Why do you want to work in the er?

I want to work in the ER because it presents an opportunity for continuous learning, a fast-paced working environment, and a way to have a positive impact on people's lives. Working in the Emergency Room (ER) provides unique challenges and rewards that are different from other nursing disciplines. Due to its nature, the ER often sees a wide variety of cases, from minor injuries to life-threatening situations. This diversity of cases ensures that no two days are the same, providing a continuous opportunity for learning and growth.

How To Become An Emergency Room Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is an emergency room technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Jason Mott Ph.D.

These people are also known as an ER tech for short. As the title implies, emergency room technicians work alongside doctors and nurses in hospital emergency rooms. Though your task is basic, it is also critical as it involves tasks like setting all the tech up in the emergency room, drawing blood, etc. One primary role of an ER tech is to collect basic lab samples such as urine, stool, and blood. Not only are you to collect, but you are also to properly label and deliver it to the lab. With directions from the nurse manager, you are to administer splints and bandaging to care for wounds. Patient transportation and visitor coordination are also a part of your duty. Also, you are to prepare patients for procedures.

Technically, it's possible to be employed with only your high school diploma, but most employees prefer candidates that are certified nursing assistants or have undergone and completed an EMT program. To be a successful ER tech, you must be a good communicator, possess strong empathy, can work under pressure, and have a team spirit. Averagely, you should earn $33,355 in a year.

What general advice would you give to an emergency room technician?

Jason Mott Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Pre-licensure Program Director/Assistant Dean, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

I think the best advice for new graduates is to be flexible. Things are going to change daily. It is essential to be able to go with the flow. Also, take time for yourself. As the numbers of covid patients increase, staff members are at high risk of developing burnout. It is essential to take time for yourself to relax and get away from everything, even if for only a few minutes. That way, you can prevent becoming burned out.

ScoreEmergency Room TechnicianUS Average

Salary

2.8

Avg. Salary $35,967

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.81%

Asian 4.50%

Black or African American 6.53%

Hispanic or Latino 15.34%

Unknown 5.59%

White 67.23%

Gender

female 58.52%

male 41.48%

Age - 34

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 34

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an emergency room technician

Explore emergency room technician education requirements

Most common emergency room technician degrees

Bachelor's

37.2 %

Associate

27.7 %

Certificate

12.9 %

Start to develop specific emergency room technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	23.04%
EMT	9.50%
BLS	7.01%
Emergency Room	6.40%
CPR	5.90%

Complete relevant emergency room technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New emergency room technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an emergency room technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real emergency room technician resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming an licensed emergency room technician usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed emergency room technician in most of states. 35 states require emergency room 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

Gain additional emergency room technician certifications

Emergency room technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific emergency room technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for emergency room technicians include Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Medical Assistant.

More About Certifications

Research emergency room technician duties and responsibilities

Perform CPR and other emergency care as directed (O2therapy, EKG monitoring, use of other specialize medical equipment).
Ensure required brochures and pamphlets of HIPPA are available to patients in all clinics.
Transport patients from ER to various areas of the hospital such as radiology, oncology, or ICU.
Demonstrate compassion and sensitivity to patients and family.

Prepare your emergency room technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your emergency room technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an emergency room technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable emergency room technician resume templates

Build a professional emergency room 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 room technician resume.

Apply for emergency room technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an emergency room technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do emergency room technicians rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

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1 star

Emergency room technician reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022

Pros

I like the Patient care part of the job. Seeing the patients get better and go home

Cons

Nothing

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022