the administration of testing and certification within their own jurisdiction. As such, it can be very difficult to ascertain exactly what the standards are for EMT training in your state or community.

EMT TrainingHere at the EMT Training and Career Headquarters, we are hoping to provide you with a comprehensive resource for determining what you can expect at the state level in which you plan to begin your EMT training. While it will take some time for us to compile data for each specific state, our goal is to assimilate this information in a comprehensive manner that produces a resource that will allow you to properly prepare for training in your area. Presently, the landscape for individual state agencies is bewildering and, quite frankly, very confusing. Our goal is to change that. Over the coming months, we will be gathering state-specific data and compiling it into a database that will allow you to find specific information relating to your intended state of practice.

Within many states, there is little variation in standards. Some states even have reciprocity with other states. However, the fact is that if you plan to transfer from one state to another, you are likely to have to apply for their individual state entrance exam, even if you have already completed your EMT training. Your best option is to be fully informed of and prepared for state-specific requirements and our goals is to assist you in preparing yourself for these.

Our goal is simple: to help you prepare to be the best emergency medical technician that you can be. If you are interested in finding out more about specific requirements within your state, stay tuned. We hope that by compiling state-specific training information into one library, we can simplify and clarify the process.