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Best emergency responder certifications

The best certifications for an emergency responder are Emergency Medical Responder, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

Emergency responder certifications demonstrate your competency as an emergency responder to employers. However, not all emergency responder certifications provide the same value.

Below is a list of the best emergency responder certifications. Obtaining an emergency responder certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

6 best certifications for emergency responders

6 best emergency responder certifications

1. Emergency Medical Responder

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
Certifying website
Emergency Medical Responder
Certifying organization
National Registry of Emergency...

2. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
Certifying organization
National Registry of Emergency...

3. Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)

Train to be a certified nurse assistant working with other health care professionals to provide quality care for elderly or sick individuals in nursing homes and hospitals and at home.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying website
Certified Nurse Assistant

4. Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS)

Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS) uses a scenario-based approach to develop the critical thinking and problem solving skills that drive better patient outcomes. Consistent with AHA Guidelines for CPR/ECC. Covers breathing and cardiac emergencies - including CPR, AED, and obstructed airway - for adult, child, and infant patients. Free, two-year digital "Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers" certificate upon course completion..

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying website
Basic Life Support for...

5. Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)

A Certified Emergency Manager® (CEM®) has the knowledge, skills and ability to effectively manage a comprehensive emergency management program. A CEM® has a working knowledge of all the basic tenets of emergency management, including mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. A CEM® has experience and knowledge of interagency and community-wide participation in planning, coordination and management functions designed to improve emergency management capabilities. A CEM® can effectively accomplish the goals and objectives of any emergency management program in all environments with little or no additional training orientation.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)

6. First Responder

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
Certifying website
First Responder
Certifying organization
National Safety Council

What is the best certification for an emergency responder?

The best emergency responder certification is Emergency Medical Responder. The Emergency Medical Responder is awarded by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. This certification is great to have as it shows an improvement in your competency to perform your role. You can earn this certification at the beginning of your career, as it often doesn't require a minimum education level and work experience.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this emergency responder certification:

  • To become a certified Emergency Medical Responder, you need to pass the exam.
  • Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every 2 year.

What are some of the most in-demand certifications for emergency responders?

The most in-demand emergency responder certification is Emergency Medical Responder based on all active job postings. Having this emergency responder certification will give you access to more emergency responder jobs with higher salaries.

Best certifications

The most common combination of emergency responder certifications include: Emergency Medical Responder, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

Online courses for emergency responders to earn certifications

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10. Health in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies

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The Center for Humanitarian Emergencies is a partnership between CDC's Emergency Response and Recovery Branch and the Rollins School of Public Health that drives global collaboration, research and evidence based training to improve the lives and well-being of populations impacted by humanitarian emergencies. - Center for Humanitarian Emergencies: http://www.che.emory.edu/ - CDC's Emergency Response and Recovery Branch: http://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/healthprotection/errb/index.html This course...

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