EMT Training Massachusetts
EMT Training Massachusetts
Undertaking EMT Training in Massachusetts can be a life changing experience, it requires hard work and dedication to achieve your EMT certification. Once you have completed the course and passed the exams you are on the first step of the ladder to a satisfying and rewarding career.
The state of Massachusetts licenses and certificates its own EMT’s and paramedics. Massachusetts administers its own exams; they do not rely on the NREMT for either the EMT or paramedic tests.
Minimum Requirements
There are minimum requirements to be met before training for the EMT basic certification can begin they include:
You must be…
- 18 years of age or above
- Be able to lift a minimum of 125lbs.
- Free from drug addition
- Free from alcohol addiction
- Be able to communicate in and understand English
- Be able to read and write in English
- Free from mental or physical illness or disability, which could prevent you from providing emergency medical care.
You should also prepare by having a high school diploma or GED, driver’s license, shots for MMR and TB, 6th reading comprehension.
A grounding in First Aid will also be an advantage.
EMT Basic Course
The EMT Basic course requires 100% attendance.
Basic Training – the course is made up of 33 levels which will take 100 hours of classroom based work and 10 hours of observational work based at a hospital (110 hours).
Students will be taught how to provide pre-hospital emergency care for patients. This will consist of:
- Symptom recognition,
- Basic first aid
- Control of external bleeding.
- Stabilization of fractures
- Moving and lifting of patients in a safe manner
- The correct use of neck braces and back boards
The course is patient ambulance transportation based, and focuses on the stabilization of patients and life preserving medical care, enabling the patient to be transported safely to a nearby hospital for further investigation and treatment. The EMT Basic course does not include the administration of drugs or any treatment which involves injections or intravenous treatments.
The actual length of the course can vary 110 hours is the absolute minimum a student can expect the course to take, it is more usual for the course to take between 110 and 150 hours, this is dependent on the needs of the student and the individual sponsor. The course follows the Federal Department of Transport guidelines and tutored by a state approved EMT instructor/coordinator.
How Much Does it Cost?
Fees for EMT Training Massachusetts will vary to some degree and the listing here is only meant as a guide, please check with the school with which you intend to study for the latest charges.
- EMT – basic training $900 to $1100
- State registration fee $150
- Practical exam fee $150
- Written exam fee $55
Fees for EMT Intermediate courses and paramedic courses and exam fees will be considerably more expensive, due to the intensity of the courses.
Moving Up
Once you have secured the EMT basic certification you can move further up the career ladder by enrolling into the EMT Intermediate course, which will teach more advanced life saving techniques.
The EMT Intermediate course covers such things as:
- Administering medications
- Taking blood samples
- Intravenous needle placement
- Airway management
- Patient assessment
- Trauma management
- Emergency child birth
This is a 9 month course at the end of the course students will be required to take and pass both a written and a field exam in order to gain certification.
Paramedic Training – before you can apply for paramedic training you must have certification in EMT Basic and/or EMT Intermediate and have treated at least 75 patients.
The course takes approximately 18 months to complete, followed by 6 months of clinical field work. Once the course is completed the student can then take both the written and field exams. Passing the exams will give both state and national certification as a paramedic.
Recertification
Recertification will be required every two years from the date of initial EMT certification.
All EMT’s are required to undertaken a program of continuing education, which will consist of 28 hours of approved courses.
They will also be required to complete a 24 hours refresher course as set out in the DOT 1994 curriculum refresher course.
EMT Paramedic Schools
The Massachusetts Office of Medical Services recommends that prior to enrolling in any school “you check that each individual course is approved, in writing, even if the institution has provided Basic EMT course in the past”.
It is possible to study for the classroom (theory) part of the course on line, check that the online school is able to provide the field work part of the course and that they are approved by the Massachusetts Office of Medical Services prior to signing up.
The office of Medical Services will be able to provide their current list of schools and colleges approved to provide tuition.
All schools and colleges do charge fees and may require fees to be submitted with application forms for courses.
Those on low income may be eligible for free tuition; the Office of Medical Services will have details of any such schemes available. These are usually on a very strict first come first served basis, and are subject to usual checks and availability of funds.
Fees and length of program will vary from school to school.
Relocating to Massachusetts
EMT’s and paramedics wishing to relocate and work in Massachusetts State will be required to gain certification prior to taking up work. Massachusetts has their own certification rules and do not recognize licensing from other states or NREMT certification.
Forms for applying for certification and license can be obtained from the Office of Medical Services, or can be downloaded from their website. Candidates may be required to undergo tuition or take a refresher course. Fees may apply.
EMT training Massachusetts is considered to be amongst the very best in the US and this is reflected in the pay scale offered to EMT’s and paramedics working throughout the state of Massachusetts, they are among the most highly paid EMT’s and paramedics in the country.