How To Become An EMT

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) provide assistance to ill and injured patients outside of standard medical facilities and hospitals.  In general, EMTs assess a patient's health and perform appropriate medical procedures such as: CPR, bleeding control, shock management, ventilation, and immobilization.  Another primary responsibility of an EMT is the transportation of a patient to a medical facility.

Approximately 220,000 people are employed as EMTs in the U.S. alone.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics projects that EMT employment should grow as fast as the average for all occupations over the next 10 years.  EMTs are typically employed by ambulance services, hospitals and local governments.  EMT salaries range from $20,000 to over $50,000 annually depending on location and experience.

EMT Salaries

There are many factors that play a role in determining EMT salaries. Factors such as training, education and work setting have some impact on salaries for EMTs.  The primary factors that determine EMT salaries, however, are location and experience/certification level.  Since the demand for EMTs and Paramedic vary by state, city and county, the salaries will also vary by location.  Obviously, the cost of living in a local market has a strong effect on salaries as well.  EMTs, however, can improve their salaries by gaining more experience and attaining more certifications, such as EMT-Paramedic.

Free EMT Practice Tests

Prepare for your upcoming EMT exam with our free EMT practice tests.  The sample questions in our EMT practice exams simulate the actual questions you will see on your exam.  Our sample exams require no registration, and include scoring and answer explanations.  EMT practice tests are an effective way to study for your NREMT exams.  Our free EMT practice sample tests provide you with an opportunity to assess how well you are prepared for the actual EMT test, and then concentrate on the areas you need to work on.

EMT-Intermediate/99 Test

EMT-Intermediate/99 Requirements

The EMT-Intermediate/99 certification is based on the 1999 EMT Intermediate National Standard Curriculum from the NHTSA. In the new 2014 license classifications, the EMT-Intermediate/99 certification will be come part of the EMT-Paramedic certification. Potential EMT candidates applying for an EMT-Intermediate/99 certification must meet certain requirements.  EMT-Intermediate/99 candidates must be 18 years or older.  EMT-Intermediate/99 candidates must also have an EMT-Basic certification at the national or state level.  Candidates must also have completed a state-approved EMT-Intermediate/99 course.  The state EMT-Intermediate/99 course must meet or exceed the US Department of Transportation National Standard Curriculum for EMT-Intermediate/99.  This EMT-Intermediate/99 state course must have been successfully completed within the previous two years.  Additionally, EMT-Intermediate/99 candidates must hold a current CPR credential and have successfully demonstrated competence in Intermediate/99 skills.

EMT-Basic Test

EMT-Basic Requirements

The EMT-Basic or EMT-B certification will soon be referred to as the Emergency Medical Technican certification when the new certification levels are introduced in 2014.  Applicants for the EMT-B certification must pass both a state approved psychomotor exam as well as the national NREMT certification exam. Potential EMT candidates applying for an EMT-Basic certification must meet certain requirements.  EMT-Basic candidates must be 18 years or older.  EMT-Basic candidates must also have completed a state-approved EMT-Basic course.  The state EMT-basic course must meet or exceed the US Department of Transportation National Standard Curriculum for EMT-Basic.  This EMT-Basic state course must have been successfully completed within the previous two years.  Additionally, EMT-Basic candidates must hold a current CPR credential and have successfully completed a state-approved EMT-Basic psychomotor exam.

NREMT EMT Certification Levels

 NREMT Certification Levels

There are five different certification levels administered by the NREMT.  These certification levels are based on guidelines from the NHTSA. The NREMT maintains multiple EMT certification levels that represent a ladder of increasing knowledge skills and abilities for an EMS professional.  In 2014, new levels will be introduced that will replace the existing levels/certifications.  The 2014 EMT certification levels will consist of emergency medical responder (replacing first responder), emergency medical technician (replacing EMT-Basic), advanced emergency medical technician (replacing EMT-Intermediate 1985), and paramedic (replacing EMT-Intermediate 1999 and EMT-Paramedic). The different NREMT certification levels are summarized below:

How to Become A Paramedic

Paramedic Job Overview

A Paramedic certification is the highest certification awarded by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).  Paramedics and EMTs care for sick and injured patients in a variety of situations.  Typically, paramedics will be responsible for some on-site care and then transport the patient to a hospital.  Paramedics are often sent to a scene by a 911 operator. Scenarios that a paramedic may encounter include: heart attacks, strokes, car accidents, gun shot wounds, domestic violence and other situations that require urgent medical attention.

