EMT Certification- process?

[deleted329605]

Just wondering if you guys could shed light on the whole process of EMT certification. And if I get certified in one state does it carry over when I move to another state?

Thanks.

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[Euxox]

Getting certified is simple. Take (and pass) your EMT-B course, get the required clinical time by riding on an ambulance or volunteering in an ER (your EMT-B course instructor can help you with this), and then take the state certification exam.

As for whether or not certifications carry over between states, it depends. States with less rigorous certification standards will reciprocate certifications from states with more rigorous standards. If your new state will not reciprocate your existing certification, you may have to take some CEU credits in the new state and then take the state's exam. You may even have to retake the Basic course in the new state. The situation is pretty much the same for the National EMT-B certification. Not all states will recognize it.

 

[moneytree]

Google bro. Seriously.

 

[Geebeejay]

Just wondering if you guys could shed light on the whole process of EMT certification. And if I get certified in one state does it carry over when I move to another state?

Thanks.

Just take a class, pass it, and then pass the practical and written exams. I didn't have to do any clinical time or anything like that, but maybe my state was different. Regardless you need to get certified for your state, and then you can take additional tests to become certified for other states (I think you need to also become nationally certified). It costs a lot more money, and takes a lot more time to do this (There are only few exams offered per year). I would suggest figuring out which state you want to be an EMT-B in, and taking both the class and the certification exams in that state alone.

 

[Euxox]

Regardless you need to get certified for your state, and then you can take additional tests to become certified for other states (I think you need to also become nationally certified). It costs a lot more money, and takes a lot more time to do this (There are only few exams offered per year). I would suggest figuring out which state you want to be an EMT-B in, and taking both the class and the certification exams in that state alone.

You don't need to be nationally certified to be certified in more than one state. Additionally, a lot of states (including both my home state and my university's state) don't recognize the national certification. IMHO, the national certification is a waste of time.

Also, getting certified isn't simply a process of taking additional exams. As I said before, depending on the state in which you got your first certification and the state in which you want to get your second one, you may not have to take a test at all, or you may have to take additional classes before they even let you take the test.

 

[lolcat]

do you have to have CPR training prior to enrolling into an EMT course?

 

[Euxox]

Yes, but some courses start out with a mini-CPR course. Contact the instructor to find out the specifics for your EMT-B course.

 

[lolcat]

thanks for the reply. i did a quick search on google and found a .pdf file of all the CC in my area that offer the EMT course and the e-mails of the directors for each.

quick question though, can you complete the course in during winter break? im a senior right now and will be taking a gap year. i want to use that year to gain some more experience and not sure if EMT would be the best way to utilize my free time and gain that experience

 

[Davidasaurus]

Bear in mind the state certification only allows you to work as an EMT in that particular state. The NREMT, the national exam, allows you to work anywhere.

To sum it up in a nutshell: Get CPR Certified (I was Red Cross certified at the time, but they required an AHA course which they provided), Pass the class, partake in ambulance ride times and hospital shadowing (Set up through the course), study and pass the state or national exam.

 

[Euxox]

quick question though, can you complete the course in during winter break? im a senior right now and will be taking a gap year. i want to use that year to gain some more experience and not sure if EMT would be the best way to utilize my free time and gain that experience

I managed to get my EMT-B certification over winter break by taking a four week, 35 hours a week course. These kinds of courses are rare though. Usually they are offered over a period of about three months. I'm going to guess that CCs are less likely to offer condensed courses. I took my course at an ambulance service.

The NREMT, the national exam, allows you to work anywhere.

For the third time, that is not true.

Straight from the NREMT website:

National Certification is NOT a license to practice. For specific licensing information contact the state in which you wish to practice.

(Link: http://www.nremt.org/nremt/about/stateReciprocityMap.asp)

I know of several states that refuse to offer reciprocity for any national EMT certification lower than Paramedic. There are also some that require a minimum of Intermediate. Check the link above.

 

[lolcat]

I managed to get my EMT-B certification over winter break by taking a four week, 35 hours a week course. These kinds of courses are rare though. Usually they are offered over a period of about three months. I'm going to guess that CCs are less likely to offer condensed courses. I took my course at an ambulance service.

i'll do a search on google and see if i could find anything. how much did your class cost btw?

 

[Euxox]

Somewhere between 500 and 600 dollars. I can't remember the exact amount. If you volunteer with a local squad while you study, they might be able to use state funds to pay for your course.

 

[TheShaker]

Somewhere between 500 and 600 dollars. I can't remember the exact amount. If you volunteer with a local squad while you study, they might be able to use state funds to pay for your course.

I looked up the courses in SoCal (I'm trying to get into a course too) and they were around 900-1100.

 

[lolcat]

i found one at a CC for 1200, way too much. i'm not sure if it's worth it for me to get certified just to use it for a gap year

 

[Euxox]

i found one at a CC for 1200, way too much. i'm not sure if it's worth it for me to get certified just to use it for a gap year

I guess price varies with the region. Anyway, volunteering as an EMT isn't your only option: There are plenty of paid EMT-B positions. The average salary for an EMT-B is about $20,000. That will be more than enough to pay you back for the cost of your course and it should be enough for living expenses for one person.

 

[chillaxbro]

med schools dont care about EMT certification anyway

 

[Euxox]

The certification itself means nothing, but working or volunteering as an EMT is clinical service. It is no different than working as a CNA, an ER tech, a medical scribe, or a hospital volunteer.