Emergency Medical Technician Schools, Salaries, and Job Data
Emergency Medical Technicians Job Overview
Emergency medical technicians extend fundamental assistance when people are injured or ill. They not only transport the sick and the injured to a medical facility, but also care for the patient along the way.
Emergency Medical Technicians Schools and Degrees
A high school diploma is required to enter into a formal emergency medical technician training curriculum. This training is provided at three levels- basic, intermediate and paramedic. Those who successfully clear the basic level of training have to appear for a written and practical examination conducted by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians or any State certifying agency. The requirements of the intermediate level vary from state to state. At a nationally specified level, about 350 hours of training is required. The third level course is generally conducted in technical schools or community colleges. Upon completion of the course, candidate’s are awarded an associate’s degree.
Job Requirements
Every state asks for certification from an EMT at any level. In most states, registration with the NREMY is necessary for all levels. Some states have their own program of certification and provide the candidates with an option of either taking the test conducted by the NREMT or by the state.
Emergency medical technicians need to be emotionally strong as they often deal with wounded patients. They also need to be agile and skillful and be able to lift heavy weight. Excellent physical coordination and good eyesight are necessary. EMTs should not be color blind.
Nature of Work
Emergency medical technicians extend required emergency care to the patients and transport them to the nearest medical facility. Some treat patients with small injuries, while others look after those with serious injuries. They work according to the directions provided by the doctors. While transporting a patient to the medical facility, they check the patient’s physical condition and provide the required medication and care required.
Emergency medical technicians may need to work indoors and outdoors in any kind of weather. They work for anywhere between 45 to 60 hours a week. At times, they are on call and work for extended hours. They may need to lift heavy equipment and may even have to carry patients. Their work is not only physically stressful but also mentally taxing.
Emergency Medical Technicians Jobs and Outlook
According to research in 2006, emergency medical technicians held about 201,000 jobs in the US. Employment is the highest in the following industries:< /p>
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
Local Government (OES designation)
Other Ambulatory Health Care Services
Offices of Physicians
Other Support Services
The mean hourly wage for emergency medical technicians in the US is about $14.84, while the mean annual wages are around $30,870.
Job Numbers and Growth
Emergency medical technicians nationally number 201,000. The unemployment level for workers is very low, compared to other occupations. About 3% of employees were unemployed recently.
Area Job Conditions
Employees are relatively common in Ocean City (New Jersey), Johnstown (Pennsylvania), and Anderson (South Carolina). They are rarer in Topeka (Kansas), Salem (Oregon), and Tacoma (Washington).
Emergency medical technicians are paid highest in Tacoma (Washington), Olympia (Washington), and Bremerton (Washington), and lowest in Cedar Rapids (Iowa), Jackson (Mississippi), and Anderson (Indiana).
Training and Education
Workers are generally expected to have a postsecondary vocational award. About 14% of employees hold a bachelor's degree or better. Currently 68% of emergency medical technicians have some college education, though not a degree. About 18% of workers were able to get their jobs with a high-school diploma. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.
Part-Time Work and Self-Employment
About 11% of emergency medical technicians work less than full-time.
Emergency Medical Technicians by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Schools recommended for people interested in this career. Request info with quick online forms. These particular schools are noted for getting back to people fast.
Schools recommended for people interested in this career. Request info with quick online forms. These particular schools are noted for getting back to people fast.