EMT Certification

If you are patient, enjoy helping others with emergency medical conditions and work well under pressure and high stress, you might enjoy the fast-paced work of an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for an undergraduate career. EMTs perform emergency care to patients in life-threatening situations. Becoming an EMT requires completion of an EMT program, as well as EMT certification. This can take up to several years, depending on the type of program you choose. However, there are some accelerated programs at the basic level that require intensive training for two weeks. For the vast majority of positions, only certification is required, not an undergraduate degree.

There are several levels of EMT certification. Certification as an EMT I-Basic attests that students know how to administer oxygen and medication, assess trauma and perform exams. The intermediate levels of EMT certification, EMT-II and III, involve additional responsibilities, including training to administer an I.V., using advanced airway techniques and employing a defibrillator to restart a stopped heart. The most advanced level of EMT certification, EMT-paramedic, often requires two years of rigorous coursework and hands-on training in an associate’s degree program.

EMT certification must be obtained from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). This is required by EMTs practicing in all states. They are certified based on their education level. EMT-I Basic programs require 110-120 hours of education. Those at the EMT-II and III levels receive 200-400 hours of training. Those at the paramedic level receive in excess of 1,000 hours of training. This training includes CPR, human anatomy and administration of first aid. Students learn to control bleeding and to treat heart attacks, drug overdoses, burns and poisoning. EMT certification requires that students learn about different types of medical equipment, such as stethoscopes, nasal devices and oxygen equipment. The EMT program may include hands-on training in an ambulance, performing basic procedures for patients. EMT certification must be renewed every two years.