EMT Training: Preparation Before You Begin

Are you thinking of taking emergency medical training (EMT) for a career in emergency medical services (EMS)? If so, you might want to make some preparation ahead of time by educating yourself on the requirements and deciding if you want to go through with them or not. I'll also cover some problems you might encounter in the field if you are just starting out.

How to Become an EMT: Selecting a School

Locating a college or university (some university hospitals also offer EMT training) that offers an EMT-B program is not always easy depending on where you live. You can view a directory of schools offering training that will allow and prepare you to sit the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) written exam, take the practicals, and be able to do your clinicals (hands-on skills) in the emergency room (ER) and/or an ambulance. This should be clearly stated in the description of their program. The list doesn't include all schools approved to offer the course because schools are in the process of getting approval to be able to offer EMT training and might not appear at the time you check.

If you are seeking training to become a paramedic, you should already be a licensed EMT-B (basic) or EMT-I (intermediate/advanced) as that is a prerequisite to entering paramedic training--at least I've never heard of skipping the EMT-B training to study paramedicine. Keep in mind that these titles are supposed to be changing fairly soon. For example, the first responder will be known as an emergency medical responder (EMR), the EMT-B simply as an EMT, the EMT-I as an advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT), and the emergency medical technician paramedic (EMT-P) simply as paramedic. If you desire to be a member of EMS able to work in an ambulance, you don't start with first responder training, but rather with EMT training.

Learn CPR Before Beginning Your EMT Training

I actually went through cardiopulmonary (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training for the health care provider shortly after beginning my classes, but I would have preferred to have had the CPR/AED training first. I remember some things being said during the first couple weeks of class that I didn't understand because I hadn't had the training. You'll want to make sure that your CPR training is for the adult, child, and infant, and includes learning how to use an AED; in short, your certification card should specifically state that it is health care provider level.

Where you get your CPR training and how much you'll have to pay varies greatly depending on where you live. Check the continuing education courses available at your local colleges; some hospitals offer CPR training, but it might not be health care provider level; this is very important. I was trained at the American Red Cross.

Immunization Requirements

These could vary slightly depending on the program you choose, but I'll share which ones I had to take to give you an idea and a little helpful information I received from the nurses who gave me the shots. The inoculations requirements for my class were for hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubeola (German measles) known as an MMR, and tetanus. Although not required, the nurse also advised me to get immunized against hepatitis A, pertussis (whooping cough), and diphtheria, which I did. The tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis combination is known as the Tdap and the vaccine is in one shot. We had to show proof of two MMR's and also undergo two, two-step TB tests that had to be at least one week apart. I opted for what's known as the accelerated version of immunization against hepatitis B so I wouldn't be held up from doing my clinicals. I'd advise that you make sure the nurse knows the schedule to be followed to administer the accelerated version.

Background Check, Fingerprinting and Other Requirements

I also had to submit to a thorough state and federal background check requiring fingerprinting--yes, you might feel like a criminal during the process. This is another one of the requirements for clearance to do mandatory clinicals. You'll be given a short amount of time to get registered with the NREMT and some programs might require reference letters, a mandatory flu shot, and proof of medical insurance. If at all possible, I would avoid those programs because the decision to take the flu shot should be left to the student. Reference letters should not be required, that's why an extensive background check is done, and you should not have to show proof of medical insurance, during my clinicals in the ER, I was under the coverage of the college I attended. They covered for any medical care I could need while doing clinicals and liability. No school should offer anything less.

Final Thoughts on EMT training

You'll want to check out the reputation of the school you choose before enrolling. Of course, depending on where you live, you might not have much of a choice. Online EMT training simply won't work for many students mainly because of the travel requirements. There is a school in Texas and one in Massachusetts that I know of, but I've never attended. I know that you would be required to travel there to take your proctored exams, do hands-on skills practice, and clinicals, so if you don't live within a few hours of those places, that probably won't work for you.

Also, if you live in a small town, you might not find work at the EMT-B level, EMT-I might open up a few more opportunities, but mostly in the rural areas; you would definitely want to go on to paramedic in areas like that. The larger towns and cities typically employ at the EMT-B level, so you would have more options. Remember, for now, until and unless the names officially change, all levels might technically be referred to as an EMT.

This is a very stressful, but rewarding field that does present some physical danger and the need to protect yourself against disease. It's very important not to become careless about following the standard precautions you'll learn to help keep yourself safe. Each person knows the reasons and motivations they have for choosing such a profession or choosing to volunteer; they are not always "healthy" as there are people who enter the field for the wrong reason--some of them are very twisted, so don't be surprised if you encounter them among your classmates. To those of you who really want to help people, I wish you the best in your EMT training and work.