Saturday, July 27, 2013

Steps to Becoming Certified as an EMT

EMT or Emergency Medical Technician is a healthcare provider whose primary duty is to respond to emergency situations pertaining to accident scenes, trauma injuries and medical issues. EMTs are responsible for saving people's lives because of their quick and efficient responses. They provide immediate care to the on-site patients and make the situation a bit stable before transporting the patients to the hospital with the help of an ambulance for intensive healthcare services.

If you want to become an EMT and get an EMT job then you need to go through standard EMT training before you can become a certified professional. Apart from doing an EMT course in order to pursue a full-time EMT career, you will need to meet certain physical characteristics as well. First of all, you have to be above eighteen years of age. Apart from this, good eyesight is also a must (which can also be achieved with corrective lenses) and one should be in great health and be capable of carrying heavy loads.

To become a certified EMT, you have to undergo some training programs. When choosing your EMT course or training program, you have a lot of options to pick from, like vocational schools, permit colleges, community colleges, medical institutions, etc. You can select whatever program you like best but ensure that the same has been accredited or approved by the NREMT (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians). This is because after going through the training and securing an EMT job for yourself, you will need to get through the NREMT certification examination.

If you are looking to become an EMT then it is better to have a degree because then you will be able to enjoy a better pay. To get an edge above the others, you can invest some time in trying to obtain a CPR certification. Additionally, you can also contact the local Red Cross in your area in order to take a first aid class. If you have made up your mind about moving along the EMT career path then you should definitely try volunteering at a fire department or a hospital in order to obtain some experience and to familiarize yourself with the environment you will be working in when you become an EMT.

Simply obtaining your EMT certification is not your ultimate goal, and it certainly doesn't stop there because EMT personnel have to keep themselves updated with the latest developments in case of medical treatments and medicines. Hence a re-certification examination every 2-3 years is recommended.

For more information, check out this EMT training blog.