How Do I Become an EMT in Pennsylvania?

The Rundown of EMT Certification in Pennsylvania:

Prospective EMT candidates, who wish to get EMT certification in Nevada, must pass an exam organized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). But, before this, they need to complete EMT training program from a state-approved training college or institute. EMT certification in Pennsylvania is valid for a period of two years only.

In regards to the NREMT exam, the candidate must pass the written exam, which is a test comprising around 70-120 questions that are required to be answered in 2 hours duration. This is an adjustable difficulty computerized exam. The exam includes topics, such as airway management, ventilation, oxygen therapy, EMS operations, cardiology, health emergencies, and general trauma. In the practical examination, a candidate’s capability to handle traumatic situations, such as fractures, bleeding, joint dislocations, etc., are tested. A candidate will also be tested on medical emergencies such as diabetic emergencies, strokes, cardiac arrest, etc. If a candidate fails in the examination, he/she can re-test for the next examination after 15 days. Six attempts can be made by the candidate to pass the exams successfully.

In case, you fail to renew your certificate before or by the expiration date, your certificate will be considered as involuntary inactive. If, after the expiration of the certificate, you fail to recertify it within 180 days, your certificate will get null and void, and you will have to undergo the entire certification cycle, again.

What are the Requirements to Get an EMT Certificate In Pennsylvania?

Following are the pre-requisites that should be fulfilled by the EMT candidates:

EMT candidate must be 18 years of age or more.
He/she should have completed a state-approved EMT training program.
He/she must possess a valid CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) certificate.
The candidate is required to qualify the NREMT examination.
It is mandatory for the candidates to submit legal evidence of their U.S. nationality.
The candidate should be free from any mental or bodily ailment.
English fluency is a must for every applicant.
The candidate must compulsorily pass a criminal background screening.

Apart from this, there are some special requirements that are also required to be accomplished, like submission of application and applicable fees, and completion of a state-recognized practical exam.

What is the Process of EMT Certification?

Step 1: Get EMT Training

The candidate must successfully complete EMT training before applying for certification. The candidate can contact the local EMS department or any community college that provides training programs.

Step 2: Submit Application for National Certification

In order to get a national certification, a candidate has to appear for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) exam. Once the candidate has attained the Pennsylvania license, the submission of NREMT certification for recertification is not necessary. The state of Pennsylvania makes use of the National Registry only for the purpose of examination. After obtaining the license, it is mandatory for the licensee to complete the Continuing Education (CE) training. If the candidate is nationally registered, he/she is not refrained from fulfilling the Continuing Education (CE) requirements in order to renew the Pennsylvania license.

The candidate should start by creating an account on the (https://www.nremt.org/). Click on “Create New Account”.
Next, the candidate must create a new application by clicking on “Create Initial Entry Application”.
Now, the applicable fee must be paid by the candidate soon after completion of the online application. Though, the application fee can also be paid afterward.
After the candidate is done with the online application, he/she must keep a check on its progress by regularly looking for “Authorization to Test” (ATT) Letter. This can be done by logging into the website through the password and username, subsequently clicking on the option of “Check Initial Entry Application Status”.
The candidate’s details have been submitted by the website if “Submitted” appears beside “Course Completion Verification”, and therefore, it indicates that the approval of the course completion by the education program director is being awaited.
Whereas, if “Not Submitted” appears beside “Application Payment”, it clearly means that the candidate must pay the application fee before proceeding further.
After the application payment and confirmation by the education program director, the link “Print ATT Letter” will appear.
The candidate is required to take a printed copy of his/her ATT Letter and set a timetable for the NREMT exam.

The ATT Letter directs the candidate on scheduling the NREMT examination by using ‘Pearson VUE’ website.

Step 3: Background Check

To complete the process of certification, the candidate must undergo a criminal background check. For this, the candidate can contact his/her course coordinator.

