How To Become An EMT

If you are hoping to start a career in the fast-pace and high-pressure world of emergency services, take note of the following steps on how to become an EMT. 

As you may already be aware, an EMT or Emergency Medical Technician is the first person to provide medical care to a patient in the midst of an accident, heart attack, childbirth and severe wounds or injury. Emergency care is a gigantic responsibility – crucial to the survival of the patient. As such, how to become an EMT involves adequate training and being awarded several licenses to practice.

A formal EMT training program is the first step on how to become an EMT.  To attend this, you have to at least have a high school diploma or an equivalent. You will start off at an EMT-Basic Course and gradually move on to EMT-Intermediate, and the highest level, EMT-Paramedic. 

At school, you will be taught patient assessment and medical responses for trauma, cardiac and respiratory emergencies in progressing difficulty.  Your skills in operating emergency equipment such as splints, suction devices, oxygen delivery systems, backboards and stretchers will likewise be honed. Guided practices are done a lot in an EMT program to prepare novices for intense real-life crises. 

These training programs run for one to two years and will prepare aspirants for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) or State examination.  States have different requirements but the majority requires the nod of the NREMT.

Another required certification is the CPR certification for health care providers. In case training on CPR is insufficient the in the EMT program you attended, you may take additional courses at Red Cross or American Heart Association offer affordable CPR classes.  This test is a must before taking the NREMT licensure exam so getting CPR certified is one of the first things to do.

Finally, you will be made to take a state-approved EMT-Basic psychomotor exam. This is how to become an EMT. Once you’ve finally begun a career as an EMT-Basic, you’re next step should be to move up the ladder which basically means acquiring more advanced skills for trauma, Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Pediatric Life Support. Paramedics, the most advance of EMTs, are expected to have a great proficiency and experience in these areas of emergency care.  The process of getting to this level is pretty much the same – good training, plenty of experience and a series of high level certifications and a NREMT–issued license.