Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): Duties, Salary, and More

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) provide critical medical care to patients both on-site and in ambulances on their way to the hospital. As key members of the emergency medical services (EMS), EMTs often arrive first on the scene of an emergency, where they provide basic life-saving care to those in need. If you're interested in a fast-paced medical profession, then you might consider a career as an EMT. 

Continue reading to learn more about what an EMT does, the skills they need to perform their life-saving responsibilities, their salary and job outlook, and how to become one. You'll also find recommended courses to help you start pursuing a career as an EMT.

If you’re ready to start preparing for a role as an EMT, enroll in Rice University’s Medical Terminology Specialization. You’ll have the opportunity to learn key medical terms and the structure of electronic health records in as little as four weeks. By the end, you’ll have had the opportunity to gain the knowledge that will help you to succeed as an EMT.

What does an emergency medical technician do? Duties and responsibilities 

An EMT provides emergency on-site medical care and transportation for critically injured or ill individuals who require immediate medical assistance. Making sure every second counts, EMTs perform this basic and critical medical care out of an ambulance, using the tools and resources available within it.

Within the emergency medical technician job description, the goal of an EMT is to stabilize an individual and safely transport them to a medical facility that can further assist the patient. To ensure they provide the best possible care, though, EMTs typically work in pairs or teams with other EMTs rather than on their own. A paramedic is an advanced EMT who has received additional training and is qualified to perform more complex procedures.

Typical duties and responsibilities of an EMT include: 

• Provide basic first-aid treatment as needed

• Respond appropriately to emergency calls 

• Assess a person’s condition and know how to provide proper medical care 

• Put together an initial plan of care to quickly stabilize an individual in distress 

• Provide life-saving medical interventions like CPR

• Determine where to transport a patient for continuing care

• Communicate clearly and effectively with other first responders, emergency medical staff, and personnel 

• Maintain 12-hour shift schedules and on-call hours 

• Document medical care given to patients 

• Report patient observations to appropriate medical professionals 

While most EMTs drive and operate out of ambulances, some may also work out of other vehicles like helicopters or airplanes. Typically, though, airborne EMS professionals are paramedics rather than EMTs.

What is the difference between EMT and ERT?

The primary difference between an EMT and an emergency room tech (ERT) is typically the environment where they work. To be more specific, while an EMT typically works in an ambulance or some form of emergency service that is mobile, as an ERT, you would perform your duties in an actual emergency room.

Skills you’ll need to work as an EMT

Working as an EMT requires a high level of physical fitness and problem-solving skills needed to work effectively in high-stress situations. The ability to think fast and act quickly is an essential skill in this profession. You will likely meet people in a time of crisis, and they may need both physical and emotional care. Striking that balance can help you to be an effective EMT. 

A few vital personal skills you need to work as an EMT include: 

• Fast decision-making 

• Problem-solving 

• Empathy and understanding 

• Effective communication 

• Good listening 

• Patience 

• Compassion and caring 

• Mental resilience 

Additionally, some critical technical skills an EMT must possess that you will learn as part of your emergency medical technician training include:

• CPR 

• Life support 

• Vital signs 

• Trauma skills

• Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) certification

• Various medical equipment found in an ambulance 

• Emergency medical services (EMS) procedures and operations

Emergency medical technician salary and job outlook

If you’re wondering how much EMTs make, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), EMTs earn a median annual salary of $41,340 as of May 2024 [1]. Between 2024 and 2034, the US BLS expects the need for EMTs and paramedics to grow by 5 percent, leading to 9,200 EMT job openings per year in the US [2].

Experts predict the profession will continue to grow as the need for emergency medical care grows in the face of natural disasters, an aging population, and ongoing public health needs.

How many hours do EMTs work a day?

EMTs usually work 40 or more hours a week, but how many hours they work in a day depends on their unique schedule. Because EMTs are on demand around the clock, they may work 12-, 18-, or even 24-hour shifts. Your work schedule will depend on your employer and your unit’s needs.

How do I become an emergency medical technician?

You do not need a college degree to work as an EMT, but you will need to have your high school diploma or GED, gain the proper qualifications, and become licensed by your state.

While the exact requirements to become an EMT vary from state to state, take a look at some common steps that you can expect to complete:

1. Obtain your high school diploma or GED. 

Unlike many other professions in the health care industry, you don’t need to go to college and earn a degree to work as an EMT. As long as you are at least 18 years of age and hold a high school diploma or GED, you are eligible to enroll in an EMT program and earn the required certifications. 

2. Gain CPR certification. 

Your next step in becoming an EMT is to gain the required CPR certification. Organizations like the American Red Cross offer in-person and online CPR training courses that fulfill this CPR certification requirement. This step also involves not only gaining certification but also maintaining CPR certification. You typically need to renew your certifications at least every two years.

3. Enroll in an emergency medical technician training program. 

Look for an accredited, state-approved EMT program to complete your official EMT training. You’ll likely find these programs offered at local community colleges, fire stations, emergency training facilities, technical schools, or the American Red Cross. You can also check the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs website for an accredited EMT training program near you. 

You can explore both in-person and hybrid options. A hybrid option, which includes online and in-person training, may be more flexible if you're working, attending school, or have other full-time commitments. 

Coursework for your EMT program includes various topics, from human anatomy to bleeding management, reading vital signs to obstetrics. Most programs take one to two years to complete, or 120 to 150 credit hours. However, the EMT basic course can take as little as three to six weeks and prepares you for the licensure exam. The time it takes you to pass an EMT program also depends on your coursework and career goals as an EMT. You can take additional coursework to further your options within the profession. 

4. Earn licensure.

Upon completing an accredited EMT program, you'll become qualified to take your licensure examination. This exam is called the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) cognitive exam, and it involves both a cognitive and a psychomotor exam portion. 

The cognition exam will test your knowledge of the critical subjects an entry-level EMT must know. These topics include primary and secondary assessment, patient treatment and transport, and more. The test is a computer-adaptive exam consisting of 70 to 120 questions. You can retake this exam as many as six times, but if you fail on your third attempt, you must take remedial education classes prior to your fourth attempt. After your sixth attempt, you will need to retake an EMT program before sitting for the exam again. 

National Registry psychomotor exams are coordinated by your state’s EMS office or educational institutions that provide this exam or training. The exam uses simulated patients and scenarios that test the skills and knowledge you need to work as an EMT.

Once you've passed both exams, you will be licensed to work as an EMT in your state. 

5. Apply for EMT jobs in your area. 

After meeting the requirements to work as an EMT in your state, it’s now time to apply for EMT jobs in your area. Your resume should include details about your EMT program, certification, and any additional training and certifications you’ve gained. Be sure to highlight skills that would make you a successful EMT and have a few references who can speak to those skills. The number of opportunities to work as an EMT in your community may surprise you, including:

• Hospitals

• Surgery centers

• Private ambulance services

• Fire departments

• Police departments

• Colleges and universities

• Large hotels

• Amusement parks

• National parks

Consider where you’d like to work and if you have a specific population you’d like to work with. For example, if you enjoy working with older people, you might try to apply for an EMT position that serves local nursing homes. 

Explore our free career resources

Prepare for your career as an EMT by exploring Coursera’s resources, such as subscribing to Career Chat, where you can get your top career questions answered. Also, check out these free resources:

• Take a quiz: What Career is Right for Me?

• Watch on YouTube: 10 Recession-Proof Jobs for Greater Career Stability

• Strengthen your EMT skills: Tips to strengthen your people skills

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses. 

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