Emergency Medical Technicians

Career summary

#match with 8168 no alts review 3/11/19 lh

EMTs and paramedics respond to calls from dispatchers who send them to the scene of an emergency. They determine the nature and extent of the injury or illness and record patients' vital signs. They may also talk to other emergency personnel who are present, such as police and fire fighters.

EMTs and paramedics provide emergency care by following guidelines learned in training or instructions provided by a physician overseeing their work.

EMTs and paramedics use equipment such as:

• Backboards to restrain patients
• Defibrillators
• Resuscitators

Occasionally patients are trapped in cars or buildings. EMTs and paramedics free them or provide care while others free them.

EMTs and paramedics transport patients to medical facilities. They continue monitoring patients and providing medical care during transport. They may call ahead to alert the medical staff or talk with doctors for advice on how to treat patients. They record patients' reactions to drugs and care.

At the medical center or hospital, EMTs and paramedics transfer patients to the emergency room. They report the status of patients to emergency room staff and record what treatment was given on patients' charts. They may stay and provide additional help or information.

After patients are delivered to a hospital, EMTs and paramedics clean and decontaminate their ambulance. They replace supplies and check equipment.

The specific duties of EMTs and paramedics depend on their level of training and the state they work in.

EMT basic

An EMT basic provides care to patients at the scene and on the way to the hospital. They are certified to assess a patient's condition and manage respiratory, cardiac, and trauma emergencies.

EMT intermediate

An EMT intermediate provides the same care as an EMT basic. In addition, they are certified to administer emergency or intravenous medications to patients.

Paramedics

Paramedics are trained to provide the most extensive level of emergency care. In addition to providing the same care as an EMT basic and EMT intermediate, they are certified to use electrocardiograms (EKGs) to monitor patients.

Related careers

This career is part of the Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Ambulance Drivers
• Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
• Emergency Management Directors
• Firefighters
• Licensed Practical Nurses
• Medical Assistants
• Medical Sonographers
• Nursing Assistants
• Orderlies
• Psychiatric Technicians
• Radiologic Technologists
• Registered Nurses
• Respiratory Therapists
• Surgical Technologists

Military careers

• Medical Service Technicians

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to emergency medical technicians.

• Administer first aid and emergency treatment to sick or injured persons.
• Operate equipment that monitors the heart, restarts the heart, and provides oxygen to patients.
• Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to decide what medical procedures to do and when to do them.
• Clean, decontaminate, and maintain vehicles. Refill supplies that were used.
• Observe and record patients' conditions and reactions to treatment. Report them to physicians.
• Perform emergency care and procedures during ambulance ride.
• Administer drugs under a physician's direction.
• Comfort and reassure patients.
• Use specialized equipment, such as backboards and stretchers, to keep patients from moving.
• Communicate with other emergency personnel, such as fire or police departments, to organize treatment.
• Work as part of a team with other emergency responders.
• Drive ambulances to accident sites, following instructions from dispatchers.
• Assist treatment center staff to obtain and record victims' vital statistics and medical history.

Common work activities

Emergency medical technicians perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Assist and care for others
• Document and record information
• Perform for or work with the public
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Get information needed to do the job
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Handle and move objects
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Teach others
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Use computers
• Evaluate information against standards
• Process information
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Think creatively
• Analyze data or information
• Develop and build teams
• Schedule work and activities
• Coach others
• Control machines and processes
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Develop goals and strategies
• Repair and maintain mechanical equipment
• Recruit, interview, or hire others
• Provide advice and consultation to others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, emergency medical technicians:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social interaction. They constantly work with the public and other emergency workers.
• Often deal with people who are angry or unpleasant due to their illnesses or injuries.
• Are greatly responsible for the health and safety of patients and coworkers.
• Are responsible for the outcomes and results of others.
• Often deal with patients that are physically aggressive.
• Are sometimes placed in conflict situations.
• Work as part of an emergency team. This is extremely important because they must coordinate their work to provide the best care.
• Communicate face-to-face with coworkers and patients everyday.
• Communicate with other emergency departments daily by telephone and e-mail.
• Write letters and memos often.

