EMT: Emergency Medical Technician

Emergency medical technicians, also known as EMTs, provide one of the most vital services in the medical field. They provide emergency medical care during life-and-death situations. There are different levels of emergency care providers, all with specific skills and responsibilities. At Rend Lake College, you can receive training as a First Responder, the most basic level of emergency care but not considered as an EMT. You can also receive training as an EMT-Basic, the initial entry into EMT training; or as an EMT-Paramedic. All EMTs are state licensed, and most are nationally certified/registered/licensed as well. Each level of EMT training requires additional classroom hours, clinical hours, and continuing education requirements. Each level must take State Boards (which are now National Standards), and the test is both written and 'practical,' meaning you must demonstrate your 'hands on' skills in various scenarios. Like Nursing Boards, most of the testing is based on the 'best right answer'.

Each level of EMT training marks an increase in an ability to do invasive/sterile procedures or administer certain types of drugs. For example: an EMT-B can administer oxygen and in some states, other medications like epinephrine for allergic reactions. When you get to the Paramedic level you can administer more emergency medications, start IVs, administer first line cardiac drugs and initiate advanced airways.

Tying in EMT services with various community services may be one setting where an EMT will work. In some areas, members of the Police Department or Fire Department are also required to be EMS certified. Some ambulance companies are affiliated with hospitals, others with cities or towns, others are privately owned.

All 50 states have credentialing requirements for EMTs. As a result, salary levels are affected most by education, experience, geographic region, and work setting. EMTs that are employed by fire and police departments often receive additional benefits.