Career Path

How Long Does It Take To Become An EMT?

Published on December 26, 2022

EMTs are frequently the first ones on the scene to administer medical care to patients who are in serious condition.

Prior to the patient’s arrival at the hospital, they employ their knowledge in medicine and emergency response to stabilize, transport, and reassure the patient.

You can think about becoming an EMT if you want to work in the medical industry and make a difference in people’s lives.

In the emergency medical services (EMS) industry, paramedics are highly skilled medical professionals who offer urgent care to patients both inside ambulances and when they arrive at hospitals.

Depending on their background when entering a paramedic program, paramedics must go through anywhere from six months to two years of training in order to be certified for these life-saving duties.

Although the paramedic profession can be extremely gratifying, it also calls for a lot of training, responsibility, and preparedness.

To assist you in deciding if being an EMT is the best career choice for you, we address some frequently asked concerns regarding this profession and describe how long it normally takes to become an EMT.

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What is an EMT School Like?

There are some fundamental measures you can take to make sure you meet the qualifications to become an EMT, even though the educational path may differ from one EMT to the next.

By doing these four actions, you can start your journey:

Obtain a GED or high school diploma.

Obtain CPR certification from a company like the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.

Become an emergency medical technician by enrolling in a postsecondary school to learn how to transport and care for patients. These programs are provided by numerous universities, technical schools, and community institutions.

Ace the NREMT test.

To improve your income potential and employment options, you might also decide to obtain an associate’s degree in emergency medical services or finish advanced EMT training programs.

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Is Attending an EMT School Worth It?

1. Attending an EMT school is a fantastic approach to make friends at your school and in the neighborhood is to volunteer as an EMT in the community where your institution is located or join the campus squad.

2. Every shift teaches you useful skills. It is believed that the abilities you acquire from this work are particularly transferable to practically every aspect of your life, from understanding how to handle stressful situations at work to having the self-assurance to act as a leader under pressure.

3. As a college student, EMS work offers a unique opportunity to learn about the medical profession and determine whether this is the right career path for you.

Another opportunity to learn about EMS through the experiences of seasoned paramedics, EMTs, and other employees you’ll work with are provided exposure to professionals in the field.

4. Becoming an EMT while in college opens up special opportunities for other jobs, like working at sporting or musical events.

Having the qualification from college permits you to work as a first responder at places like ski resorts and corporate settings.

Being able to work as medical personnel for a concert and a professional basketball game a few months after getting a certification is a great way to build your experience.

You have the opportunity to learn outside of the classroom, away from campus.

This includes the chance to interact with patients and other EMS workers as well as the special perspective that an EMT can get that is challenging to learn in a classroom.

As a result of interactions with patients during vulnerable points in their lives, you grow and become stronger as a person.

Being an EMT while in college required some sacrifices, but the opportunity to consider what you actually value in life and the humble opportunity to provide a helping hand have been well worth it.

What Schooling Do You Need to Be an EMT?

The particular qualifications to become an EMT vary from state to state, but in most of them, candidates must pass the NREMT exam after completing an approved training program.

Candidates for this national exam complete an online cognitive test to gauge how well they could react to particular emergency scenarios.

Additionally, a psychomotor examination is included, which puts each candidate’s medical knowledge to the test by having them perform basic emergency treatments including controlling bleeding, managing shock, and providing oxygen.

You might additionally need to pass a state exam, depending on where you live.

To be sure you get the most recent information, you can utilize a search engine to look up the criteria in your neighborhood.

Note that obtaining an EMT certification takes two years.

The next step is to renew your certification with NREMT.

Through the NREMT website, you can recertify.

Before reapplying for certification, candidates must finish an EMT refresher course if their certification expires within two years of the deadline.

In the event that a certification has been out of active status for more than two years, the candidate must show documentation of successful completion of an EMT training program, take a refresher course, and retake the cognitive and psychomotor tests.

Once an EMT certification has been granted, maintaining it is crucial.

On the NREMT website, you may always check the status of your certification.

How Long Does It Take To Become a Licensed EMT in 2024?

The 120–150 credit hour EMT certificate program usually takes one to two years to complete.

Depending on one’s career objectives and the state in which one intends to work, EMT basic training, which leads to certification, can last anywhere from three weeks to two years.

The majority of students who want to become basic emergency medical technicians complete their studies in three to six weeks, although there are options for up to two years of coursework if they choose to assume greater responsibility.
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How Much Does It Cost to Become a Licensed EMT in 2024?

For the most fundamental coursework, EMT training can be completed in as little as three weeks, but devoted students may need up to two years to complete an associate’s degree program.

Depending on how long and what they cover, these programs’ expenses change.

The average cost of a fundamental EMT course is $650.
Typically an additional $800 is needed for intermediate EMT training.
The average cost of a paramedic training program is $3,500.

Salary and Job Outlook for an EMT after Study

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that paramedics and EMTs have a promising employment future.

In contrast to the average growth rate for all occupations, the BLS forecasts an 11% rise in job opportunities between 2020 and 2030.

As many existing employees advance into other medical professions or retire, the BLS also reports that about 20,700 EMT and paramedic positions become vacant annually.

EMTs get an annual income of $43,668 on average across the country.

The amount you make as an EMT will depend on your skill set, training level, and the number of hours you work each week.

The amount you make may also depend on your work history and local cost of living.

In addition to receiving a yearly wage, your company can also be able to offer you perks.

The following are some of the most frequent advantages EMTs enjoy:

Health insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401(k)
Tuition reimbursement
Health savings account
Employee assistance program
Paid time off
Professional development assistance

Conclusion

In conclusion, the sophisticated life support and care that paramedics offer to patients in need during emergencies.

Along with the capacity to function under pressure, this job necessitates a thorough understanding of medical terminology, human anatomy, and emergency procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Louisiana EMT program?

After four years, there are currently thousands of licensed EMRs and dozens of qualified EMTs. Even though not every high school graduate with EMS experience will go on to work in the field, many people are now thinking of EMS as a career choice that is available right away after high school.

Florida’s paramedic training program lasts for how long?

12 months
The 12-month curriculum includes lectures, practical training sessions with skilled professionals using cutting-edge simulators, and clinical rotations in operating rooms, emergency rooms, critical care units, labor and delivery rooms, cardiac catheterization labs, and prehospital settings.

How difficult are EMT exams?

The majority of test-takers will fall within the range of 75 and 140 questions.
Many applicants fail the exam on their first try because it is challenging.
The majority of aspiring EMTs succeed on their second or third try. It should be emphasized, nevertheless, that the Registry has a three-strikes policy.

How similar are EMS and paramedics?

The two differ in terms of their level of education and the processes they are permitted to carry out.
The majority of routine medical treatments, such as delivering oxygen to a patient and doing CPR, can be handled by EMTs, while paramedics can tackle trickier tasks like placing IV lines and administering medications, among other things.

The cost of becoming an EMT is what?

Many healthcare careers require certification, and their training can easily cost more than $5,000.
They typically take a year or longer to complete. EMT certification, on the other hand, typically takes three months to complete and costs between $1,000 and $1,750 (or less with an accelerated course).