How To Become an Emergency Medical Technician
Summary. We reviewed real candidate profiles to learn the best path to become an emergency medical technician. We'll guide you through the education, experiences, and skills hiring managers look for in an emergency medical technician.
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The Emergency Medical Technician license requirements vary by state. 35 states require barbers to have licensure for their work.
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Common job titles before becoming an emergency medical technician include cashier, certified nursing assistant, and volunteer.
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Hiring managers expect an emergency medical technician to have soft skills such as compassion, physical strength, and problem-solving skills.
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Once you have all the required skills and experience, it takes an average of less than 1 month of job training to become an emergency medical technician.
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Getting a certification as a Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) will help you to earn more as an emergency medical technician.
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To become an emergency medical technician, you typically do not need formal education.
Before becoming an emergency medical technician, 35.5% earned their bachelor's degree. When it comes down to graduating with a master's degree, 3.6% emergency medical technicians went for the extra education. If you're wanting to pursue this career, it may be possible to be successful with a high school degree. In fact, some emergency medical technicians have a college degree. But about one out of every four emergency medical technicians didn't attend college at all.
The emergency medical technicians who went onto college to earn a more in-depth education generally studied medical technician and fire science and protection, while a small population of emergency medical technicians studied nursing and business.
How to become an Emergency Medical Technician in 7 steps:
- Step 1: Explore emergency medical technician education
- Step 2: Develop emergency medical technician skills
- Step 3: Complete relevent training/internship
- Step 4: Obtain the necessary licensing
- Step 5: Get emergency medical technician certifications
- Step 6: Research emergency medical technician duties
- Step 7: Prepare your resume
Key Steps To Become an Emergency Medical Technician
Explore Emergency Medical Technician Education
If you're interested in becoming an emergency medical technician, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 35.5% of emergency medical technicians have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 3.6% of emergency medical technicians have master's degrees. Even though some emergency medical technicians have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Develop Emergency Medical Technician Skills
It'll be a good idea to develop emergency medical technician skills before applying for a job. Here are some skills commonly requested in emergency medical technician job descriptions:
Skills Percentages Patients 19.25% CPR 11.08% EMS 6.60% Customer Service 5.71% Life Support 5.03% Complete Relevent Training/Internship
Emergency medical technicians spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. During this time, new emergency medical technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. The chart below shows how much time it takes to gain competency as an emergency medical technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real emergency medical technician resumes.
Average Amount Of Time At Training
Obtain The Necessary Licensing
Becoming an licensed emergency medical technician usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed emergency medical technician in most of states. 35 states require emergency medical technicians to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
State Education Exam License Url Kentucky Specific course required Third-party exam required Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Maryland Degree required Third-party exam required EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (PARAMEDIC) AND CARDIAC RESCUE Alabama - - Registered Intermediate Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Alaska Specific course required State exam required Emergency Medical Technician Arkansas Specific course required Third-party exam required Emergency Medical Technician Get Emergency Medical Technician Certifications
Certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for this position. They can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a certification, having one may help you stand out in an application. Plus, the process of getting a certification can teach you new skills that you can bring to your work. We determined the most common certifications for emergency medical technicians. The most common certification is Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), but Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) is also frequently seen in emergency medical technicians resumes.
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
- Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS)
- Equipment Management Specialist (EMS)
- Emergency Medical Services
- Medical Assistant
- Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
- Certification in Emergency Medical Services
Research Emergency Medical Technician Duties
When you decide to become an emergency medical technician, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most emergency medical technician jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role:
- Provide medical emergency response, non-emergency transport services, event medical services, manage transportation services and paramedic and EMT training.
- Demonstrate manual dexterity, with ability to perform all tasks relate to quality patient care.
- Coordinate emergency transport of patients while providing treatment and triage in a variety of emergency situations.
- File reports for patients, restock ambulance and supplies at base, have ACLS training, injection.
- Handled/administered all types of ACLS medications to pediatric, adult and geriatric patients on a daily basis.
- Assist nurse/physician with procedure such as suturing, lumbar puncture, catherization, casting/reduction, and application of restraints.
Prepare Your Resume
Finally, when you already have checked the skills and responsibilities for this role, you can start creating your resume. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Emergency Medical Technician Resume templates
Build a professional Emergency Medical Technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Emergency Medical Technician resume.Apply For an Emergency Medical Technician Job
Emergency Medical Technician Jobs
Becoming an Emergency Medical Technician FAQs
Can You Become An Emt With A Dui?
Whether you can become an EMT with a DUI depends on the state you are in and the laws regarding EMTs and DUIs. In some states, a DUI can disqualify you from becoming an EMT, while in others, it may not be an issue. It is best to check with the licensing board in your state to understand the exact laws and regulations.
Can You Become An Emt With A Felony?
You may be able to become an EMT with a felony, but it does create hurdles that can be difficult to cross. Often, you may have to complete additional paperwork, an interview, or even more.
How Hard Is It To Become An Emt?
It is not too hard to become an EMT if you are willing to put in the work and can handle the difficult emotional toil of being an EMT. Typically, EMT training takes, on average, three to eleven weeks to complete. The program includes 120 hours of training, including classroom instruction and hands-on experience.
What Is The Career Path For An Emt?
The career path for an EMT involves jobs as a paramedic, registered nurse, and medical assistant. There are many different career paths an EMT can pursue, though some require more education and medical experience than others.