Article: Find your state's department of health and human services online or in person for information on how you can work towards your EMT certification. Check the list of requirements you need to obtain to help you formulate a plan to achieve your goal in a timely manner. Some of the basic requirements that EMTs to start their certification include: Being 18 years of age or older. Having a high school diploma or GED certificate. Submitting an application to a training course. Undergoing fingerprint and criminal history checks. Contact your local Red Cross, health organization, or educational institutions to see if they offer basic life support courses for healthcare professionals. Enrolling in one of these courses can introduce you to foundational information you'll need to become EMT certified, such as CPR. It also can help you succeed in your EMT training course or get practical experience as you work towards your certification. Basic life support classes may also teach: Basic CPR. First aid. Patient assessment and stabilization. Every EMT must pass a basic training course to progress to other levels of EMT certification. Contact your local EMS field office to ask about available EMT courses in your area. Apply for and then sign yourself up for the EMT basic program that best fits your lifestyle. Take the number of course hours required to prepare you for your certification exams. This can vary between 100 and 200 hours depending on your specific program. Select classes that will help you understand and perform the following EMT requirements: Basic CPR. First aid. Patient assessment and stabilization. Respiratory and trauma management. Anatomy and physiology. Basic life support. Cardiac management. You'll also need between 15 and 30 hours of supervised clinical training to prepare you for real-life emergency medical situations. The clinical training will also help you pass the required psychomotor exam for your EMT certification. Ask your certification program where you can fulfill the supervised clinical training part of your certification. Join a local volunteer rescue squad or fire department (or at least get in touch with them). Usually you can join a fire department or rescue squad without being an EMT, and it's a great source of information for furthering your career. Many departments have Explorer programs for teenagers, which allow you a view on the inside to determine if it is right for you. Ask a local rescue squad or fire department if you can shadow them when you're not studying or in your clinical training. Being able to observe professionals at work can help you better understand your duties as a certified EMT and gain insight into dealing with specific situations you may encounter.

What is a summary?
Check your state's requirements. Take a basic life support course. Enroll in a state-approved EMT basic training program. Fulfill your course requirements. Perform supervised clinical training. Enhance your practical experience.