Chapter 2
Taking an EMT Course and Registering for the EMT Exam
In This Chapter
Taking and passing an EMT course
Signing up for the big test
It’s time to take that first step — undergoing the training you need to qualify to take the NREMT examination. Depending on where you live, finding a program that best fits your needs may be a bit confusing. Determining where to take the training is an individual choice. You may be a 19-year-old student taking the course for credit or a 45-year-old working professional looking to volunteer in your local community.
Regardless of your particular needs, some common thoughts and tips about locating and completing an EMT course apply. This chapter walks you through the process and then explains how to register for the EMT exam.
Enrolling in and Completing an EMT Course
You need to find and complete a course that prepares you properly, not just for the exam but also for real-world conditions. The following sections explain how to find and succeed in an EMT course.
Finding a course that fits your needs
You have several options for finding an EMT course in your neck of the woods:
- Perhaps the easiest way to find a course is to perform a web search. Entering “EMT training” and the name of your town, city, or county in your browser of choice often brings up programs that are available in your area. Easy!
- Every state has an office of EMS, which may provide a list of training organizations that are approved or authorized to provide EMT training. Do an online search for the name of your state plus “EMS office.”
- EMT programs may advertise in the local community. For example, volunteer fire or EMS departments may conduct EMT training at little or no cost to students in an effort to attract new volunteers to the organization. You may find additional information on their websites, in local newspapers, or at community centers.
- You may get a recommendation via word-of-mouth. Take a field trip down to the EMS or fire department to see whether the staff can recommend a particular training program.
Before you sign up for the first course you come across, carefully consider what the course needs to have to maximize your chances of success:
- Distance matters, of course. A training program that’s close by is easier to attend. If you have other priorities in life, such as work or family, a local program makes it simpler to travel between locations.
- Cost is a consideration. Some courses require additional expenses beyond the tuition. These may include books, lab fees, uniforms, and medical equipment. Many programs offer the practical portion of the NREMT exam as part of their curriculum. Make sure you find out about all the costs upfront so you can budget ahead of time; this way, you won’t stress about a “sudden” cost that you didn’t anticipate. Also keep in mind that there may be additional costs beyond your training program, such as paying for the NREMT exam and your certification application.
- What about the time commitment? Some courses meet weekends only, whereas others meet during the week. Day and evening options exist as well. Compare EMT course schedules to your own schedule for work and/or school, and see what matches up best. If you can’t find a course that fits your schedule exactly, consider what you can move around in your personal schedule. The bottom line is that you can’t miss too many class sessions — there is a lot to cover, and the program probably has a minimum attendance policy.
- An increasing number of EMT courses are provided online. This option may be great for folks who have little time to attend a traditional face-to-face class or who work odd hours that conflict with class schedules. However, the majority require some type of hands-on labwork as part of the class; make sure you know exactly what the time commitments are. Note: Not everyone is cut out for an online class; you must be a highly motivated student who’s capable of independent learning in order to maximize your chance of success.
- Being a good consumer of education can help you select the right course. Your state EMS office may have public data regarding how well graduates of various courses perform on the NREMT or state examination. You can also call the training organizations you’re considering and ask what their NREMT passing rates are, as well as their attrition rate (the percentage of students who don’t complete the training).
Being prepared for the course
If you haven’t been to a classroom in a while, the prospect of formal learning may intimidate you. Don’t worry — EMT education is very interactive and interesting, and it’ll be what you make of it. Be prepared to have fun and be challenged! On one hand, you get to discover how to do things such as administer oxygen, immobilize patients using long backboards, perform CPR, operate an automated external defibrillator (AED), and manage chaotic emergency scenes. On the other hand, you have to get a handle on basic anatomy and physiology, plus a few complex concepts related to serious medical conditions such as shock, anaphylaxis, and diabetes.
A good rule of thumb is to set aside one to two hours of study time for each hour of instruction. For example, if the course meets six hours a week, plan to spend another six to twelve hours either reading, studying in groups, or practicing skills.
Create a study schedule that’s realistic and maximizes your learning. Maybe you can only spend an hour a day or two hours every other day studying. That’s fine, as long as you commit to focusing on your learning during those time periods. It’s better to be totally focused for one hour than to sit in front of your books for three hours while being distracted by the television, telephone, or social media.
Figure 2-1 shows an example of a class/study/life schedule.
In this sample, 16 hours of study time are set aside for 13 hours of classroom instruction. Free time is also set aside each day, as well as an evening off, to allow your brain to rest and recharge. Your schedule will probably be different, but the point is the same: Creating a schedule can help you stay on track and avoid falling behind in your studies.
After you make your schedule, follow it religiously. Consider it as important as being on time for work, having dinner, or going to bed. You may need to give up some time with family and friends, or even reduce your work hours while attending the course. Whatever your sacrifice, know that it will be short-lived!
