How to Become an EMT

Find out how to become an EMT with our state-specific sections that hand you all the information you need to know about EMT requirements in your state. While there are some general guidelines that most states follow, every state has it’s own rules when it comes to applying for EMT certification.

A career as an EMT can be an extremely rewarding way to earn a living but figuring out how to become an EMT can be an exercise in frustration. State EMS websites are often confusing and difficult to navigate, making it hard to know where to find the information you need.

That’s why we created HowToBecomeAnEMTnow.com. Simply click on your state below to discover all the requirements necessary to become an EMT in one simple page.

Select your state below:

• Alabama • Alaska • American Samoa • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • District of Columbia • Florida • Georgia • Guam • Hawaii

• Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri

• Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Northern Marianas Islands • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon

• Puerto Rico • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Virgin Islands • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

Steps to Become an EMT

The requirements to become an EMT vary a bit from state to state. Most states follow National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) guidelines for their EMT job description and requirements but some states have developed their own rules. Even among the states that follow the NREMT there are variations on what’s required since the NREMT rules are not mandatory.

But if you want to learn how to become an EMT in general, here are the basic steps you will go through in most states. For specific requirements, select your state from the list above.

Step 1 – Get CPR certified

You will need to have your CPR card before you can enroll in an EMT training course. Your state may require your CPR training to follow American Heart Association guidelines or American Red Cross guidelines.

Step 2 – Enroll in an EMT Training Course

The first major step in your journey to become an EMT is the EMT training course. EMT training courses takes at least 150 hours and include both classroom and hands-on practical lessons. You need to be 18 or older and have your high school diploma or GED to apply.

Step 3 – Take a State Approved EMT Examination

After you pass your EMT training course you will need to pass a state approved EMT examination. Many states use the NREMT EMT examination as the certification test but some states have their own exams.

The EMT exam is a criterion-based exam which means you either meet the criteria for becoming an EMT or you don’t. There are no grades for an EMT exam, you either pass or fail.

Step 4 – Apply for Your EMT License

At this point you’re ready to apply for your EMT license in your state. The application process is different in every state but in general you will need proof of passing a state approved EMT examination, a photo I.D., a criminal background check, application fees, etc.

For details about the application requirements in your state select your state from the list above.

Step 5 – Find an EMT Job

Obviously the last step in learning how to become an EMT is finding an EMT job and the future looks very positive right now.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects an additional 75,000 EMT jobs by 2020. That’s a 33% increase in the number of EMT positions as of 2010. Average job growth for all occupations in the U.S.A. is projected to be 14% for the same time period. In other words EMT job openings are expected to increase at more than double the national average in the next ten years.

Licensed EMTs can find jobs in many different places including Ambulance companies, a Fire Departments, hospitals and medical centers. Many large corporations hire EMTs to have on staff to respond to employee emergencies.

Click here to see a find an EMT job in your area.

So now you have a basic idea of how to become an EMT. Each step has it’s own requirements and more information can be found on your state’s specific page.