EMT's or Emergency Medical Technicians are trained in 2-year academic institutions and receive an EMT-Basic certificate or EMT-Paramedic certificate upon graduation. While the EMT-Basic credential is always offered as a certificate program, some Pennsylvania colleges offer EMT-Paramedic training as an associate degree program. Students learn to take vital signs, treat injuries and administer medications and CPR among other EMT responsibilities. Students complete clinical internships at local medical facilities, particularly emergency rooms and ambulance companies, and are prepared to sit for the Emergency Medical Technicians examination. Admission into most EMT programs requires that students be at least 16 years of age and pass criminal, child abuse and FBI background checks. Admission into an EMT-Paramedic program requires EMT-Basic certification.
EMT-Basic certification is the first training program that an EMT must compete. Students learn basic and cardiac life support, to control bleeding and how to respond to adult, pediatric and environmental emergencies. EMTs are also responsible for the safe transportation of patients to area hospitals and medical facilities. Typically about 120 to 200 hours in length, an EMT-Basic program trains students to perform as not only EMTs but also as first responders and rescue workers. EMT-Paramedic programs are more advanced than EMT-Basic programs, with more emphasis on pre-hospital care. EMT-Paramedic associate degree programs include general education courses in the arts and sciences in addition to the emergency medical training.
EMT-Basic and EMT-Paramedic training programs are ideal for students who want to enter the field of emergency services in less than two years. Both programs are open to students who do not have a health science background or field experience. EMT training programs are typically low-cost and students can begin their studies at the age of sixteen, making it a particularly accessible program for non-high school graduates and GED holders. After completing the program, students sit for the Pennsylvania Department of Health examination or the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians examination for EMT-B or EMT-P certification.
Certified EMTs work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, medical facilities and for ambulance provider companies. The work of an EMT is often rigorous because of the nature of the work, including working outside in often adverse conditions, treating unstable patients and being exposed to communicable diseases.
In 2008, certified EMTs held about 210,000 jobs in the United States. Job growth in this field is estimated at about 9% by 2018. Reasons for this growth include the aging population, hospital overcrowding and increased call volume to emergency services. The average median salary for an EMT in the United States in 2009 was about $30,000 per year.EMTs who are looking to continue their educations can enroll in advanced degree programs, particularly in surgical technology and nursing. EMTs who have associate degrees can complete bachelor's degree programs in two years or less.