Paramedic training can take up to two years to complete, depending on where you live and the course you take. If you don’t want to spend more than a few months in school, paramedic training may not be the best career for you. If, however, you have a desire to be on the front lines of saving people’s lives, paramedic training will be tough, but interesting enough to keep you coming back for more.
EMT-Basic
Before you become a full-fledged paramedic, you must complete Emergency Medical Technician-Basic training. You learn emergency skills like managing trauma, cardiac emergencies and assessing patients. You also learn skills in emergency departments or ambulances. You also learn how to assist in an emergency childbirth, stop bleeding and clear airway obstructions. After you pass a written and clinical exam, you can then move on to EMT-Intermediate training. Some ambulance services and hospitals offer EMT-Basic training. Community colleges also offer training for EMT-Basics. It may be a good idea to get a job as an EMT to learn the ropes of what work is truly like working as a paramedic.
EMT-Intermediate
The training the EMT-Intermediate level requires differs by state. It usually requires 30 to 350 hours of training. You learn more advanced life-saving skills, such as how to administer some medications and intravenous fluids.
Paramedic Training
After you have completed training for the previous levels of emergency medical technicians, you can complete paramedic training. You will learn even more advanced medical skills and take courses in anatomy, physiology and electrocardiography. To qualify for this training, you usually need at least a 10th grade reading comprehension and to have taken algebra. A high school diploma or GED is also typically required. Training takes place in community colleges and technical schools. Some schools may offer associate’s degrees, which may take up to one or two years to complete. When you pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians examination, you are certified as a paramedic. You must acquire a certain number of field hours to qualify to be a paramedic as well.
When you seek out a paramedic training program, remember that more money does not necessarily equate to a better-quality program than a less expensive one. Ask employers and current EMTs and paramedics which programs have a good reputation and which to avoid. Conduct research on paramedic training programs before you hand over any tuition money.
Paramedic training requires prerequisite training and field experience, and it can take a long time to complete. You must first finish EMT trainings before you can qualify to enter a paramedic training program. The long hours and possibly unpredictable schedule of the job is reflected in the rigor of the training required to enter this profession. The skills you learn, however, will prepare you to save the lives of people who need immediate help. Your training can make a positive difference in someone’s life. The love of the job is what should send you to a training program.
