How Volunteer EMTs Work

Offering your time as an emergency medical service (EMS) volunteer is unlike other community volunteer programs. In order to be certified, emergency medical technician (EMT) students must log somewhere between 40 and 1,000 hours of class time, practical experience and on-the-job training based on their level of certification [source: AMA].

But before you begin the rigorous process of EMT training, there are some basic requirements with which you should become familiar.

Meeting most of these requirements should come naturally -- they have to do with the quality of your physical and mental status. Providing emergency medical care is a risky business, and the people who take on these jobs need to be ready for its physical, mental and emotional challenges. Here are some basic requirements to work as an EMT:

If you meet the above requirements, you're ready to start the six- to 24-month process of EMT training and certification. In order to volunteer as an EMT, you'll need certification from an EMS program that is recognized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians [sources: US Labor, AMR].

Knowing the requirements is just the first step -- now you'll need to complete EMT training in order to become a fully-certified EMT volunteer. On the next page, you'll find details on where EMT classes can be found and how you can sign up.

Do you know what type of emergency medical technician (EMT) you'd like to be? Currently, there are five different levels of EMT certification that vary in skill level. In order of responsibility level (from lowest to highest) they are: First Responder, EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate: 1985, EMT-Intermediate: 1999 and Paramedic [source: U.S. Labor].

Training classes are most commonly offered by the following institutions: community colleges, technical schools, hospitals, fire departments, emergency medical service (EMS) organizations and police academies. An easy way to find a training site in your city is to check with your state's health department. Sometimes, the health department's Web site will have a list of approved EMS education programs and training sites that you can download from the comfort of your home [sources: AMA, MDCH, NDHHS].

In training, you'll learn how to assess a patient's health status and how to quickly respond to the situation. EMTs learn basic life support skills for treating cardiac arrest, bone fractures, obstructions to the airway and more. These courses also cover the proper use for common medical emergency equipment such as a stretcher or splint -- tools that EMTs use every day [source: U.S. Labor].

For each progressive level of EMT certification, the amount of required training increases. Below are the approximate total hours of training needed for each level [source: AMA]:

Once training is complete, all EMTs must pass two types of tests. In order to be certified as an EMT, you'll need to pass a written examination and a practical application test. These tests must be administered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) or an NREMT-approved program run by the state [source: US Labor].

See the next page for information on some of the perks you'll receive after becoming a volunteer EMT.

Although a simple willingness to help others and a desire to give back to the community are great reasons to become a volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT), there are also some tangible benefits that you might be interested to learn about.

If you're pursuing a job in the medical field, volunteering as an EMT is a great way to gain real-life work experience. And when you're looking for a job, previous experience is a necessity. For anyone who is not pursing a medical career, EMT volunteering can save you a bit of cash by getting you into a free class or two.

At some universities, volunteers receive free emergency medical service (EMS) classes, food vouchers and reimbursement for campus parking fees. Volunteer EMS programs run by cities and towns may not offer parking or food vouchers, but many of them offer funding for school. In many cases, volunteer EMTs are eligible to receive tuition dollars toward continuing education courses. One stipulation, however, is that these courses are related to work in the emergency medical field and count toward an EMT's recertification [source: Hoboken, University of Minnesota].

Also, this may go without saying, but working stand-by at social or sporting events comes with free admission. While it's true you may not be able to sit in the stands or participate as a guest, you'll be working in a fun, lively atmosphere. To find out about the benefits offered by EMS organizations in your area, it's best to contact the organizations directly because the benefits offered can vary from one group to another.

If you're interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer EMT, check out the next page for links to more information.