EMT Courses – EMT Training
EMT courses help student learn how to treat and transport the sick and injured. They teach Basic Life Support (BLS) skills and prepare candidates to give pre-hospital care in the field. Emergency Medical Technicians will be called on to transport patients with both severe emergencies and non-life threatening issues. EMT courses help students learn assessment skills and quickly determine treatment interventions in a pre-hospital setting.
EMT course curriculum is governed by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT), but each state regulates the specific requirements of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in their state. Courses will consist of classroom, clinical training, and field internship portions.
Each of these course portions will cover topics like ventilation, circulation, cardiac events, and many other topics related to emergency medicine. The EMT course will cover assessment strategies and treatment options outside of a hospital setting along with the proper use of medical equipment found inside the ambulance.
Once the student successfully completes their EMT courses, they will need to apply to the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) and take the NREMT exam. For more information see our National Registry of EMT Exam page.
After passing the National Registry exam a student can officially become certified as an Emergency Medical Technician and begin their career in EMS. For more information about EMT Certification check out our page.
Eligibility for EMT Course Enrollment
Specific EMT programs will set their own rules about when the eligibility prerequisites need to be completed. For example, some community college programs require the proof of vaccinations to be completed before starting hospital clinicals, but these don’t need to be done until week eight of the program.
There are quite a few requirements which have to be met at some point during EMT courses. Some of the items on this list must be done prior to enrollment, but not all of them.
• Age 18 years or older
• Have a valid drivers license for your state
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent
• Healthcare Provider CPR-BLS Card
• Background Check (Usually submitted during the EMS Course)
• Able to read and write patient care reports, give and receive a verbal report to/from other members of the healthcare team.
• Physically fit and able to lift around 125 pounds – this doesn’t mean you need to be able to weight lift this much. It means lifting a 125 pound patient (250 pounds with a partner) on a stretcher, backboard, gurney, etc.
If you are worried that you can’t lift this much, keep in mind that using correct lifting technique will increase your abilities and amount of weight you can lift.
Females, short, thin, and non-muscular individuals can make great EMT’s so don’t let this requirement discourage you.
• Proof of the following vaccinations – Either with past written documents, current titers or getting up to date vaccinations.
– TD/Tdap (Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis)
– MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
– Varicella (Chicken Pox) – or documentation of past history of Chicken Pox.
– Hepatitis B
– Influenza – Updated each year.
(Some courses may allow students to decline on getting the Influenza and Hepatitis B vaccines.)
• Many EMT courses have a proof of health insurance requirement. If you have health insurance this is very simple to meet, however this can be a burden for anyone who is uninsured.
To see options on how to find low-cost ways to get insured throughout your EMT course, check out the EMT Programs page on this site under the heading Requirements For EMT.
While this can be a hurdle, insurance is only required for the time your are enrolled in the program. Don’t let this stop you from becoming an EMT.
Course Objectives
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) maintains responsibility for the development of EMT training course objectives, but it’s each states responsibility to create EMT courses for their local areas.
The main goals of Emergency Medical Technician coursework are:
• To learn and understand the role of an Emergency Medical Technician on the healthcare team.
• To understand what is within the scope of practice of a licensed EMT-B
• To gain knowledge of and be capable of using medical terminology accurately.
• To develop behaviors and attitudes that demonstrate ethics and a level of professionalism expected of an EMT.
• To perform all the essential skills of an Emergency Medical Technician according to the standards set at a state level.
• To successfully show knowledge and competency at a National level.
• To prepare students for success at the National Registry Exam for Emergency Medical Technicians.
EMT Course Materials
EMT courses have required materials for candidates who get accepted into their programs. Many EMT course websites indicate the cost of these items ahead of time, but here is a list so you can request prices if they aren’t provided.
EMT Textbooks and Supplemental Material – Students are required to purchase textbooks, workbooks and other supplemental materials before the program begins.
I recommend purchasing them as early as possible so there is time to begin going over some of the medical terminology before class begins.
Required Uniforms – Programs will require uniforms to be worn during hospital clinicals and ambulance ride along experiences. Some EMT courses will provide the uniforms at a set price and other courses will tell you what kind of clothing to purchase on your own.
Uniforms frequently consist of a plain white polo shirt, navy blue or black pants, and black closed toe boots or shoes. Uniforms may vary by local area.
Blood Pressure Cuff and Stethoscope – As an emergency medical responder you will need a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff in the field. Your stethoscope will most likely be an acoustic stethoscope with a bell which can be purchased for a variety of prices.
Blood pressure cuffs can be purchased for a variety of prices, but an expensive one is not necessary. You should buy a manual (not electronic) adult sized cuff, but I don’t recommend spending a lot of money on it.
Blood pressure cuffs take a lot of abuse and frequently get contaminated and then cleaned with harsh chemicals, so you don’t want an expensive piece of equipment that you are worried about damaging.
Most EMT courses will have recommendations for a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff that are helpful since ambulances have a lot of ambient noise which can affect your stethoscope choice.
Quick Tip: Don’t be afraid to say you could not hear a patient’s BP.
• Never lie about a Blood Pressure result for any reason.
• Don’t be afraid to ask your partner, preceptor, or instructor to listen and confirm your blood pressure number if you aren’t sure it’s correct.
Internet Connection – If you are enrolled in an online hybrid EMT course, having an internet connection will be vital to your success as a student. The entire course syllabus and all training modules will be accessed through your internet connection, along with any required testing.
If you are enrolled in on-site EMT programs an internet connection will be a valuable tool for finding addition information related to emergency medical services.
(EMS) On site EMT training may not require an internet connection, but it will be helpful to look up directions to clinical sites and ambulance ride along facilities.
Form of Transportation – EMT training requires a reliable form of transportation. This doesn’t mean you must have your own car or a new car, but it does mean you have to show up on time. Most Emergency Medical Technician courses will not allow tardiness or excessive absences, especially when it comes to off-campus clinical rotations.
The schools build a reputation with local hospitals and ambulance companies, they can’t afford to have student no-shows or tardiness effect these EMS relationships. For this reason reliable transportation can mean the difference between success and failure when getting EMT education.