
The EMT test is a very difficult exam to pass, with thousands of people failing it every year. This is very disappointing and frustrating, especially since the average person taking the test has spent many months going to class after class several days or night a week in order to learn how to become an Emergency Medical Technician. They have applied themselves and tried to learn the material, yet after devoting a significant part of their life to achieving their goal, they have come up short. On top of that, they have most likely spent thousands of dollars (or borrowed thousands that have to be paid back) to pay for their EMT training. There is no way around it: failing the EMT test is a tremendous disappointment.
Unfortunately, many people give up at this point, believing they are just not cut out for a career as an EMT. This is a real tragedy, because in the vast majority of cases, anyone who can make it through EMT training has the intelligence and aptitude to become a competent EMT. Others try the test again, fail it again, and then give up. Do not let this happen to you. If you can graduate from EMT school, you certainly can pass the EMT test. The problem is that taking a test is a completely different from studying for class, and many people who are good at learning are not naturally good at test taking. But that is no reason to give up! It is a fact that most people who have failed the EMT test can pass it if they just learn about the correct test taking strategies, which is not hard at all to do. There are excellent EMT test study guides on the market that can help a person achieve success on the EMT exam. After using one of these guides, you will know the secrets to passing the EMT exam. So if you have failed the EMT test, do not give up. Get a good study guide and give it another shot. You have got what it takes to be an EMT, so do not quit when you are so close to fulfilling your dream of becoming an EMT.
Many people who are debating what career path to pursue are considering EMT certification. This is an excellent choice, as these jobs are what employment experts call "perennials." This term means that the demand for EMTs does not go up and down due to changes in the economy. Unlike most jobs, EMTs are always in demand, and the work never runs out. On top of that, as an emergency medical technician, a person is performing one of the most stressful but rewarding jobs in the entire job market. It takes a special person to become an EMT, and if you are thinking of doing so, congratulations. In this article we will explain the different meanings of the phrase "EMT certification" to help clarify your goals.
All EMTs are trained and qualified to respond to a variety of medical emergencies and to perform life saving functions. Every day, EMTs treat victims who have experienced car accidents, falls, heart attacks, natural disasters, and many more situations. The lowest level certification is EMT-B. The B stands for Basic, and these EMTs are qualified to perform the lowest level of care in emergencies. Many times an EMT-B will do much of the driving back and forth while more qualified EMTs attend to the patient. The next level is EMT-I. This person has a few more skills than the EMT-B and can perform intubations and administer nitro tablets, for example.
The third level of EMT certification is EMT-II. To become an EMT-II, a person must qualify as an EMT-I and then obtain a certain amount of experience in the field. The amount of required experience varies by state. Once certified as an EMT-II, a person is authorized to dispense some prescription drugs in emergencies and to start intravenous procedures. The next higher certification is EMT-III, and it requires more experience, especially in treating cardiac patients. The EMT-III is authorized to work with some of the strongest drugs available, such as morphine. The fifth and highest EMT certification is EMT-Paramedic. This professional has gone through all four of the lowest levels of certification and has met stringent experience requirements. He or she has much more discretion and leeway to perform medical procedures and can use defibrillators, install ventilators, and deliver babies. Many people use the terms EMT and paramedic interchangeably, but as you can see, this is incorrect because there are a lot of distinctions in the EMT certification process.
So you are planning on taking the EMT exam in the not too distant future? Congratulations! There is not a nobler career than being a first responder to medical emergencies, and EMTs save tens of thousands of lives every year, often at great personal risk to themselves. That you have chosen this career says a lot about your character. Because we want to encourage as many people as possible to become EMTs and save lives, we are providing this article to help more aspiring EMTs pass the certification exam. The test is not easy, and every year, thousands of people fail it. But if you follow these three tips, you should pass the EMT exam on your first attempt.
Tip #1. Make the most of your classes. It can be easy to get distracted during class, which can lead to getting less than the full benefit of your training. Do not fall into this trap. Take your classes very seriously. Take as many notes as you possibly can, whether on a computer or with pen and paper, and if you are allowed, tape your classes for later review. And use your highlighter extensively! Many people do not want to mark up their textbooks so that they can resell them later, but that is not a good study strategy. Your highlighter is your friend-use it. Be extra careful to mark those passages the instructor says will be on the exam.
Tip #2. Do not be stressed out on the day of the EMT exam. If you have a choice of when to take it, pick the time that will allow you to be at your best and most fully alert. Some of us are morning people, and some of us are not. In the few days leading up to the test, keep as free a schedule as possible so that you have time for last minute review and are not stressed out. Your test day jitters will be bad enough on their own; do not add to them unnecessarily.
Tip #3. Get a good study guide for the EMT test. No matter how much you study, there will still be areas you are weak in. That is just human nature. Thankfully, there are some guides out there than can help you, and they will also reveal some important test taking strategies you did not learn in EMT class, which can mean the difference between a passing score and a failing one. Follow these three tips, and you should have no trouble passing the EMT exam on your first try.