Schools Offering EMT Technician Degrees

Career Specializations

There are no specific career specializations for EMTs. Work can vary, though. The most common place for EMTs to work is for hospitals in ambulances. However, there are also private ambulance companies that often specialize in medical transportation of patients between hospitals that EMTs will sometimes work for. Also, some EMTs will work on medevac helicopters instead of ambulances, but in doing so are still providing essentially the same services.

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Degree Levels

• EMT-Basic Certification: 1 year to complete
• EMT-Intermediate Certification: 1-2 years to complete
• EMT-Paramedic Certification: 1-2 years to complete
• Associate Degree (Paramedic): 2 years to complete

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Education & Certification Requirements

At each level of EMT certification, the technician is able to perform more emergency medical services that can support the patient for immediate care and transportation to the hospital. Each level of certification also provides EMTs with more opportunities to work. Certifications can be achieved at local community colleges or universities, but licenses are typically provided by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. A few states provide their own license certification either in addition to, or instead of, the NREMT certification. (NREMT)

First responders trained at the EMT-basic level are able to assess problems at the scene and follow direct procedures at the direction of more certified technicians in order to stabilize and transport patients. Students who gain this certification learn how to use basic emergency medical devices and to monitor basic respiratory and cardiac medical conditions.

Those trained at the EMT-intermediate level are able to provide more care, but the specific level of care provided by this certification varies greatly from one state to the next. Often those certified at EMT-intermediate are able to work on medical helicopter crews to transport critical patients to urgent care facilities. In addition to those skills learned by EMT-basic certified students, these students may be exposed to basic medications, learn how to use more advanced respiratory devices, and learn how to administer intravenous fluids.

Finally, paramedics are much more highly trained medical responders who are able to administer more care on the scene, including in many cases certain drugs or medications to help prepare the patient for care at the hospital. Most state and individual hospitals require at least one paramedic to always be in the ambulance alongside the EMT-basic or EMT-intermediate certified technicians. These students receive training in advanced anatomy and physiology along with medical training at a much more advanced level.

In addition, the occasional basic refresher course and recertification is frequently provided and usually required by EMTs at all levels of certification. Sometimes EMTs will use field experience to continue their education and work their way up the ladder of certifications over time. Paramedics often use the degree as a stepping stone to medical school and a career as a doctor or nurse.

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Salary Information

In May 2008, the average salary for emergency medical technicians across all sectors and state was $14.10 an hour. However, this salary does not take into account the level of certification for the EMT. As the EMT goes up in level of certification the average salary also tends to increase incrementally with it. For example, a first responder certified as an EMT-basic on average earned only $11.13 per hour. Those certified as EMT-intermediate earned close to the national average of $14.10 per hour. Finally, those certified as paramedics earned an average of $18.12 per hour with the top 10 percent earning over $21 per hour. (BLS)

This salary increase coincides with the level of responsibility and training that is expected of EMTs at the various certification levels. In this way, paramedics are often considered EMT team leaders and are usually the ones providing direct care to patients on a call, while EMT-basics and EMT-intermediates support the paramedics and help with less critical patients.

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Job Outlook

Between now and 2018, job growth for EMTs is expected to increase by nine percent, which is about average across all sectors. This job growth is relative to the increase in medical assistance provided to meet increased demand based on population growth. Additionally, as an increasing portion of the population from the Baby Boom generation reaches an advanced age and requires more medical assistance, jobs for EMTs are expected to grow to match this demand.

There is also expected to be an increased need for EMTs with more advanced training as the need for highly trained medical professionals increases. Plus, as nursing jobs are still in high demand, the turn over for paramedics is higher than for other levels of certification as paramedics go back to school for additional training to become more advanced medical professionals. (BLS)

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Related Careers

• Patient Care Technicians: PCTs provide a wide range of patient care services to assist doctors and nurses in providing care to patients who may not be able to perform basic tasks. For example, a PCT may be asked to assist critical patients in bathing and using restroom facilities. PCTs often work in hospitals as well as in long-term care facilities and end-of-life patient care centers.
• Physician Assistant: PAs work alongside doctors to provide medical care to patients in need. Physician assistants have not received as much training or certification as doctors and are thus not able to provide the same amount of care or specialized treatment. PAs are, however, more educated and certified than nurses and, as such, are able to assist more directly in the prescribing of treatment and medication for patients.
• Certified Nursing Assistant: CNAs work alongside nurses and doctors to provide medical care to patients. CNAs assist fully licensed RNs in their duties by helping patients with basic functions, monitoring their vital signs, and reporting back to RNs and doctors on patient status.

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