Certification Levels

• Emergency medical technicians can be certified at five different levels through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). These certification levels, by order of rank, are First Responder, EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate (1985), EMT-Intermediate (1999) and Paramedic. Most emergency medical technicians must earn their EMT-Basic certification before being hired.
  
  

EMT-Basic

• The course of study needed for an emergency medical technician to earn his EMT-Basic certification can be completed in three weeks if taking courses full-time; at the most, an EMT can complete the coursework in 11 weeks by taking weeknight courses. Subject areas covered in EMT-Basic training include securing bone fractures, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency childbirth.
  
  

State Licensing

• Although NREMT certification standards are followed throughout the United States, each state has different requirements for EMTs working within the state. In South Carolina, a person only needs to submit proof of completing an EMT-Basic course and passing the certification exam at the end to receive state EMT certification. In Florida, eligibility requirements for EMT certification include HIV/AIDS education and CPR or advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) certification. Some states, including Florida, have reciprocity statutes which recognize certifications awarded by other states.
  
  

Recertification

• EMT state certifications only last for a certain amount of time, after which an EMT must petition for recertification to continue to work. Depending on state rules, this may happen every two to three years. Recertification requirements generally include 25 to 30 credit hours of continuing education requirements in a state approved course; Florida requires an additional two credit hours of HIV/AIDS coursework along with basic continuing education courses.