How to Become an EMT
Do you need a college degree to be an EMT? Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) serve as the first point of contact when someone has experienced injury or trauma because of illness, age, or other event. At the front line of response, as an EMT you will work with other first responders, giving life-saving care and transporting patients to hospital.
As you will discover in this article, EMTs have a varied and rewording workload, with many responsibilities and a career path that can lead to many directions. What education and training are required to get started and progress as an EMT?
What Does an EMT Do?
No two days are ever quite the same for an EMT. Though it is possible (and often likely) that you will administer life-saving care, you’ll find that the patients you meet have many different health problems. This could include needing to administer medication, stabilizing injuries, helping people recover from shock, wrapping wounds, and providing CPR.
During what are often 12-hour shifts, how busy you are will depend on where you work. A busy city with fewer EMTs is likely to be busier than a rural setting. Most of the calls you attend will be ‘run-of-the-mill’ injuries and conditions. Despite what you see on television, traffic accidents, gunshot injuries, and building collapses are rare events. Most of your work will be far more routine.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that EMT job growth will be around 6% between 2019 and 2029, creating 17,0000 new jobs.
More EMTs and paramedics will be needed to respond to the care needs of an aging population. It is also expected that there will be greater growth in demand for EMTs in rural areas.
Career Paths for EMTs
As an EMT, you benefit from a wide range of job and career development opportunities. Often starting as an Emergency Medical Responder, the limit of your career is only limited by you. EMRs can provide basic life-saving care, but need training to move up to life as an EMT. Typically, as an EMT you will follow a course that takes you through increasing levels of responsibility and earnings:
- EMR
- EMT
- Advanced EMT (providing all that an EMT does, but with the medical knowledge to provide more advanced treatment to patients. Because of your knowledge, skills, and experience, you are more likely be requested to respond to more complex and life-threatening calls.)
- Paramedic
You are likely to need higher qualifications to become a paramedic. Once you have passed the necessary exams, your skills and knowledge will be crucial in the provision of critical care.
Life as an EMT may also prove to be a springboard in other related professions, such as firefighter, nursing, and as an Emergency Management Director.
EMT Education Needed
Okay, so the life of an EMT appeals to you. You want to help others, are more than happy to learn, and like the idea of varied, sometimes brow-beating days and nights while on call. What education do you need, and what EMT basic training will you receive?
The good news is that it is not mandatory to possess an associate or bachelor’s degree. Your real worth as an EMT is what you do and how you do it. However, to ensure that you are equipped for the role, you will be expected to possess a high school diploma or GED. In addition to this, you will need to:
· Earn CPR Certification
Though not all EMT training programs require CPR certification to be accepted onto the training, it is an entry requirement for many. For more information about this, contact your local American Red Cross or American Heart Association. Courses can be taken in-person or online.
· Pass an EMT Program
You must pass an EMT certification course to become qualified for the role of EMT. This program usually lasts between one and two years, and is usually provided by a community college, technical college, or university. You’ll learn how to assess and care for patients, as well as how to transport them.
· Pass the NREMT Exam
Once you have passed an accredited EMT program, you will also need to pass the National Registry Emergency Medical Technician cognitive exam (NREMT). This includes a cognitive test and a psychomotor portion. This ensures that you possess the knowledge you need in areas such as:
- Respiration and ventilation
- Cardiology and resuscitation
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Trauma
- EMS operations
- Performing emergency care
Other Training Options
You might also consider taking the Advanced EMT exam, which requires around 175 hours of fieldwork, and possibly internship in an emergency room. To become a paramedic, you may need to complete a two-year associate degree in emergency care training.
Key Skills for Success as an EMT
Qualifications are the evidence that you have the technical ability to be valuable in a role as an EMT. What really sets you apart and drives your career are the key skills that enable your technical ability to flourish. These include:
· Stamina
To be effective as an EMT, you must be fit because of the demanding work you do. You’ll spend a lot of time on your feet or kneeling, and will need to lift patients. You will need physical flexibility to provide care to patients in confined spaces. The work will put stress on the body.
· Problem Solving
You will provide emergency care for people in need. However, no two situations are the same. You’ll need to make quick decisions, often without much information.
· Communication
Sometimes as an EMT, you will deal with difficult situations and must be able to communicate well with your patients. Being able to speak effectively is essential for keeping the patient calm. You will need to be able to explain procedures, communicate with hospitals, and communicate with other EMTs, too.
· Patience
As an EMT, you will need to show plenty of patience. Some shifts may be extremely quiet. Other times, you may need to rush to a patient, but will then be required to wait. You will also be dealing with members of the public – and that can test the patience of a saint!
· Curiosity
To provide suitable care, you must learn all about the circumstances of the injury or illness before proceeding. You’ll need to be curious, ask relevant questions, and use the knowledge you learn to make care decisions. If the patient cannot communicate, you’ll need to be able to learn what you need from witnesses or from observing the scene.
This curiosity not only helps you deliver appropriate care, but also helps to prevent injury or harm to yourself.
· A Sense of Humor
A high-pressure job in which you could be the difference between life and death may not seem like the ideal role to practice your standup comedy – and, of course, it isn’t. But it is vital that you can maintain a sense of humor. Be serious when you must, and laugh when you can. Humor is the pressure valve that helps to relieve the stress of your job.
· Rationality and Logical Thinking
You will encounter situations where all around you are panicking. You’ll need to remain rational and think logically. Your calmness will help others to be calm.
How Long Does It Take to Become an EMT: Are You Ready to Take the EMT Oath?
To help guide their work, their actions, and their attitudes, EMTs swear an oath and work according to a code of conduct adopted by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAMET). The oath reads:
“Be it pledged as an Emergency Medical Technician, I will honor physical and judicial laws. I will follow that regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of patients and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, nor shall I suggest any such counsel. Into whatever homes I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of only the sick and injured, never revealing what I see or hear in the lives of men unless required by law.
“I shall also share my medical knowledge with those who may benefit from what I have learned. I will serve unselfishly and continuously in order to help make a better world for all mankind.
“While I continue to keep this oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life, and the practice of the art, respected by all men, in all times. Should I trespass or violate this oath, may the reverse be my lot.”
If you have what it takes to become an EMT, or are seeking to progress your EMT career, our clients want to hear from you. Our oath is to help our candidates find the perfect job for them as soon as possible. Often this is within days. Contact Loyal Source today to take your next step.