Paramedic vs. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Consider becoming an emergency medical technician (EMT) or a paramedic if you want to pursue a rewarding health care career that focuses on providing urgent care to sick or injured people. Both specialize in emergency care, but their skills and qualifications set them apart. Learning about the differences between these roles may help you decide if either is a good fit for you.

In this article, we discuss the differences between EMTs and paramedics to help you decide which career best suits your goals and interests.

What is an EMT?

An emergency medical technician is a health care professional who assists in emergency medical situations, including assessing patients' medical conditions and documenting the care received. They are the most common type of emergency care providers and the foundation for advanced emergency medical services. There are two levels of EMT proficiency: EMT Basic and EMT Advanced (also called EMT Intermediate.) Common duties include:

•Attending scenes of accidents or incidents- Assessing the level of care needed and calling for more help if required

•Using life-support techniques such as CPR, wound treatment and pain management

•Transporting patients to medical facilities and providing care on the way

•Understanding the legal implications of administering medical care and treatment

What is a paramedic?

Paramedics respond to medical emergencies, but they also provide advanced medical care in emergencies. They are required to obtain more training than EMTs and complete a two-year college program. Common duties include:

•Responding to emergency calls

•Assessing patients, making diagnoses and providing medical treatment

•Administering medication, dressing wounds and injuries and providing pain relief

•Administering intravenous (IV) drugs.

•Delivering babies

•Using specialist medical equipment such as defibrillators, nebulizers and ventilators.

•Transporting patients to the hospital, keeping their condition stable and handing over to hospital staff on arrival

Differences between an EMT and a paramedic

All paramedics are EMTs, but not all EMTs are paramedics. Both are “first responders.” The main differences between the two include:

EMT education

To pursue a paramedic or EMT career, you often earn a high school diploma or pass the General Educational Development (GED) exam. You then complete a college-level program in emergency medical technology. EMT programs typically take about a year to complete—120 to 150 hours—and provide classroom-style instruction on medical conditions and treatment and hands-on paramedic and EMT training information.

Paramedic education

Paramedics are required to complete basic and advanced EMT training and other studies. They are generally required to work at least a year as an EMT to gain on-the-job experience followed by 1,200 to 1,800 training hours. College degree programs in paramedic science are popular and usually take about two years.

Certifications and licenses

After mastering the fundamentals, emergency medical professionals need certification. EMT certification is the entry point into the field of emergency medical services. Both EMTs and paramedics pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certification exam, which includes written and interactive components. Some states require their own NREMT-type exam in addition to, or instead of, the national certification test.

EMTs and paramedics need cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification, which they typically obtain before applying for a professional program. Most emergency medical specialists also have licenses to drive ambulances, which requires about eight hours of instruction. Both EMTs and paramedics need a state license to work in the field. Each state has its own licensing requirements. Some simply require NREMT certification, while other states require an additional exam. Each profession also requires continuing education according to licensing requirements.

EMT certifications

There are two levels of EMT certification, and each validates different skills for different jobs, also known as “scope of service.” They are:

•EMT-Basic (EMT-B): EMT-Basic is the entry-level EMT certification that tests basic EMT skills. It requires a semester of training at a college or accredited program.

•Advanced EMT (AEMT): The Advanced EMT certificate validates additional skills beyond EMT-Basic. EMTs with this certification can perform more advanced duties, including IV insertion, patient intubation and in some states, drug administration. It also requires one semester of college-level training.

•Continued education: The Paramedic National Continued Competency Program (PNCCP) provides recertification and continuing education hours needed to retain EMT and AEMT licenses. It has three components: national content (50%), local content (25%) and individual content (25%) for a total of 50 hours for AEMTs and 40 hours for EMTs.

Paramedic certifications

Just like EMTs, paramedics are required to pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certification exam and hold EMT certification. Paramedics can go much further in their careers with specialty certifications covering most areas of health care.

•Specialty credentials: Certifications are available for flight, critical care, tactical (TP-C) community (CP-C), certified tactical responder (TR-C) and certified medical transport safety professional (MTSP-C). The credentials are available through the Board for Critical Care Transport Paramedic Certification.

•Continued education: The Paramedic National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) provides recertification and continuing education hours needed to retain paramedic licenses. It has three components: national content (50%), local content (25%) and individual content (25%) for a total of 60 hours.

Work schedules and environments

Most EMTs and paramedics are full-time employees that often work more than 40 hours a week in 12-hour shifts. Since emergency services are essential 24-hours-a-day, they may work overnight, holidays or weekends. They respond to 911 calls, often joining police and fire departments at emergency scenes. EMTs and paramedics may be employed by fire departments, hospitals or private ambulance services.

Both EMT and paramedic are fast-paced, high-pressure careers where workers interact with many individuals, including patients, doctors and nurses and other emergency response professionals. The work can be physically demanding, as it often requires carrying patients and working both indoors and outdoors in varying weather, like rain, snow or heat or during natural disasters. EMTs and paramedics may face life-or-death situations with risks of injuries and illnesses when caring for and moving patients. They may also risk exposure to contagious diseases and viruses. Since they work long shifts, these professionals often remain calm and professional in emergencies even when tired.

National average salaries

In most cases, EMTs and paramedics receive hourly wages rather than annual salaries. Salaries vary due to experience level and job location. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the employment of paramedics to grow by 7% by the end of the decade.

EMT salaries

EMTs earn an average of $21.14 per hour. The highest salaries are typically available in New York City, New York, Los Angeles, California and Indianapolis, Indiana. Your salary may depend on your experience, employer, skills and education

Paramedic salaries

Paramedics earn an average of $27.22 per hour. Cities with the highest salaries are Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Austin, Texas, Atlanta, Georgia, and Indianapolis, Indiana, respectively. Your salary as a paramedic may also vary based on experience, employer, skills and education.

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