Step 4: License Application

Lastly, the students need to apply for a license by submitting an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Pennsylvania Department of Health Bureau of Emergency Medical Services Address: 625 Forster Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania- 17120 Contact Number: 717-787-8740 Fax: 717-772-0910 Email: paemsoffice@pa.gov

Pennsylvania EMS Education Programs:

Emergency Medical Services Institute Address: 1002 Church Hill Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- 15205 Contact number: 412-242-7322 Fax: 412-787-2340 Official Website: https://www.emsi.org/
California University of Pennsylvania Address: 250 University Avenue, California, Pennsylvania- 15419 Contact Number: 724-938-4000 Official Website: https://www.calu.edu/
Indiana University of Pennsylvania Address: 1011 South Drive, Indiana, Pennsylvania- 15705 Contact Number: 724-357-2100 Official Website: https://www.iup.edu/
Community College of Allegheny County Address: 8701 U.S. Route 19, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- 15237 Contact Number: 412-366-7000 Official Website: https://www.ccac.edu/
Westmoreland County Community College Address: 145 Pavilion Lane, Youngwood, Pennsylvania- 15697 Contact Number: 724-925-4000 / 1- 800-262-2103 Official Website: https://wccc.edu/
Butler County Community College Address: 107 College Drive, Butler, Pennsylvania- 16002 Contact Number: 724-287-8711 / 888-826-2829 Fax: 724-285-6047 Official Website: https://www.bc3.edu/
Center for Emergency Medicine Address: 230 McKee Place, Suite- 500, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- 15213 Contact Number: 412-647-5300 Fax: 412-647-4670 Official Website: https://www.centerem.org/
Mutual Aid Ambulance Service Address: 561 West Otterman Street, Greensburg, Pennsylvania- 15601 Contact Number: 724-837-6134 Official Website: https://www.mutual-aid.com/
Community College of Beaver County Address: One Campus Drive, Monaca, Pennsylvania- 15061 Contact Number: 724-480-2222 Official Website: https://www.ccbc.edu/
Emergency Health Services Federation Address: 722 Limekiln Road New Cumberland, Pennsylvania- 17070-2354 Contact Number: 717-774-7911 Official Website: https://www.ehsf.org/
Harrisburg Area Community College Address: One HACC Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania- 17110-800 Contact Number: 717-780-2400 Official Website: https://www.hacc.edu/
Eastern Lebanon County School District Address: 180 ELCO Drive, Myerstown, Pennsylvania- 17067 Contact Number: 717-866-7117 Fax: 717-866-7084 Official Website: https://www.elcosd.org/pages/ELCO
YTI Career Institute Address: 2900 Fairway Drive, Altoona, Pennsylvania- 16602 Contact Number: 814-944-5643 Fax: 814-944-5309 Official Website: https://www.yti.edu/
Pennsylvania College of Technology Address: One College Avenue, Williamsport, Pennsylvania- 17701 Contact Number: 570-326-3761 / 800-367-9222 Official Website: https://www.pct.edu/schools/hs/
Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School Address: 110 Old Willow Mill Road, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania- 17050 Contact Number: 717-697-0354 Official Website: https://www.cpavts.org/
Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center Address: 1086 Franklin Street, Johnstown, Pennsylvania- 15905 Contact Number: 814-534-9000 Official Website: https://www.conemaugh.org/template_article.aspx?id=1446
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Address: 101 Community College Way, Johnstown, Pennsylvania- 15904 Contact Number: 888-385-7325 Official Website: https://www.pennhighlands.edu/
Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center Address: 445 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown, Pennsylvania- 15904 Contact Number: 1-814-266-1300 / 1-888-434-4436 Official Website: https://gjctc.org/
Eastern PA EMS Council, Inc. Address: 4801 Kernville Road, Orefield, Pennsylvania- 18069 Contact Number: 610-820-9212 Official Website: https://www.easternemscouncil.org/
