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This question is about what an emergency medical technician does.
What degree do you need to be an EMT?
You need a certification from a postsecondary emergency medical technology program to be an EMT. The program typically takes two to three years to complete, depending on your career goals and educational path. EMT training focuses on life support techniques for first-response situations.
EMTs must obtain CPR certification as well as their postsecondary emergency medical technology program. These programs can be done through universities, vocational schools, or community colleges. Aspiring EMTs will learn how to assess, care for, and transport patients.
After you have completed the program, you will have to become certified in the state you wish to work in. The requirements will vary by state, but, in general, you will have to pass the state-specific certification exam. Some states will accept the National Registered Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) exam.
To sit for the NREMT exam, you must have completed the state-approved training course within the last two years. The NREMT has both a cognitive test and a psychomotor test. You will have six attempts to pass the cognitive exam, and you can reapply to take the cognitive exam 15 days after receiving your results.
You will take the psychomotor exam through a state emergency services office or an approved training site. Some EMTs complete additional training. These advanced courses do not qualify EMTs to become paramedics; they will, however, prepare EMTs for the Advanced EMT exam from the NREMT.
Advanced training courses require about 150 to 200 hours of fieldwork. Many courses require internship rotations in an emergency room and an emergency services agency.
While not required, some EMTs choose to pursue an associate's degree in emergency care training. These programs typically cover physiology, advanced life-support techniques, and anatomy. These programs are typically more suited for paramedics but can be suited for someone pursuing an EMT position.
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