Create a positive study environment. Have a place in your home where you can minimize outside distractions. Have a good task light to read with and a table with a comfortable but supportive chair. (Beds and couches are more conducive to napping than studying.)
If you can’t make the space at home, look for other places where you can study. The campus or public library is one place. A nearby coffee shop is a favorite spot for many students, but you’ll want to know whether the shop charges for Internet access or requires minimum purchases for “parking” to study.
Speaking of Internet access, many courses use online resources to supplement what’s taught in the classroom. If that’s true of the course you’re taking, you’ll need to have reliable access to the web. A tablet may be adequate, but a smartphone may be too small to view the videos or readings that may be required. Check with the instructor before the course begins regarding the technology requirements.
Understand how you learn! For example, you may not be a strong textbook reader, but instead, you may pick up a lot of information from listening to someone talk about the subject matter. You may benefit from recording the instructor’s lectures and playing them back when you’re in the car or at home. Several different learning-style assessments are free to use online. One example can be found at www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-learning-styles-quiz.
Meeting the course requirements
Besides the classroom portion, most EMT courses also have a clinical component, where you may observe on an ambulance or fire engine, in an emergency department, or in a combination of locations. You may need to provide proof of vaccinations and immunizations in order to participate in clinical “ride-alongs.”
These clinical hours are important. You’ll see real patients and perhaps have the opportunity to practice your skills under the watchful eye of an experienced EMS provider. It’s crucial that you don’t miss these sessions; your instructor will certainly consider these hours to be just as important as your classroom sessions.
EMT courses typically have a series of exams and practical skills tests that you have to successfully pass. The exams may be done in the classroom, using pencil and paper; others may be done through a website; and others may even be done outside the classroom. Check with the instructor at the beginning of the course as to the requirements for completion. The course syllabus should contain that information, along with other requirements and guidelines for the course.
The final exam is a comprehensive test that evaluates your overall knowledge of the course. Usually this is a test created by the instructor; it’s not the NREMT or state exam. Passing the final exam doesn’t certify you as an EMT; only the state’s process of using either the NREMT or its own exam can perform that function. However, you have to successfully pass the course in order to qualify for the certification exam.
If your state requires the NREMT exam as part of the certification process (and it probably does if you’re reading this book!), the practical skills exam portion is likely to be conducted in your course. The hands-on portion tests your ability to perform the skills listed in Chapter 3.
Getting the most out of your instructors
The majority of EMT instructors are interested in your success as a student. That said, you are your own best advocate when it comes to your learning. Introduce yourself to the instructor on the first day of the course. Ask questions that are appropriate to the subject being taught. If you’re challenged by a specific concept or skill, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification or additional information. Most instructors appreciate enthusiasm and a desire to learn.
Many instructors are also EMS providers, actively working in the field. Besides the instruction they provide, instructors can also help you gain employment, from passing along information about job opportunities to providing interview tips and recommendations about your performance as a student. When the opportunity arises, take the time to find out more about your instructor’s background and see whether he or she may be able to provide job placement assistance.
Signing Up for the EMT Exam
After you complete your training, you’re ready to focus on passing the certification exam. First, determine whether your state has its own examination process. Chances are, your instructor knows this and may have already provided you with information on how to register for the state exam.
If you’re taking the NREMT exam, you must fulfill the following minimum requirements:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Successfully complete an EMT training program that meets or exceeds the National EMS Education Standards for the EMT
- Complete that course within two years of taking the exam
- Have a current CPR certificate at the healthcare-provider level
- Successfully pass a state-approved practical examination (your final practical test)
If your state requires the NREMT examination (and if you’re reading this book, I assume it does), you’ll need to set up a testing account, which is easy to do. Begin by going to the website at www.nremt.org. Toward the upper left of the home page, click on the link “Create New Account” (Figure 2-2 shows you the exact location). Fill out the requested information. You’re requesting to use your new login as a “nationally certified EMS professional.”
After you complete the first page, you’ll be required to respond to statements related to licensing action and felony statements. Do not hide any criminal convictions that you may have. Like most states, the NREMT has certain criteria for who they allow to take the exam. Although very serious convictions may keep some people from taking the exam, most incidences are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The fastest, easiest way to be barred from taking the exam is to try to hide any past criminal record.
After you submit your information, an account will be created. Your training program will be notified through the website that you have registered an account, and the course director will be asked to verify that you have successfully completed your training and have a current CPR healthcare-provider-level card.
Once that’s done, your account will show that you’re ready to register for an examination. You’ll pay the exam fee of $70 via the website, or follow the instructions to print a money order tracking slip for mailing your money order to the NREMT.
After your application has been verified and approved, and you’ve paid your fee, your NREMT account will show that you’ve received an authorization to test (ATT), allowing you to determine the date and location of the exam you want to take. This step takes you to the Pearson VUE website (www.vue.com), which allows you to schedule your exam. Chapter 3 provides more information.