How does one become an EMT (voluntary or otherwise)?

Question

I've tried searching online, but didn't come up with anything substantial. I did pre-med as an undergrad, including a few interships where I got to ride around on the ambulances. How does a person become an EMT? What kind of degree does it require? Besides pay, is there a difference between volunteer EMT and career EMT? Is there such thing as a part-time paid EMT?

Answer 1

This varies by state. Check with your local Fire Department or EMT/Paramedic service for specific answers. They can tell you what school in your area offers EMS Courses. They may even host courses in their station. Generally there are two to three levels of EMT and they work in cooperation with one another. EMT basic is typically one quarter or semester, EMT Intermediate another two quaters or semesters, and Paramedic which is typically a two year degree. There is one more unofficial ParaGods (or at least in their eyes)

WWW.NAEMT.ORG
WWW.NREMT.ORG

Answer 2

Ok first most Community Colleges offer EMT as well as nursing programs. I know where I live in S. CA we have lots of good schools for EMT and there usually is a waiting list to get in.

No you don't need a Bachelors degree or anything like that.
You need a high school diploma.
And I'm not sure but when my dad went to school to become a EMT I don't think it was even a AS degree at that time but I'm pretty sure it is now. The program thru the College will be a AS degree, which will take about 2 years to get. Same as becoming a RN. And if you can try and work for a Fire Department they make way more money then if you go to work thrue a private abulance company.

My mom is a ER RN nurse and my dad is a EMT so that's how I know.

Good Luck

Answer 3

If you live in a small town contact someone at your local Volunteer Fire Department. Most cities have 'paid' volunteers. You get paid for the calls you go on or a stipend per year. They can also give you information on where and how to take an EMT class. There are three levels of EMT: EMT B EMT A and EMT P (or Paramedic.) If you live in a bigger city try a local hospital or university both sometimes offer EMT and paramedic classes.

Answer 4

Go to like a vo-tech and take the EMT courses. The differences between volunteer and career EMT is, one is paid, the other isn't. EMT's are on a lower level than paramedics. EMT's are the ones that usually drive the ambulance, paramedics are more medically advanced.

Answer 5

Heh, EMT doesn't really take all that. My friend took two years in computers and then decided to take EMT at a Technical College for a semester. A few weeks of EMT meetings and now he's working all the time as an EMT.

Answer 6

it requires emt certification/licensure... search local state or community collages... i had to drive over 50 miles to mine.. i volunteer and i am paid.... with the volunteer, different places do different things.. but where i am, we have pagers and when they go off, we go.. we are not required to sit at a station, and most of us have a jump bag in our vehicle... right now i am part time and am wanting to go full time.... most people will start out as part time and have to wait for an opening in full time....

Answer 7

Nature of the Work
People’s lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics—EMTs with additional advanced training to perform more difficult prehospital medical procedures. Incidents as varied as automobile accidents, heart attacks, drownings, childbirth, and gunshot wounds all require immediate medical attention. EMTs and paramedics provide this vital attention as they care for and transport the sick or injured to a medical facility.

In an emergency, EMTs and paramedics typically are dispatched to the scene by a 911 operator, and often work with police and fire department personnel. (Police and detectives and firefighting occupations are discussed elsewhere in the Handbook.) Once they arrive, they determine the nature and extent of the patient’s condition while trying to ascertain whether the patient has preexisting medical problems. Following strict rules and guidelines, they give appropriate emergency care and, when necessary, transport the patient. Some paramedics are trained to treat patients with minor injuries on the scene of an accident or at their home without transporting them to a medical facility. Emergency treatment for more complicated problems is carried out under the direction of medical doctors by radio preceding or during transport.

EMTs and paramedics may use special equipment, such as backboards, to immobilize patients before placing them on stretchers and securing them in the ambulance for transport to a medical facility. Usually, one EMT or paramedic drives while the other monitors the patient’s vital signs and gives additional care as needed. Some EMTs work as part of the flight crew of helicopters that transport critically ill or injured patients to hospital trauma centers.

At the medical facility, EMTs and paramedics help transfer patients to the emergency department, report their observations and actions to emergency room staff, and may provide additional emergency treatment. After each run, EMTs and paramedics replace used supplies and check equipment. If a transported patient had a contagious disease, EMTs and paramedics decontaminate the interior of the ambulance and report cases to the proper authorities.

Beyond these general duties, the specific responsibilities of EMTs and paramedics depend on their level of qualification and training. To determine this, the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) registers emergency medical service (EMS) providers at four levels: First Responder, EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate, and EMT-Paramedic. Some States, however, do their own certification and use numeric ratings from 1 to 4 to distinguish levels of proficiency.

The lowest-level workers—First Responders—are trained to provide basic emergency medical care because they tend to be the first persons to arrive at the scene of an incident. Many firefighters, police officers, and other emergency workers have this level of training. The EMT-Basic, also known as EMT-1, represents the first component of the emergency medical technician system. An EMT-1 is trained to care for patients at the scene of an accident and while transporting patients by ambulance to the hospital under medical direction. The EMT-1 has the emergency skills to assess a patient’s condition and manage respiratory, cardiac, and trauma emergencies.

The EMT-Intermediate (EMT-2 and EMT-3) has more advanced training that allows the administration of intravenous fluids, the use of manual defibrillators to give lifesaving shocks to a stopped heart, and the application of advanced airway techniques and equipment to assist patients experiencing respiratory emergencies. EMT-Paramedics (EMT-4) provide the most extensive prehospital care. In addition to carrying out the procedures already described, paramedics may administer drugs orally and intravenously, interpret electrocardiograms (EKGs), perform endotracheal intubations, and use monitors and other complex equipment.

either way, you will need complex training and you can usually check with the town hall if they are hiring for EMT's or Paramedics.

Answer 8

http://www.allalliedhealthschools.com/featured/emergency-medical-technician/

http://www.ems.ucla.edu/EMT%20TRAINING.htm

http://www.ncems.org/Education/nc_educ.htm

Did you do a Google search for EMT training?

Answer 9

Check your local community college they have classes for it.

Answer 10

you go on computer and write voluntary