Paramedic and EMT Training and Experience
Students taking online courses for EMT training or paramedic training can expect to learn the skills necessary to work in emergency situations such as natural disasters or man caused accidents. They also learn how to treat victims who are suffering from many injuries and how to transport injured victims.
Online Degrees
The online EMS degree programs offer certificates, associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees, and master's degrees. To earn college degrees, it is necessary to start with the basic EMT levels and work up.
Upon earning certification at the various levels, all fifty states require continuing education classes to keep on top of the advances in emergency medical services. Online continuing educations courses for paramedics and EMT's are available.
Bureaus of Labor Statistics Levels of EMT Certification
First Responder
The first step in EMT training is earning a First Responder certification. This is the certification required for police officers and firemen. This training involves basic life-support skills. Some of the things covered in this basic EMT course are:
- Basic medical terminology
- Patient assessment
- CPR
- Immobilization of fractures
- Bleeding control
- Childbirth
- Hazardous materials
EMT-Basic (EMT-1) - EMT Basic Course
The coursework included in this EMT basic course training includes the entire EMT basic course taught to first responder and then adds upon that. This EMT training emphasizes emergency skills, such as patient assessment, clearing respiratory tracks, trauma, heart attacks and strokes. Part of the EMT training for this level also covers the use of the basic emergency equipment, such as:
- Backboards
- Splints
- Stretches
- Oxygen systems
Certification requires 110 hours of coursework.
EMT-Intermediate (EMT-2 or 3)
Training requirements vary by state, but nationally defined EMT requirements state that 30 to 55 hours of additional EMT training are required to receive this certification. The coursework includes:
- How to inject intravenous fluids
- How to treat with some basic medications
- How to use advanced airway devises
- How to interpret an EKG
EMT-Paramedic (EMT-4)
This level's coursework is for paramedic training. To receive this certification, students must have at least a EMT-Basic certification. Most students in paramedic training earn an associate's degree because they spend anywhere from 750 to 2000 hours in coursework, field training, and hospital training.
Students in paramedic training learn advanced EMS procedures such as:
- 12-lead EKG interpretation
- Needle decompression for collapsed lungs
- Nasal intubation
- Cardiac pacing
As well as how to administration of medications for the treatment of:
- Cardiac arrest
- Diabetic reactions
- Allergic reactions
- Respiratory complications
Receiving Certification
For an EMT or paramedic to be certified, candidates must pass their EMT basic course training. They must also pass the NREMT, the national test, and most states require passing a hands-on test conducted by the individual states' evaluators.
Access to Online Courses
Online course materials and lectures can be accessed through any personal computer with internet access. There are field requirements for all these certifications and also for the degrees.