Lehigh Carbon Community College Address: 4525 Education Park Drive, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania- 18078 Contact Number: 610-799-2121 Official Website: https://www.lccc.edu/
Northampton Community College Address: 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania- 18020 Contact Number: 610-861-5300 Official Website: https://www.northampton.edu/
Reading Area Community College Address: 10 South Second Street, Reading, Pennsylvania- 19603 Contact Number: 610-372-4721 Official Website: https://www.racc.edu/
Bucks County Emergency Health Services Address: 911 Freedom Way, Ivyland, Pennsylvania- 18974 Contact Number: 215-340-8735 Fax: 215-957-0765 Official Website: https://www.bcehs.com/
Fortis Institute Address: 5757 West 26th Street, Erie, Pennsylvania- 16506 Contact Number: 814-838-7673 Official Website: https://www.fortis.edu/
EMMCO East Regional EMS Council Address: 1411 Million Dollar Highway, Kersey, Pennsylvania- 15846-9726 Contact Number: 814-834-9212 Fax: 814-781-3881 Official Website: https://www.emmcoeast.org/
EMMCO West, Inc. Address: 16271 Conneaut Lake Road, Meadville, Pennsylvania- 16335 Contact Number: 814-337-5380 Fax: 814-337-0871 Official Website: https://www.emmco.org/
Chester County EMS Council, Inc. Address: 601 Westtown Road, Suite- 012, West Chester, Pennsylvania- 19380 Contact Number: 610-344-5000 Official Website: https://www.chescoems.org/
Good Fellowship Ambulance & EMS Training Institute Address: 600 Montgomery Avenue, West Chester, Pennsylvania- 19380 Contact Number: 610-431-3132 Fax: 610-840-0415 Official Website: https://www.goodfellowship.com/
Southern Alleghenies EMS Council, Inc. Address: 123 Olde Farm Office Road, Duncansville, Pennsylvania- 16635 Contact Number: 814-696-3200 Fax: 814-696-0101 Official Website: https://www.saems.com/
Seven Mountains EMS Council Address: 523 Dell Street, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania- 16823 Contact Number: 814-355-1474 Fax: 814-355-5149 Official Website: https://www.smemsc.org/
Susquehanna EHS Council, Inc. Address: 265 Point Township Drive, Suite D, Northumberland, Pennsylvania- 17857 Contact Number: 570-473-7834 Fax: 570-473-7838 Official Website: https://sehsc.org/
Delaware County Community College Address: 901 South Media Line Road, Media, Pennsylvania- 19063 Contact Number: 610-359-5000 Official Website: https://www.dccc.edu/
Luzerne County Community College Address: 1333 South Prospect Street, Nanticoke, Pennsylvania- 18634-3899 Contact Number: 1-800-377-5222 Official Website: https://www.luzerne.edu/
Reading Health System Address: 6th Avenue, Spruce Street, West Reading, Pennsylvania- 19611 Contact Number: 610-988-8000 Official Website: https://www.readinghealth.org/
Montgomery County Address: P.O. Box- 311, Norristown, Pennsylvania- 19404-0311 Contact Number: 610-278-3000 Official Website: https://www.montcopa.org/index.aspx?nid=237
Lackawanna College Address: 501 Vine Street, Scranton, Pennsylvania- 18509 Contact Number: 877-346-3552 Official Website: https://www.lackawanna.edu/
Drexel University Address: 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania- 19104 Contact Number: 215-895-2000 Official Website: https://www.drexel.edu/
Philadelphia Job Corps Center Address: 2810 South, 20th Street, Building 12, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania- 19145-5001 Contact Number: 267-386-2888 Fax: 215-334-3675 Official Website: https://philadelphia.jobcorps.gov/home.aspx
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center Address: 1730 Hans Herr Drive, Willow Street, Pennsylvania- 17584 Contact Number: 717- 464-7050 Fax: 717-464-9518 Official Website: https://www.lcctc.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=1

Pennsylvania EMT Contact Information: (https://www.portal.health.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/emergency_medical_services/14138) (https://www.portal.health.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/emergency_medical_services/14138) Address: 625 Forster St Harrisburg, PA 17120 Phone: (717) 787-8740 Fax: (717) 772-0910 Email: paemsoffice@pa.gov