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.

Are you an EMT looking to transition to a career as a paramedic and want to know exactly how to become a paramedic? You can certainly expect to earn a higher salary as a paramedic. According to Salary.com, the median salary for paramedics is roughly $38,000 compared to about $29,000 for an EMT. Making the transition from EMT to paramedic can have significant long-term career advantages as well. An EMT with five years experience can expect to make around $39,000 while a paramedic with five years experience can expect to make roughly $50,000. If this higher salary potential interests you, let’s take a look at how you can make the transition from EMT to paramedic.

If you have completed the EMT-II or EMT-III program and want to advance your career by discovering how to become a paramedic, you can complete an EMT to paramedic bridge course. This bridge course will expose you to such advanced fields as medical emergencies, trauma, cardiology and respiratory care. There are usually requirements as far as how many classroom hours must be completed in order to successfully pass such a bridge course. You can also expect to complete a significant amount of lab work and clinical rotations in an EMT to paramedic bridge course. If you have a busy schedule and must continue working as an EMT while making the transition, you may choose to complete an online EMT to paramedic bridge course. The advantage of such online courses is that you have greater latitude in designing your own schedule. Online courses will be centered on PowerPoint presentations, videos and online lectures that can be recorded for later viewing. Once you successfully complete an EMT to paramedic bridge course, you may take the NREMT Paramedic certification exam. You must meet the standards in such areas as patient-assessment trauma, ventilatory management, cardiac management skills, and IV and medication skills.

If you are interested in advancing your career from EMT to learning how to become a paramedic, you may want to research in EMT to paramedic bridge courses that are available. You must be prepared to devote significant time to both classroom and lab work. If you do happen to have a very busy and loaded schedule, you may want to consider completing the classroom portion online. Transitioning from an EMT to paramedic can really be worth it in terms of the salary you can command.

If you’re interested in beginning your EMS career, you may be wondering what the differences actually are between EMT training and paramedic training. We often hear these two terms used interchangeably in news reports on the television and radio, but these two professions require very different levels of training and their on the job responsibilities are quite different as well.

Essentially, paramedics are EMT’s. To become certified as a paramedic, an individual must have completed basic training as an EMS professional, commonly referred to as EMT-B. However, in order to move up the ladder and become a paramedic, a candidate must undergo additional paramedic training.

The first major difference is the number of hours required for certification at the paramedic level. While training for the EMT-B will consist of approximately 120 to 150 hours of instruction, paramedic training can consist of anywhere from 1,200 to 1,500 hours of training over the course of a couple of years.

The reason for this additional training is that the scope of practice for the paramedic involves many additional duties which may not be fulfilled by the EMT-Basic. Depending upon the state of practice, a paramedic may be trained in the administration of anywhere from 30 to 40 separate medications. This is an area of instruction not covered in training at the basic level. Additionally, paramedics are able to conduct skin punctures for the administration of medications as well as intravenous fluids.

The level of trauma and emergency care is advanced in paramedic training as well. While basic training will provide instruction in many areas of trauma and emergency management such as musculoskeletal injuries, airway obstructions, and allergic reactions, paramedics receive advanced training in these areas.

Many professionals in the emergency care field consider it best to undergo basic training and then acquire a year or two of field experience prior to moving toward certification as a paramedic. The logic behind this is that you will be much better prepared for paramedic training and much more receptive to the subject matter introduced in the program if you have a fundamental understanding of the practices in the field. Obviously, emergency medicine is a highly variable working environment and there are certain situations which can be encountered on the job that cannot be adequately conveyed with course work alone.

If you happen to be interested in paramedic training, hopefully this article has illustrated some of the factors which are necessary to successful certification in the field. Consider beginning your basic EMT training immediately if you’re interested in a long-term career as a paramedic and going on to enroll in paramedic training.