Physical work conditions

• Are always exposed to diseases and infections when treating patients.
• Work both indoors and outdoors. Indoor locations may not be heated or air conditioned.
• Wear protective attire daily.
• Are often exposed to contaminants.
• Are often exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures.
• Are often exposed to hazardous equipment, conditions, and situations.
• Work in an enclosed vehicle, such as an ambulance, daily.
• Work very near other people and have little space between self and others.
• Regularly work in cramped places that require them to get into awkward positions.
• Are exposed daily to sounds and noise levels that are distracting and uncomfortable. This is especially true when riding in an ambulance with the sirens on.
• Often work indoors without heating or air conditioning.
• Are sometimes exposed to extreme lighting conditions. They may work in very bright light or in dim light.
• Sometimes wear specialized protective gear or safety attire.

Work performance

• Must be very exact in performing the job and make sure that all the details have been followed. Errors could seriously endanger patients.
• Often repeat the same tasks over and over, such as checking vital signs and administering first aid.
• Can make most decisions without consulting a supervisor.
• Can set some tasks and goals without talking to a supervisor.
• Make decisions daily that affect the health of their patients.
• Meet strict weekly deadlines.
• Make decisions that strongly impact other people.

Hours/travel

• May work part time or full time.
• Most work over 40 hours per week. Those who work for fire departments work about 50 hours per week. Those who work for hospitals work between 45 and 60 hours per week.
• May work days, evenings, nights, or weekends. Emergency services are available 24 hours a day.
• May be on-call for extended periods of time, especially those who work for police and fire departments.

Physical demands

Emergency medical technicians frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Bend or twist their body.

It is important for emergency medical technicians to be able to:

• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for emergency medical technicians to be able to:

• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• Use muscles to jump, sprint, or throw objects.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
• Determine from which direction a sound came.
• See objects in very low light.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.

Skills and abilities

Emergency medical technicians need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Make sense of information that seems without meaning or organization.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
• Remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.

Use math and science

• Use scientific methods to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Teach others how to do something.

Work with things

• Operate and control equipment.
• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Emergency Medical Care

Training

To work as an emergency medical technician, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• be at least 18 years old;
• have a driver's license;
• complete an approved emergency medical technician program; and
• be certified.

Education after high school

Emergency medical technician programs are available at community colleges, hospitals, and fire departments. There are several levels of EMT training. The first is EMT-Basic. This program offers courses in patient assessment, trauma, and cardiac emergencies. You spend your time in a classroom and an emergency room. You also study topics such as bleeding, fractures, and emergency childbirth. Students learn how to use and care for equipment, such as backboards, suction tools, and oxygen systems. This training prepares you for the next two levels of training.

The second level is EMT-Intermediate training. Students may attend classes called EMT-Shock Trauma. This training teaches you how to give intravenous (IV) fluids and some medications. You may also study EMT-Cardiac where you learn about heart rhythms and how to give more advanced medications. This level of training usually requires 35 to 55 hours of instruction.

Work experience

If you complete EMT-Basic training, you can do volunteer work to get valuable field experience. This experience may help you prepare for advanced EMT levels.

On-the-job training

The most advanced level of training is EMT-Paramedic. This program lasts up to two years. EMTs usually receive pay while completing this level of training because it requires extensive field experience. After completing this level, you receive an associate degree.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be medical service technicians. Training lasts 16 to 54 weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Driver Education
• Health Education
• Introduction to Health Care
• Nursing
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers hire emergency medical technicians who are certified. They may require a valid driver's license. They look for EMTs who are emotionally stable. They also look for people who are physically coordinated and able to move easily and quickly. EMTs must be able to lift and carry patients and heavy objects. Employers also look for people who have good driving records. In addition, employers look for EMTs who can listen and talk to people from various backgrounds and cultures.

Tips

Volunteering at a hospital or with a fire department provides useful experience for people interested in this occupation. Contact and ride along with EMT workers; you'll find it very different from what is portrayed on television. Computer and public speaking classes are helpful.

