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.

You 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.

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.

Here 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.

With so many people changing careers these days, one of the topics that often comes up when discussing EMT training is the accelerated EMT course. When you’re interested in a career change, it’s sometimes necessary to make that transition as quickly as possible to reduce the amount of time before you begin earning a stable salary. One of the recent developments in the field of emergency medical services training is the advent of accelerated course work. In this article, we’re going to take a look at the various stages of accelerated training and what you might be able to expect from each of those stages of training.

Accelerated EMT-B Programs

Throughout the accelerated EMT-B program, students can expect to start with rapid instruction which introduces the essentials of health care treatment techniques and basic symptom recognition. All of this is introduced to prepare the EMT to develop an instinctual response when analyzing and treating a patient. This module of training serves to lay the foundation for quick identification and treatment of the patient and gives the individual the proper means for stabilizing patients. Even in accelerated programs, you can expect to receive in-depth training in airway management, oxygen and medication administration, trauma and emergency treatment, as well as basic life saving techniques such as defibrillation.

The accelerated EMT-B courses generally consist of 120 hours of training offered in three hour session over a two month duration. This can actually vary based on the state in which you are receiving your training.

Accelerated EMT-I Programs

The accelerated EMT-I course introduces more advanced trauma and emergency care methods and procedures. This module will prepare the candidate for the administration of advanced airway management techniques, additional equipment operation such as the manual defibrillator, and the administration of intravenous fluids. Essentially, the EMT-I will become better equipped to provide life sustaining support to trauma or emergency patients on the scene or in transport.

Accelerated Paramedic Training

While it is often a point of dispute as to whether paramedic training should be conducted in an accelerated format due to the complex nature of the material, you may find an accelerated paramedic course in your area.

The accelerated paramedic training module will prepare the EMT to provide care in the most demanding of health care, emergency, or trauma scenarios and will also coach the candidate on how to execute these techniques in various environments and transport situations.

The accelerated paramedic course will introduce the following techniques and procedures to candidates:

*Advanced CPR

*Blood loss management

*Advanced trauma assessment

*Splint placement

*Advanced bandaging, dressing, and tourniquet techniques

*Pharmacological training

*ECG and EKG instruction (electrocardiology)

*Intravenous (IV) cannulation

*Advanced defibrillation study

*Spinal immobilization

*Endotracheal intubation

The accelerated paramedic course work varies by state, but generally consists of an additional 140 hours of training.

While these types of accelerated courses are designed to be completed within a relatively short time frame, they do demand a very high level of practical and theoretical training. These courses teach essential life saving techniques which are to be thoroughly integrated into the candidates skill set. However, if you are seeking to make your career change within a relatively short amount of time, you may want to evaluate accelerated EMT training courses in your area.

If you decide that you do want to undergo EMT training and begin your career in emergency medicine, you will most likely be introduced to the profession as an EMT-Basic. The EMT-Basic, or EMT-B, is the entry level position for pre-hospital emergency medical care and requires EMT training specifically designed for this position.

Prerequisites to Apply for Certification as an EMT-B

*High school diploma

*Applicant must be 18 year of age

*Valid CPR credentials

*Completion of a state-approved EMT-B training course within the past 2 years

*Completion of state-approved EMT-B psychomotor exam

The EMT-B Course

While training courses for the EMT-B are regulated at both state and federal levels, the curriculums for the courses are standardized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. EMT-B training courses are offered in most major cities and towns across the country through private agencies and local colleges.

During the training for the EMT-B, you can generally expect the modules to be broken down into areas of study as follows:

Basic preparation: These modules will include general information to educate the student on anatomy and physiology, ethical and legal issues surrounding patient care, and self-care in the field.

Introductory Operations: Instruction on the ambulance operations, patient transfer, hazardous materials training, rescues, and often helicopter transport.

Patient Assessment: This portion of the course is designed to provide fundamental techniques relating to patient assessment, vital signs analysis, patient communication, and treatment documentation.

Airway Management: Designed to instruct the student in the basic anatomy of the human oxygen passageways and best practice techniques for managing patient airway obstructions and constrictions.

Dealing with Medical Emergencies: This segment of the courses prepare the EMT-B to deal with specific methods for handling many types of medical emergencies such as respiratory problems, allergic reactions, and cardiac arrest.

Trauma Management: The trauma management modules are designed to prepare the student for treatment of trauma situations such as blood loss, neck and spinal injuries, as well as any other form of soft tissue or musculoskeletal trauma.

In addition to the state-approved course, the EMT-B candidate will be expected to pass the state’s cognitive examination and psychomotor assessment. We will go into more details on these exams in a future article, however, successful completion of these tests will be required prior to applying for certification. We will also explore the continuing education component required of the EMT-Basic in a future post.

Hopefully this introduction to the structure of the EMT-Basic course provides you with a sense of excitement. Beginning your training to lead you toward a career in emergency medicine is a thrilling time.

Emergency medical technicians are always in demand and if it’s a field that interests you, then you should consider getting started in EMT training. This is one field that shows no signs of shrinking anytime soon. If you have always dreamed of being an EMT, don’t hesitate to get started. Not only will you be helping others, you will be in a career that is valued by all.

In order to get started with your formal training, you will need to have a minimum of a high school diploma. There are three types of training offered: EMT-basic, EMT Intermediate and Paramedic. EMT-basic training involves learning emergency skills such as patient assessment and cardiac emergencies. Your training will most likely be combined with emergency department or ambulance work. Not only will you be trained to deal with cardiac situations, but also airway obstruction and emergency childbirth. Maintaining common equipment used in emergencies will be covered along with how to use this equipment. In order to pass the course, you must pass both written and practical exams administered by your state.

Those who want more advanced training choose EMT-intermediate level training. The training you receive will depend in large part on which state you live in. In most states, you will be required to have a minimum of 30 to 350 training hours depending on what you will be doing. With this training you will learn how to administer certain medications and intravenous fluids among other things.

Paramedic is the highest level of EMS training. Here you will take classes in advanced medical skills as well as physiology and anatomy. Classes often take places in technical schools or community colleges and many award an associate degree on completion of training. Some require that you complete the NREMT exam before the degree is awarded.

Upon completion of EMT Training, you will have a variety of job opportunities. This will range from hospitals and private ambulance services to local, state and federal governments. The pay for an EMT or paramedic depends a great deal on where one lives as well as training and experience. Median wages in May 2008 were $14.10. The lowest paid made approximately $9.08 while the highest 10% made more than $23.77 an hour. It’s a great career if you are interested and your job prospects will be very good.