National data — wages and growth are not published by state for this view.
Certification
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
Median earnings
—
Cost
$104
Duration
—
Completion
—
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) provide out of hospital emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical services (EMS) system. EMTs have the basic knowledge and skills necessary to stabilize and safely transport patients ranging from non-emergency and routine medical transports to life threatening emergencies. EMTs function as part of a comprehensive EMS response system, under medical oversight.
Perform high-quality CPR and BLS cardiac arrest management including recognition of shockable and non-shockable rhythms, defibrillation, epinephrine administration, capnography monitoring, infection control practices, and post-ROSC care for adult and pediatric patientsRecognize and manage distributive, septic, and obstructive shock including evaluation and treatment of tension pneumothorax and assessment of prehospital predictors of survival and resuscitation futilityManage the airway using endotracheal intubation, airway adjuncts, BVM ventilation, rapid sequence intubation, and tracheostomy emergencies while confirming advanced airway placement and managing foreign body obstructionsApply mechanical and non-invasive positive pressure ventilation techniques for patients with respiratory distress including COPD and obstructive pulmonary conditions while recognizing contraindications and managing ventilation complicationsEvaluate and treat pulmonary emergencies including acute dyspnea, tension pneumothorax, acute decompensated heart failure, and suspected opioid overdose using capnography and waveform capnometry for monitoring and diagnosisEvaluate and manage chest pain and acute STEMI in the prehospital setting including ECG interpretation, nitroglycerin administration precautions, therapeutic interventions, system of care activation, and appropriate hospital destination selectionAssess and manage patients with cardiac devices including pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, left ventricular assist devices, and intra-aortic balloon pumps during prehospital transportTriage, stabilize, and transport trauma patients using field trauma triage guidelines including hemorrhage control, TXA administration, trauma center destination decisions, and management of mass casualty incidentsEvaluate and manage traumatic brain injury in adult and pediatric patients including injury mechanism recognition, management priorities, concussion evaluation, and spinal motion restriction using appropriate devices and cervical collarsManage complex trauma situations including crush injuries, prolonged entrapment, impaled objects, trauma in pregnancy, and confined space rescuer safety using appropriate stabilization and extrication techniquesAssess and manage stroke and TIA patients including prehospital stroke assessment tools, stroke alert activation, stroke center destination decisions, and coordination with emergency medical dispatchRecognize and manage neurological emergencies including seizures, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, convulsive concussion, and mental health emergencies including suicide risk assessment and safe physical restraint applicationManage obstetric emergencies including breech presentation, umbilical cord prolapse, shoulder dystocia, placental abruption, eclampsia, and magnesium toxicity while making appropriate transport decisions for maternal and fetal outcomesApply EMS operational knowledge including scope of practice, certification and licensure requirements, transport destination policies, dispatch principles, legal and regulatory compliance, patient privacy, and occupational health and wellness standards