When accidents happen or people become ill, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics arrive on the scene. These healthcare professionals respond to emergency situations. Their job is to save lives.
An emergency medical technician:
- Provides immediate medical care
- Responds to emergency calls
- Transport patients to medical facilities
In this article, we talk about the education needed to be a EMT. If you’re wondering what degrees do you need to be a paramedic, read on. Find out what schooling for EMT jobs you need for a successful career.
How Do You Become an EMT?
To become an EMT, you need training and licensing. Do you need a degree to be an EMT? It depends. Many emergency medical technicians complete a postsecondary educational program. You can get EMT training at:
- Community colleges
- Facilities that specialize in emergency response care
- Technical schools
- Universities
What you can do in high school
It’s never too early to start thinking about the schooling required for EMT careers. In high school, you can take courses that will give you a foundation to build on. What kind of EMT and paramedic courses can you take in high school?
- Anatomy
- Biology
- Physiology
Any science course will give you the lab experience you need to tackle college classes. Most high schools don’t offer emergency medical care courses, but you can earn your cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR certification. Some schools offer this as part of a health program. You need this EMT certification to enter a postsecondary program.
Anything you can do in high school to prepare yourself for college will benefit your journey. The earlier you start thinking about becoming an EMT, the quicker you can get started.
What you can do in college
Now that you know what to do in high school, how about college? You find most EMT training programs at technical schools. Some state universities also offer them. Once enrolled in accredited EMT programs, you can start learning what it takes to work in the profession.
An EMT certification program takes one to two years to complete. But the two-year programs lead to associate’s degrees. if you plan to advance in your career, consider a two- or four-year degree.
What Degree Do You Need to be a Paramedic?
There is no standard EMT degree. Not everyone has a bachelor’s degree. Some EMTs have associate’s degrees, while others have EMT certification and training. You don’t need a degree to work as an EMT.
But you do need training and licensing. The amount of training depends on the state you work in. But all states want paramedics and EMTs to have licenses.
EMT Education Needed
You need certain skills and knowledge to work as an EMT. To develop these skills, most aspiring EMTs complete a postsecondary EMT education program. You find these at a community college or technical school.
Allied health education programs, such as EMT training, give you emergency care experience. But to get into these programs, you need a high school diploma and CPR certification. You can get your CPR training online or in-person. The American Red Cross offers such programs.
When you have a high school diploma and CPR certification, you can qualify for admission to emergency medical responder or EMT programs. There are both degree and non-degree programs. Plan on spending one year to complete the non-degree training and two years to finish an emergency care degree program.
If you plan to advance in your EMT career, you should get at least an associate’s degree.
EMT Schooling and Training
We discussed what degree do you need to be an EMT, but what about training? Emergency medical care requires specific skills and training. In an EMT program, you will spend 150 hours with instructors. During this time, you learn how to do many different skills.
You learn how to:
- Clear airways
- Evaluate patient conditions
- Manage trauma and heart emergencies
- Treat emergencies
- Use medical equipment
More advanced EMT medical professionals need more training. Advanced EMTs receive 300 hours of emergency services training. Advanced study covers:
- Intravenous (IV) fluids
- How to administer medications
- More complex devices for opening airways
While training for EMTs is significant, paramedics need more time learning advanced skills. Paramedics spend 1,200 hours learning complex skills. Paramedic programs teach students how to handle medical emergencies. They learn how to administer IV fluids and stitch up wounds.
Best EMT Major
If you want to earn a four-year degree before becoming an EMT or paramedic, you can. Earning a bachelor’s can improve your job prospects and help you advance in your career. But what degree does a paramedic need? What paramedic major will land you a job?
Below are some of the most popular majors for EMTs and paramedics.
Emergency Management
A major in emergency management prepares students for careers in safety and emergency management services. A four-year degree can also qualify you for work in emergency medical technology.
You study:
- Emergency preparedness
- Emergency situations
- Risk assessment
- Staff management
You also learn about human behavior during times of crisis. Most programs take four years to complete, but online studies can shorten the time.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Bachelor’s in EMS degree programs are for future paramedics, EMTs, and other medical professionals. They also meet the educational needs of practicing paramedics because of their advanced coursework. In an EMS program, you take courses such as:
- Advanced emergency medical services
- Critical care
- Emergency medical technician
- EMS disaster medicine
- EMS special operations
- Wilderness medicine
Public Health
A bachelor’s degree in public health is for students with a high school diploma who want a strong foundation in biological and social sciences. Courses cover topics such as:
- Biological concepts of public health
- Healthcare delivery systems
- Population health
You learn how to handle emergency situations as they impact the public. You examine vaccination rates and confront food-borne diseases, among other issues.
Safety Management
A bachelor’s degree in safety management teaches students how to meet safety challenges in different regulatory environments. Safety management programs are for active-duty military and working professionals. But others can earn this degree. It is ideal for an aspiring emergency medical technician EMT.
Courses cover topics such as:
- Disaster policy and management
- Fire protection
- Introduction to research methods
- System safety management
EMT Licenses and Certifications
All states want EMTs and paramedics to attain licenses. This means earning certification through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).
You can get your National Registry license after you finish an emergency medical technology education program. You must also pass both practical and written components of a test.
