What qualifications are needed to become a paramedic?

Qualifications Needed to Become a Paramedic

• Answer:

  The steps needed to become a paramedic can start as early as high school and can take years to complete. These qualifications prepare a paramedic to provide care to patients on the scene and as they are transported to medical facilities. A paramedic may give CPR to a patient, help control bleeding, manage a patient in shock or even assist in childbirth. Paramedics are the highest certified National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians level. High School Diploma To become a paramedic, you must have is a high school diploma. While in high school, you can take a CPR course and classes in biology and anatomy, which will help you to pass your emergency medical technician and paramedic training. EMT Training To become a paramedic you must first qualify as an emergency medical technician (EMT). Some paramedic schools also require that you work as an EMT for a specified amount of time before you can begin your paramedic training. During EMT training, you'll learn fundamentals skills such as how to assess a patient, how to manage a patient in shock and even how to help deliver a baby during emergency childbirth scenarios. Paramedic Training To become a paramedic you must also complete paramedic training at an approved school in the state you wish to work. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics most paramedic programs take between one and two years to complete. The length of time is determined by the state you are getting the training in and whether you pursue an associate's degree in paramedic technology, which will take about two years to complete, or whether you just pursue paramedic certification, which takes about 12 to 15 months to complete. During both programs students work in a classroom setting, learning advanced skills in topics such as cardiology, spinal trauma and burns. After classroom work is completed, students will spend a few hundred hours working in an internship setting in an emergency room, operating room or in an ambulance. License To qualify as a paramedic you must be licensed. In most states you'll receive this licensing through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). To qualify for a license you'll show proof of your EMT certification, completion of your paramedic courses, proof of CPR certification (which you will usually receive during EMT training) and a passing grade on the NREMT test. The two-part test includes an exam along with a test of 12 scenarios that will prove you have a strong grasp of the skills needed to be a paramedic.