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Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

The majority of pre-hospital emergency medical care is provided by an EMT. This course is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to provide emergency medical care at a basic life support level, and prepare them for certification by the National Registry of EMT's.

At successful completion of the course, the student will be capable of performing the following functions at an entry level:

  1. Recognize the nature and seriousness of the patient's condition or extent of injuries to assess requirements for emergency medical care.
  2. Administer appropriate emergency medical care based on assessment findings of the patient's condition.
  3. Lift, move, position and otherwise handle the patient to minimize discomfort and prevent further injury.
  4. Perform safely and effectively the expectations of the job description.

The course is 110 hours in length, equally divided between lecture and practical skills labs. Courses are approved by the Vermont Department of Health Office of EMS and Injury Prevention, and are offered for academic credit and non-credit.

Certification

Upon successful completion of this course students are eligible to sit for the National Registry of EMT certification exam. Following National certification students are eligible for state licensure based on individual state requirements. Contact your state EMS office for additional eligibility requirements.

Prerequisites

To be eligible for the course, candidates must meet the following entry requirements:

  • High school diploma, GED or Academically Talented High School Senior
  • Basic Cardiac Life Support Certified (BCLS is equivalent to either Healthcare Provider CPR or Professional Rescuer CPR)

Academic Credit and Non-Credit Options

Academic Credit

Students seeking academic credit for EMT Basic and EMT Advanced must enroll in both a lecture and lab section equaling 6 credits. See the UVM Schedule of Courses for details and registration information.

Non-Credit Option

Students enrolling for non-credit should contact the instructor, Pat Malone, at Patrick.Malone@med.uvm.edu for registration instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is eligible to register for the Emergency Medical Technician course? Anyone with a high school diploma or GED is eligible. All applicants must be certified in Basic Cardiac Life Support (CPR) prior to the beginning of the course. Priority is given to individuals affiliated with Vermont-licensed emergency medical service organizations.
  • Why is priority given to individuals affiliated with EMS organizations? Training resources are limited and those individuals who will serve as emergency medical technicians in Vermont are supported through priority registration.
  • How do I get affiliated? Contact your local EMS service. If you do not know your local service contact the Vermont EMS Office at 802-863-7310 or healthvermont.gov.
  • Don't I have to be trained and certified in order to join a service? The majority of EMS services accept individuals with no prior training or experience. The service will assist you in registering for appropriate training programs. Many services will actually pay for training programs or reimburse you after you have successfully completed the program.
  • I am in a pre-med program, and I understand that being certified as an EMT will enhance my medical school application. Our understanding is that admissions committees at medical schools value experience as an EMT for two reasons: the clinical experience gained in the field and the community service aspect of the experience. In addition to being certified as an EMT, they want to see you gain experience using your training.
  • I live in Vermont, outside of Chittenden County, can I be affiliated with an EMS service located elsewhere in Vermont? Yes, as long as the service is licensed in Vermont.
  •  I live in another state, is it possible to become certified in Vermont and be recognized in another state? The State of Vermont uses the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians for certification exams. You will receive National Registry when you successfully complete the Vermont certification process. Most states recognize the National Registry, contact the EMS Office in your home state for details.