How to Become a Paramedic/EMT
Updated April 25, 2024
Paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) need certification and/or state licensure to practice, but they can take several different pathways into these professions.
Discover the steps to become an EMT and paramedic, including requirements for education and certification and each pathway's advantages.
How Long to Become:
1-2 Years
Certification:
National EMS Certification
Job Outlook:
5% Growth from 2022-2032
Source: BLS
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What is a Paramedic?
Paramedics are emergency care practitioners who respond to medical calls, assess patients' conditions, and perform on-site medical treatments. They manage patients with traumatic injuries and conditions, administer medications, and monitor their status while transporting them to medical facilities.
Paramedics typically work in emergency vehicles, including ambulances and medical evacuation helicopters. These professionals work under physicians' remote supervision and authorization to perform advanced medical functions and life-saving procedures required in emergencies.
Paramedics often use more advanced medical equipment and intervention techniques than other emergency care practitioners. They also possess the highest levels of education among the related professionals.
What is an EMT?
As members of the emergency medical services (EMS) system, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) provide stabilizing and life-support care to patients at the scene of an incident. They prepare patients for ambulance transport and monitor their vital signs.
While EMTs work alongside paramedics in ambulances and other emergency transport vehicles, there are different EMT levels of training and expertise, such as EMT and advanced EMT (AEMT). These levels determine the equipment, medical procedures, and medications they can use.
The typical duties of an EMT include assessing patients, opening and maintaining airways, and performing CPR with only basic equipment. AEMTs perform similar duties but may have access to more advanced equipment and procedures, including monitoring electrocardiograms (EKGs), automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and supraglottic devices.
Paramedic vs. EMT: Understanding the Differences
Paramedics and EMTs work in the same settings and provide much of the same emergency care but differ in education and other requirements.
| Key Factor | Paramedic | EMT |
|---|---|---|
| Education | Completion of a state-approved EMT program AND an accredited paramedic program; some organizations may require completion of American Heart Association certification courses | Completion of a state-approved EMT or AEMT course or certificate program; some organizations may require completion of American Heart Association certification courses |
| Certifications and Licenses | Paramedic license (initial applicants need a current EMT or AEMT license or certification), ACLS and PALS certifications, and BLS for healthcare providers | State EMT or AEMT license and certification (if required) and BLS for healthcare providers |
| Duties | All EMT and AEMT duties, plus administering medications in more advanced ways and using more advanced medical equipment, such as AEDs and EKGs | Assessing and managing patients' conditions, including performing CPR and controlling bleeding; may use more advanced medical techniques and technologies, including intravenous and respiratory assistance devices |
Steps to Becoming a Paramedic or EMT
The requirements to become an EMT or paramedic vary by state and can differ in length. The following section explores the different ways you can become an EMT, AEMT, and a paramedic.
-
1
Complete Basic EMT Training
State-approved EMT training may occur in classes or certificate programs and typically features over 150 hours of coursework in topics like patient assessment and airway management. These programs also include lab work and supervised clinical experience. You can complete most programs in less than one year. -
2
Pass a National or State Exam to Become Certified
Depending on your state, you may need to complete a national or state exam for EMT certification and/or licensure. The national exam from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) features a cognitive section that covers trauma and EMS operations. You also complete a psychomotor section with your state's EMS office, which covers immobilization and treatment administration. After passing the exams, you qualify for certification through the NREMT and/or licensure within your state. -
3
Complete Advanced EMT Training (Optional)
A state-approved AEMT course or certificate program typically features more than 150 hours of coursework, including advanced airway management techniques and patient assessment skills. These programs typically feature more robust clinical requirements than basic EMT programs and take longer to complete. This credential will qualify you for the national or state AEMT exams and subsequent state licensure. -
4
Earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree (Optional)
Completing an AAS degree in emergency medical services or a related field can prepare you to pursue state paramedic certification and licensure. The programs must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). You need to complete an EMT program or hold a current EMT license for entry. -
5
Gain Experience as a Paramedic/EMT
Many paramedic programs and employment opportunities require EMT experience. Some EMT positions, especially in specialized fields, require experience. You might gain initial experience via internships, volunteer service, and/or private ambulance providers.
Paramedic/EMT Education
The relatively broad educational requirements for paramedics and EMTs can provide flexibility when choosing paramedic and EMT programs. While you must pursue a state-approved course at minimum, your training may lead to a certificate or a degree. Depending on your choice, your program could take a few weeks or several years to complete.
