How To Become A Paramedic

In order to become a paramedic, you first have to have a high school diploma or a GED. Then, you’ll have to enter the basic level training of emergency medical technician. The basic level includes class work that emphasizes emergency skills, such as first aid and CPR. You will also be required to learn medical terminology. You’ll learn how to manage trauma, respiratory emergencies, cardiac problems, and patient assessments. These courses may also be combined with on site work on an ambulance truck or at a hospital emergency room.

The program will provide you with practice in dealing with airway obstruction, fractures, emergency childbirth, cardiac arrest, and bleeding. You will learn how to maintain and use common medical emergency equipment. This can include suction devices, backboards, oxygen delivery systems, splints, and stretchers. Once you graduate from this level, you will need to pass a written and practical examination that is given to you by the state licensing agency.

At the intermediate level, you may be required to  have an additional 30 to 350 hours of training, based on the scope of your practice. You will learn advanced skills in using intravenous fluids and medications. The most advanced level of training is known as the paramedic.

At the paramedic training level you will learn physiology and anatomy skills. You will also be doing training at either a community college or a state college. These programs can usually take up to four years to complete. You’ll be doing extensive coursework along with field experience. After you graduate, you may still be required to take refresher courses.

All 50 states will require emergency medical technicians to be licensed. This also includes the paramedics. The levels and titles will vary from state to state. In many states, you may be required to take an exam from the NREMT or the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. In other states, you will be taking an exam that is issued directly by your state. Licensure renewal is required every three years in most states.

In addition, you will need to be emotionally stable and be in good physical condition in order to work as a paramedic. You will be required to lift heavy loads, and work under very stressful life or death situations. This requires a sound mind and good eye sight. The job prospects for someone who has graduated as a paramedic are plenty.  You can become a supervisor, administrator directory, executive director of emergency services, operations manager and even an instructor. Many paramedics move on to become a nurse or a physician.

Paramedics and emergency medical technicians held approximately 300,000 jobs in 2010. Most of the career paramedics worked in metropolitan areas. Small cities, towns and rural areas tend to hire volunteer emergency medical worker s and paramedics. Other paramedics work in fire departments or in hospitals and may only respond to a few calls per month. The job outlook for paramedics is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all the occupations throughout 2012. Job prospects are excellent, especially with private ambulance services. The employment of paramedics is expected to grow 10 percent between 2011 and 2018.

This is about as fast as the average for all occupations. The growth in this occupation is because of the increasing call volume. There is a large segment of the population that is aging, and this will no doubt increase the need for EMTs and paramedics. Also, the time that a paramedic must spend with each patient is increasing. This is due to overcrowding in urban populations. It takes longer to transfer the injured patient from the care of the paramedics to the hospital.