EMT CERTIFICATION – Registration and Career Information
Certification is an important part of being an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) provides training and examination for EMT personnel that perform emergency ambulance services. NREMT was established in 1970 and since then it has qualified thousands of EMT and paramedic workers throughout the years.
EMTs carry out life saving functions within the general public.
They are usually on the scene when an emergency medical situation arises within a residential home or a public place. In order for each EMT worker to provide the best medical care they must have the knowledge and skill to accomplish this feat. Certification ensures that each emergency medical technician and paramedic is capable of performing their jobs according to national specifications and requirements.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the federal organization that sets the standards for all EMT training within the United States. States are allowed to create their own guidelines for certification as long as they are using the minimum standards established by the NHTSA. The NREMT is private organization that provides examinations in 46 states and they also use NHTSA guidelines. There are many certifying organizations and they include National EMS Advisory Council (NEMSAC), National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) and the International Association of Emergency Medical Services Chiefs (IAEMSC).
There are many different levels of EMTs and each level has certification standards that must be met before a worker can obtain employment or advance to the next level. According to the NHSTA, the four levels of EMT are EMT-B, EMT-I/85, EMT-I/99 and EMT-P. There are other levels for EMT and Paramedic workers and they include Advanced Practice Paramedic, Critical Care Paramedic, Wilderness EMT, Wilderness Paramedic and Flight Paramedic.
Each of these positions has their own EMT certification processes which are unique to their area of specialization.
EMT-B is the name of the entry level position for EMTs and it stands for Emergency Medical Training basic. Workers are certified with non-invasive techniques such as clearing airways, splinting and bleeding control. EMT-I/85 is the next level for EMTs and it’s an intermediate position that certifies workers to use IV therapy and enhanced assessment skills. The EMT-I/99 position is the next stage and EMTs are certified for cardiac monitoring and for providing pharmaceutical interventions.
EMT-P is the highest level for EMTs and this is the stage that they obtain certification for becoming a paramedic. EMT-P is able to provide the most advance type of care that a medical worker can perform out in the field.
EMT workers must meet a specified number of hours for training in order as a part of meeting NHSTA certification standards. EMT-Bs is required to receive at least 110 hours of classroom training. Intermediate EMT positions require at least 200-400 hours of training and paramedics must have at least 1,000 hours of instruction before they can become certified. Each program is set up differently and they can last anywhere from two weeks to over a couple of years.
EMTs can attend a community college, technical school, hospital program or EMS academy to become a paramedic. They can gain practical experience while they are completing their degree. Clinical rotations are also necessary for EMT intermediate or paramedic level workers.
All EMT workers are required to spend some time out in the field in order to complete a course and become eligible for certification. Once a person has completed their training program they have two years to obtain their certification. Individuals who cannot pass an EMT certification exam or who does not take the exam within this time frame must retake a training program. A good EMT training program will prepare an individual to pass an EMT certification exam.
Each organization typically uses their own unique exams that they use for certification but once again the information contained on them must be based off of NHSTA standards. Exams vary in length and some could have as many as 3000 questions. Many of the questions that are used for examinations are not directly related to textbook information that might have been obtained during instruction. Most questions have been compiled from EMS administrators who use NHSTA guidelines to formulate exams. Most exams provide multiple choice questions and some of them are designed for a written answer.
Certification organizations also give practice tests to help individuals prepare for the exam. The practice test doesn’t have the same information as the regular exam and it is used to help a person to gauge how much information they have retained from a training program. Many practice tests are free. There is a charge for EMT exams and the cost varies by institution. Exams could cost between $40 to as much as $150 or more. In most cases, testers must make their payment before taking the test.
Exams are usually computerized and testers are typically given individual stations to complete their exams. Examination organizations strongly recommend that testers get plenty of rest and that they eat a good breakfast before attempting to take the test. They also advise testers not to cram before taking the exam and to know the exact location of their testing center before their test date arrives. Testers are usually required to bring two forms of identification and at least one should be a photo I.D.
Individuals with EMT certification can become volunteers in order gain practical experience that will be needed in order to advance to the next position. EMT certification also can be a bonus for individuals who desire to pursue a career within the medical field. Medical schools will certainly look favorably upon a candidate that has real life experience with treating injured or ill patients.
These steps can be used to obtain EMT certification in most areas.
• Attend an accredited EMT training program. Programs can be completed in community colleges, technical schools, hospital programs or EMS academies. Make sure that the training program offers clinical or hand on experience because this type of instruction is important for advancement within this field.
• Complete an EMT program.
• After completing an EMT program prepare to take a certification exam. EMT graduates only have two years to take the exam. If they do not take the test within two years of their graduation date they have to complete another training program before they can take the EMT certification exam.
• Testers that fail an EMT certification exam usually have to wait at least 2 or 3 days before retaking the test.
• Individuals who pass the test and receive certification are then ready to obtain their license.
Individuals who desire a career as an EMT should obtain certification as soon as they complete a training program. Subscribe to newsletter to find out more information about the EMT certification process.