Costs to workers

In order to keep up with changes in the field, all levels of EMTs are required to complete continuing education courses every three years, ranging from 30 to 150 hours. Many join unions or professional associations and pay an initiation fee and/or dues.

Licensing/certification

All EMTs and paramedics must be certified by the State of Washington. Ambulance drivers must have advanced first aid training unless they are working with at least two EMTs. Most EMTs and paramedics working for fire departments must also be fire fighters. Many newly hired fire fighters receive EMT training.

Certification requirements for basic EMTs include:

• being age 18 before training;
• a high school diploma or equivalent;
• completion of approved curriculum, including infectious disease training and written and practical skills certification exams;
• recommendation by an approved county medical program director;
• a background check;
• completion of seven hours of HIV/AIDS training; and
• completion of 30 hours of continuing education every three years.

Intermediate EMTs and paramedics must have basic certification and pass an approved curriculum exam. Paramedics must complete 150 hours of continuing education every three years. All EMTs must be affiliated with an approved emergency medical service agency. Some agencies may have an Ongoing Training and Evaluation (OTEP) program in place. This program fulfills the continuing education requirement for EMTs at that agency.

Paramedics in King County are also certified by the University of Washington's paramedic training program.

For more information, contact:

Washington State Department of Health
Office of Community Health Systems
EMA and Trauma Section 
PO Box 47865
Olympia, WA 98504-7865
360.236.4700

#Verified licensing information/ website 3/28/12, cj. Updated url 5/7/12 cj. Updated url again 6/11/12 cj. Fine all around 4/19/13 lh. Added AIDS training & made minor adjustment to contact info, rest ok, 3/5/14 cj. Changed contact to main HSQA Customer Svc address/ph as that is what was listed on DOH site; rest of info ok, 4/5/16 cj. changed po box 3/9/17 lh. No changes 3/27/18 cj. 3/11/19 lh

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Pay varies by who EMTs work for. Those who work for local governments earn more than those at hospitals or private ambulance firms. Pay also varies by the area of the country. Those who work in larger cities or communities where the cost of living is higher tend to earn higher wages. In addition, the more training and experience EMTs have, the higher starting salaries they earn.

Whether EMTs receive benefits depends on the employer. Usually, EMTs who receive benefits are those who work full time. Some of the benefits they receive include medical, dental, and retirement plans. They may also receive paid sick and vacation leave.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

In addition to those who make a career of being an EMT, there are many more volunteer EMTs. These volunteers tend to work in smaller cities, towns, and rural areas. The departments they work in may only respond to a few service calls each month. The EMTs who make this field their career tend to work in larger cities.

Major employers:

• Private ambulance firms
• Fire departments
• Hospitals

Some EMTs who work for hospitals may work full time in the medical facility and respond to calls in ambulances or helicopters.

National outlook

Demand will be high for this occupation as the rise in the aging population leads to more need for ambulance services and emergency care. Older adults are the greatest users of emergency services. Also natural disasters and more powerful storms lead to increased need for emergency care.

Some EMTs will leave this occupation because of the irregular work hours and the fast pace of the work. Some may leave the occupation because the pay is low and there is little room for advancement.

Other resources

American Ambulance Association 
1420 New York Avenue NW
5th Fl
Washington DC 20005
703.610.9018

Health Occupation Students of America 
548 Silicon Drive, Suite 101
Southlake, TX 76092
800.321.HOSA

National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians 
PO Box 1400
Clinton, MS 39060-1400
800.346.2368
601.924.7744

National Fire Academy 
16825 S. Seton Ave.
Emmitsburg, MD 21727

National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians 
Rocco V. Morando Building
6610 Busch Blvd.
Columbus, Ohio 43229

References

Career cluster

• Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security

Career path

• Social

O*Net  occupation

• Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics (29-2041.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Emergency Medical Technician (079.374-010) 
• Paramedic (079.364-026) 

Strong Interest Inventory

• Emergency Medical Technician

Holland occupational cluster

• Social/Investigative/Realistic

COPSystem

• Service Skilled