What You May Not Know About EMT Training Charlottesville VA But Should

By Tracie Knight


EMT is the acronym for emergency medical technician. This is a healthcare worker who is trained to respond to traumatic injuries, accidents and other medical emergencies within the shortest time possible. Most EMTs work for fire departments, hospitals, ambulance services, police departments and government bodies. They work under the supervision of medical directors who are qualified doctors. By opting for EMT training Charlottesville VA inhabitants can gain the knowledge and skills required to help people who are facing a medical emergency.

EMT training programs differ in terms of the time it takes to complete them. Fast track programs for basic EMT courses can be completed within 2 weeks if you attend classes for 8 to 12 hours daily. On the other hand, some programs can only be within a few months or years.

The components of EMT training programs include testing, clinical rotations and didactic education. Didactic education is meant to provide you with hands on skills. You will learn how to give patients the care they need after participating in lectures, skill labs, simulations and interactive presentations. Clinical rotations have some similarities with the clinical rotations that students in medical school undertake. You will spend a certain period of time in ambulances and hospitals watching emergency medical procedures, obstetrics and surgery being performed so that you can complete the program and qualify to take the certification exam.

The number of clinical rotations you need to complete will depend on the level of training you are obtaining and how long you take to show competency. Many universities, hospitals, community colleges, emergency medical service academies and technical schools offer EMT training. You do not need to have previous medical experience to enroll into an EMT course.

You can sign up for an EMT program anytime even if you have not met some requirements. However, you are supposed to show that you have met the eligibility requirements prior to starting the course. Age is one minimum eligibility requirement that you should meet. To be certified to work as an EMT in this city, you must be 18 years old or older.

Students who have not yet attained the age of 18 can enroll in EMT courses 6 months prior to their 18th birthday but they will not receive their certificate of course completion until they meet the age requirement. Before beginning the EMT course, students are also required to submit their CPR card. They are required to maintain CPR certification throughout the EMT course.

Your will also be asked to submit the results of a recent physical exam. This exam should be conducted no more than a year before the EMT course begins. The physical examination report should also be signed by a physician and specify that no physical limitations can bar you from taking the course.

The majority of schools that offer EMT courses also require students to be immunized against various ailments. You will be asked to submit proof that you are immunized against rubella, mumps, measles, hepatitis and varicella. You will also be asked to submit a negative tuberculosis skin test that was taken no more than three months before the beginning of the EMT program. If you had taken a TB skin test before and the results were positive, you will be asked to submit chest x ray documentation indicating that you do not have tuberculosis.




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