Round Certified

Round Certified

How to become an EMT quickly?

What is the fastest way to become an EMT? basically, I would like to be an EMT by the time I graduate from college, but in college I'm working towards a BA, not EMT certification. Is it possible to become a certified EMT and still remain in college (not that I would give up college for this anyway)? How long does an EMT certification take to complete? Is it a year round gig, or is it something I would be able to do online, or during the summer? 10 points for the most details. Thanks!

EMT-B certification training is about 110 hours (not semester hours, classroom hours) in most states. Different states have different rules.

The usual option is to take a course sponsored by your local community college or the local EMS system (usually meets twice per week plus some ER and ride-along hours) and then take the exam. Expect it to be spread over about 3 months.

You local community college is the place to start looking for answers - they're usually the place that sponsors the class.

It can't be done online - there's too much practical work involved. It can be done in a summer. EMT-B courses rarely last more than a typical semester. Advanced level EMT certification lasts longer. If you live near the ocean, adding a USLS Lifeguard Certification to your EMT cert creates some real value. There are also often locally managed courses in all sorts of rescue techniques that you might be able to take through the volunteer fire dept after you're a certified EMT.

It's very possible to complete the EMT certification process while you're enrolled working on your BA. Just don't attempt it when you have a heavy academic load with a lot of work. An EMT-B course will require a lot of study and practice time.

You might want to take the NREMT (National Registry) exam even if it's not required in the state you're in. That will give you maximum mobility.

EMT-P (Paramedic) certification is an entirely different animal. There's no such thing as a quick way to become a paramedic.

Understand that EMT-B is the basic level of care and is not the pre-hospital career certification. It's excellent additional certification for firefighters, police officers, lifeguards, athletic trainers, etc... but if you want to work full-time for an EMS service you'll need an advanced level (at least EMT-I) if not paramedic certification.

Just having the knowledge an EMT-B course provides (in my opinion) is worth million$. It's saved my life at least once (heart attack - but I knew it was coming and had it in the ER) and loved ones more times than I like to count. Not to mention strangers I'll likely never see again. Even if you never do it for a job - it's just really cool knowing you have that skill. [I did it for a job and burned out in 6-months. I have all of the respect in the world for the folks that do this for a lifetime career.]

We (society) don't want there to be an any quicker way to become an EMT or Paramedic. You don't get any "do-overs" in that field.

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