This page will discuss what it means to be an emergency medical technician (EMT), how to become an EMT in Utah, the four levels of Utah EMT certification, and more. Scroll down for details about applying for the Utah EMT license and to learn each step in the Utah EMT training process.
Utah currently offers four levels of certification for EMTs and according to the National Registry of EMT (NREMT), there are 3,381 NREMT certified personnel in Utah.
EMS Levels Recognized in Utah
• Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)
• Paramedic (EMT-P)
How to Become an EMT in Utah
The Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness (BEMSP) is the state agency that licenses and regulates Utah EMT certification. This includes all four of the Utah emergency medical services (EMS) levels listed above. The BEMSP is the lead agency in the Utah EMS system and establishes EMT training standards for Utah EMS personnel.
A Utah EMT will begin by taking EMT courses and then must pass the NREMT exams for certification. Next the candidate needs to apply for a Utah EMT license, which provides certification on a state level.
EMT School Utah
Utah EMT training programs are offered throughout the State at a variety of locations for varying prices. You can find prices for different Utah EMT training schools at the link below by clicking on the school you are interested in. When signing up for a Utah EMT training program it’s important that it is BEMSP approved.
You can find a list of BEMSP approved Utah EMT training courses for all levels of EMT at:
EMR Training
Emergency medical responder training in Utah will teach students the skills and knowledge to competently perform lifesaving interventions while they wait for additional EMS to arrive.
EMRs are also capable of assisting more highly trained EMS personnel in the field. They are able to initiate rapid lifesaving care to critical patients and perform interventions that require minimal equipment.
EMT Training
Utah EMT training teaches students how to provide emergency care for sick and injured patients who access the Utah emergency medical system. Utah EMT training will teach students to use basic life support (BLS) to perform both medical and trauma related interventions on patients and provide transport when needed.
EMTs in Utah are part of EMS response, providing an important link from the scene to the health care system. Along with BLS, a Utah EMT is trained in patient assisted medication which allows:
– Aspirin
– Automatic Transport Ventilator
– Epinephrine by Auto-injector
– Nitroglycerine
– Oral Glucose
– Prescribed Inhaler
Emergency medical technician courses in Utah will be at least 120 hours long and will cover all EMR knowledge, skills and competencies. Utah EMT training classes will include observation time in the Emergency Department (ED) so the EMT can better understand ED operations and how to provide quality patient care.
During Utah EMT training, students will be expected to perform at least ten patient assessments while in the field. These patient assessments can be done in an ambulance, ED, doctor’s office, clinic or nursing home.
AEMT Training
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician training in Utah teaches students to perform both BLS and Advanced Life Support (ALS) skills. A Utah AEMT can provide emergency care and life saving interventions on a more advanced level than EMTs.
AEMT training will teach students to perform skills like establishing intravenous (IV) access, intraosseous access, and administering IV fluids. AEMT training also teaches students to insert a multi-lumen airway and perform tracheal-bronchial suctioning on intubated patients.
Paramedic Training
Utah paramedic training is a longer and more intense program. Paramedic training will teach Utah students how to respond to emergencies using BLS and ALS skills. Paramedics are trained in advanced airway management, IV therapy, advanced cardiac life support and the use of defibrillators. Utah paramedic students will also be trained to administer many medications in the field.