Basic EMT Training
A state-approved EMT course is the shortest route to EMT certification, licensure, and employment. Program requirements vary by state but typically include a minimum of 150 hours of instruction, including a substantial practical component. In addition to certification and state licensure, employers may require supervised professional experience, which you can gain through your program or private service.
- Admission Requirements: 18 years old, high school diploma or GED certificate, basic life support or CPR, criminal record check, minimum physical criteria
- Program Curriculum: Patient assessment, airway management, emergency medical care, trauma management, issues in EMS, fieldwork
- Time to Complete: About six months
- Skills Learned: Basic life support, patient assessment and transport, medical communication, splinting and immobilization
Advanced EMT Training
State-approved AEMT programs qualify you for AEMT certification, state licensure, and the expanded EMT roles that come with the credential. These programs also vary by state but typically feature at least 150 hours of advanced EMT instruction, plus a weightier practical component than basic EMT programs. Many AEMT careers require professional EMT experience.
- Admission Requirements: Current EMT certification or recent completion of a basic EMT program, plus 18 years old, high school diploma or GED certificate, basic life support or CPR, criminal record check, minimum physical criteria
- Program Curriculum: Advanced EMT, advanced EMT skills, advanced EMT internship/practicum
- Time to Complete: Up to one year
- Skills Learned: Advanced patient assessment, advanced life support interventions, cardiac management, bleeding control, intravenous therapy
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Many schools offer AAS degrees in paramedicine or emergency medical services, which can qualify you for the EMT and paramedic certification exams and state licensure. This degree typically appeals to learners who want to become paramedics and may pursue further training down the line. While paramedic certification and licensure do not require a degree, some employers may prefer it.
- Admission Requirements: Completion of a state-approved EMT course and/or EMT license, 18 years old, high school diploma or GED certificate (some programs require a minimum GPA)
- Program Curriculum: Pathophysiology, pharmacology, respiratory management, trauma management, advanced practice, clinical internship/practicum
- Time to Complete: Up to two years
- Skills Learned: Advanced patient assessment, scene control, manage injuries and illnesses, advanced airway control, cardiac skills, intubation
Paramedic Licensure and Certification
While the two terms are often used interchangeably, licensure and certification differ — licensure comes from the state, while certification is granted by non-governmental organizations. Regardless of your location, you need state licensure to work as a paramedic. In most states, you need national certification from the NREMT to qualify for licensure.
Certification Requirements
- State-approved EMT course/certificate
- Current CPR or basic life support
- Passing scores on cognitive and psychomotor exams
Some state EMS offices even refer to the licensing process as "certification" but still award licensure despite the name. Once licensed, a paramedic must renew their credentials every two years by completing 30 hours of continuing education or completing a cognitive exam.
EMT Licensure and Certification
Like paramedics, EMTs need state licensure to practice, regardless of location. The certification requirements, however, vary by state. Some require you to pursue certification with the NREMT, while others manage the process through local EMS offices.
Certification Requirements
- Current EMT certification and/or license
- Recently completed CAAHEP-accredited paramedic program
- Current CPR or basic life support
- Pass the cognitive and psychomotor exams
Once licensed, each EMT needs to renew their license every two years by completing 20 hours of continuing education or completing a cognitive competency exam.
Working as a Paramedic/EMT
There's a modest professional outlook for paramedics and EMTs, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projecting 5% growth from 2022-2032. BLS data indicates that, as of May 2023, paramedics earned a median annual income of $53,180, while paramedics earned $38,930.
EMTs and paramedics work primarily in ambulance services, but they can also work in hospitals and outpatient care centers, which tend to pay higher wages. While their work setting can influence the type of work and hours they encounter, many EMTs and paramedics work nontraditional hours that can include nights, weekends, and long shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Paramedic/EMT
Should I do EMT before paramedic?
Becoming an EMT before becoming a paramedic is not only beneficial, it is mandatory. For entry into an accredited paramedic program, you need a current EMT certification or license. You may also need EMT experience.
How long does it take to become a paramedic in the U.S.?
The time to become a paramedic depends on your chosen program, study schedule, and course load. Most accredited programs lead to a certificate or associate degree and take less than two years to complete. EMT training typically takes about six months to complete.
Is becoming a paramedic harder than an RN?
Paramedics and registered nurses study similar material, but the difficulty of their programs is subjective, and these programs can differ in length. While you can pursue RN licensure with a diploma or associate degree with similar completion times to paramedic programs, many RNs pursue four-year bachelor's degrees.
Page last reviewed by Elizabeth M. Clarke, MSN, FNP, RN, MSSW on April 18, 2024
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