EMT Job Overview

Although there are many different EMT certification levels for EMTs and Paramedics, all EMT work is related to providing immediate and efficient care to the critically ill and injured.  Typically, most EMTs are certified to one of five levels that are administered by NREMT, the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.  The five NREMT certifications are: First Responder, EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate/85, EMT-Intermediate/99 and Paramedic.  There are also state by state levels and licensure requirements that may differ from the NREMT’s certifications. EMTs and Paramedics provide a vital service as they often are responsible for the urgent care and transport of the sick and injured to a medical facility.  EMTs and paramedics are usually dispatched by a 911 operator to the scene where the often will deal with automobile accidents, heart attacks, childbirth, gun shot wounds and a variety of situations that require immediate medical attention.

EMT-Paramedic Test

EMT-Paramedic Requirements

The EMT-Paramedic exam requires applicants to pass both a state approved psychomotor exam, as well as a national NREMT certification exam. Under the new 2014 NHTSA guidelines, the EMT-Paramedic certification level will be referred to as simply the Paramedic certification. Potential EMT candidates applying for an EMT-Paramedic certification must meet certain requirements.  EMT-Paramedic candidates must be 18 years or older.  EMT-Paramedic candidates must also have an EMT-Basic certification at the national or state level.  Candidates must also have completed a state-approved EMT-Paramedic course.  The state EMT-paramedic course must meet or exceed the US Department of Transportation National Standard Curriculum for EMT-Paramedic.  This EMT-Paramedic state course must have been successfully completed within the previous two years.  Additionally, EMT-Paramedic candidates must hold a current CPR credential and have successfully demonstrated competence in Paramedic skills.

EMT-Intermediate/85 Test

EMT-Intermediate/85 Requirements

The EMT-Intermediate/85 certification will be known as the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician certification when the knew certification levels become formal in 2014.  Both a national NREMT cognitive exam as well as a psychomoter exam must be passed by applicants. Potential EMT candidates applying for an EMT-Intermediate/85 certification must meet certain requirements.  EMT-Intermediate/85 candidates must be 18 years or older.  EMT-Intermediate/85 candidates must also have an EMT-Basic certification at the national or state level.  Candidates must also have completed a state-approved EMT-Intermediate/85 course.  The state EMT-Intermediate/85 course must meet or exceed the US Department of Transportation National Standard Curriculum for EMT-Intermediate/85.  This EMT-Intermediate/85 state course must have been successfully completed within the previous two years.  Additionally, EMT-Intermediate/85 candidates must hold a current CPR credential and have successfully demonstrated competence in Intermediate/85 skills.

EMT-First Responder Test

EMT-First Responder Requirements

The First Responder (or Emergency Medical Responder) certification requires applicants to pass both a psychomotor exam as well as a cognitive exam. The Cognitive Exam is administered via computer and given at approved testing locations. Potential EMT candidates applying for an EMT-First Responder certification must meet certain requirements.   EMT-First Responder candidates must have completed a state-approved EMT-First Responder course.  The state EMT-First Responder course must meet or exceed the US Department of Transportation National Standard Curriculum for EMT-First Responder.  This EMT-First Responder state course must have been successfully completed within the previous two years.  Additionally, EMT-First Responder candidates must hold a current CPR credential and have successfully completed a state-approved EMT-First Responder psychomotor exam.

EMT and NREMT Test Overview

EMT Overview

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) is a term used to describe a provider of emergency medical services.  In general, EMTs respond to emergencies and perform a limited set of medical procedures.  In addition, EMTs are responsible for transporting patients to hospitals.

EMTs have a rigourous required training curriculum and each individual state sets their own standards of certification.  The training standards, however, must meet a minimum set of requirements administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) is a non-government organization that administers certification exams based on the NHTSA guidelines.