Some states also want candidates take an additional exam to earn their licenses. First responders, like firefighters, also need to have EMT certification to work in emergency services.
Other Characteristics EMTs Need
EMTs and paramedics save lives on the job. They have specific skills that help them handle emergencies. But there are also certain characteristics EMTs and paramedics should possess to handle the pressure and responsibilities of the job.
A job as an EMT requires training. This training helps develop skills. But not all skills are developed in the classroom. Work as an EMT is challenging. You need a certain level of:
- Compassion
- Empathy
- Endurance
- Physical strength
- Problem solving abilities
- Stamina
These characteristics help you fulfill your job duties in emergency situations.
Skills and Strengths EMTs Need
EMTs and paramedics are emergency responders. They are some of the first people on the scene in emergency situations. Because the job is high-pressure, certain skills are important to have. These include:
- Good listening skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Speaking skills
- Stamina
- Strength
How Long Does It Take to Become an EMT?
If you want to become an EMT, you’ll want to know how much time it will take. Most non-degree programs take one year to complete. Allied health education programs take longer.
For an associate’s degree, plan on spending two years in school to complete your EMT training. Bachelor’s degree programs take four years to complete. But remember, there are no degree requirements to become an EMT. Most paramedic programs lead to CPR training and licensure.
Becoming an EMT takes hard work and dedication, but your EMT training can reward you with an exciting career.
How to Become an EMT Without a Degree
If you’re considering a job as an EMT, but don’t want to earn a degree, you’re in luck. You won’t be able to land a job without training, but you don’t need to earn a degree to qualify for employment. EMTs and paramedics don’t need college degrees.
To become an EMT, you do need a high school diploma. This will get you admitted to most emergency medical technician EMT and paramedic programs. To work as an EMT you need certain skills and knowledge. You can get this from a non-degree program.
A non-degree EMT program takes one year to complete. Some programs take more time, while others take less. You can find these paramedic programs in technical schools. But some colleges and universities also offer them.
For a list of accredited EMT programs, visit the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). There is a national registry of programs listed by:
- Name
- State
Currently, there are over 570 accredited diploma or certificate programs listed by the CAAHEP for EMTs and paramedics.
How Much Money Does an EMT Make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), EMTs make a median annual salary less than the average for all other occupations. As of last year, the median annual salary for EMTs and paramedics was $35,470. The lowest 10% of earners made less than $24,000. The highest 10% made over $47,000/year.
Paramedics earn more than EMTs. The median annual salary for paramedics is $46,770. But the highest earners in this profession make over $74,000/year.
Where you work impacts the money you can make as an EMT or paramedic. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports three top-paying industries for EMTs. In these industries, you can expect the highest wages.
Top Paying Industries for EMTs
- General, medical facilities and surgical hospitals: $36,590/year
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals: $36,400/year
- Administrative support and waste management: $36,350/year
Where you live also impacts the money you make. EMTs working in certain areas of the country earn higher wages. Certain states, metro areas, and non-metro areas offer higher wages than others.
High-Paying States for EMTs
- Hawaii: $55,600/year
- Alaska: $51,330/year
- Maryland: $50,770/year
- District of Columbia: $48,500/year
- Illinois: $44,460/year
The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics published by BLS also offers information on high-paying metropolitan areas. These areas offer the highest wages for EMTs. In some cities, you can make twice the national average in an EMT position.
High-Paying Metro Areas for EMTs
- Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina: $63,500/year
- Coeur d’Alene, Idaho: $59,020/year
- Urban Honolulu, Hawaii: $58,770/year
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC, VA, MD, WV: $56,130/year
- San Francisco, Oakland, California: $55,620/year
You don’t have to live in a metro area to earn high wages as an EMT. Lower costs of living draw EMTs to non-metropolitan where you can earn above-average wages. Read on for a list of the top-paying non-metro areas for EMTs.
High-Paying Non-Metro Areas for EMTs
- Alaska non-metro area: $54,530/year
- Massachusetts non-metro area: $52,470/year
- North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California: $44,170/year
- Northwest Colorado non-metro area: $42,240/year
- Northeast Virginia non-metro area: $39,270/year
What Is the Job Outlook for EMTs?
Now that you know what it takes for EMT jobs, you should learn what employment outlook you can expect.
The BLS reports a 7% job growth through 2031. This is about as fast as the average for all occupations. Paramedics should also expect a 7% growth in jobs over the next decade.
Most job openings should result from the need to replace workers who retire or exit the labor force. With events such as car crashes steady, there will be a need for paramedics and EMTs. Other causes for demand include:
- Acts of violence
- Drug abuse incidents
- Natural disasters
Small cities and rural areas will have the most need for emergency medical services. Volunteer openings for EMTs and paramedics will increase.
Another factor increasing demand for EMTs is the growth of middle-aged and the older population. As people age, they experience age-related health issues and emergencies. The number of strokes and heart attacks will rise. As such, demand for ambulance services and emergency care will increase.
With steady wages and a favorable employment outlook, now is a good time to complete your schooling for EMT jobs. If you’re considering emergency care training to become an EMT, there’s no time like the present to start your journey.
BDP Staff
January 2023
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- Ultimate Guide to Nursing & Healthcare Degrees and Careers