Emergency Medical Technicians

Certification or Licensing

All 50 states have some EMT certification requirement. Certification is only open to those who have completed the standard basic training course. Some states offer new EMTs the choice of the National Registry examination or the state's own certification examination. A majority of states accept national registration in place of their own examination for EMTs who relocate to their states.

After the training program has been successfully completed, the graduate has the opportunity to work toward becoming certified or registered with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). Applicants should check the specific regulations and requirements for their state.

At present, the NREMT recognizes four levels of competency: Emergency Medical Responder (NREMR), Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (NRAEMT, also known as EMT-intermediate), and Paramedic (NRP). Although it is not always essential for EMTs to become registered with one of these ratings, you can expect better job prospects as you attain higher levels of registration.

Candidates for the first responder designation must have completed the standard U.S. Department of Transportation training program (or their state's equivalent) and pass both a state-approved written and a hands-on practical examination.

Candidates for the EMT-basic, or Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT), designation must have completed the standard U.S. Department of Transportation training program (or their state's equivalent), have a current approved CPR credential for the professional rescuer, and pass both a state-approved practical examination and a written examination.

The EMT-advanced level of competency requires all candidates to have current registration at the EMT-basic level or higher. They must also have a certain amount of experience, completed a state-approved EMT advanced course, have a current approved CPR credential for the professional rescuer, and pass both a written test and a practical examination.

To become registered as an EMT-paramedic, or EMT-P, the highest level of registration, candidates must be already registered at the basic or intermediate level. They must have completed a special EMT-P training program and pass both a written and practical examination. Because training is much more comprehensive and specialized than for other EMTs, EMT-Ps are prepared to make more physician-like observations and judgments.