Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians(AEMT) are EMTs that have undergone training in limited advanced life support practices. It is trained to provide many aspects of life support care.
The AEMT certificate and training is seen as a stepping stone to becoming an EMT paramedic, the highest level achievable. The primary focus of this training is to provide basic and limited advanced emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. If you are looking for paramedic specific information, then take a look at Paramedic training in CT.
There are very few schools in Connecticut that offer EMT Training. If you are interested or to enhance your career as an AEMT in Connecticut, you are required to begin by filling out a form for an approved program. Once you fill the form, you will have to pass the NREMT skills examination to acquire certification or licensure.
AEMT License Requirements
The following are the list of requirements you will need to satisfy prior to becoming a licensed EMT in the state of connecticut:
- 18 years of age
- EMT-Basic certification
- Criminal background check, criminal records may result in rejection; if you have a criminal record it’s best to contact your local EMS Agency before you invest time and money
- 100 hours EMT Basic training
- NREMT certification
- High School diploma
- Valid drivers license not a requisite for an EMT license but may be required for better job prospects
- Fulfill a training program in Basic Life Support(BLS).
- Complete minimum 150 hours of post-secondary training.
- Hold a current unrestricted connecticut licensure as a Registered Nurse(RN), Advanced practice Registered Nurse(APRN), Physician(MD), or Physician Assistant(PA)
- Completion of an approved refresher course including written and practical examination.
Education Requirements
Before you do anything you should find a local EMS training provider and register for the 100 hour (minimum) Advanced EMT training. Before you contact the training facility it is best to get proof of immunization that you have and verify with the training facility what other immunizations will be needed prior to registration. Training providers will also require a criminal background check which can be done at your local police station; details of how this process works can be obtained from the training provider.
It is highly important that you only register for an approved training course at a state approved facility.
Training courses are generally spread over a 6 week period and the price usually ranges between $600 and $1,500.
Application Process
In order to submit an application an applicant must do the following:
- Complete the application
- Bring the application to your EMT training provider
- Upon successful completion of the training and related exams your instructor will complete the application and send it back to the OEMS
- Include payment of initial certification fee but contact the OEMS for details on exact fees
Examination Requirements
EMT license applicants must pass the NREMT exams, which are made up of two parts, a written cognitive exam and a psychomotor exam. For the written exam an applicant will need to register with the NREMT (http://www.nremt.org) and pay the $100 application fee. When the applicant is ready to take the exam they will need to get in touch with Pearson Vue (http://www.vue.com) who provides the computer based testing for the NREMT exam.
- Cognitive Exam
You will take the National Registry Medical Technician (AEMT) cognitive exam on a computer at an authorized testing center. Your exam will consist of 135 questions. 35 of those questions will not affect your score. The maximum time to complete the exam is 2 hours and 15 minutes.
- psychomotor exam
The EMT-I psychomotor examination consists of 10 skills presented in a scenario-type format. Advanced EMTs are required to demonstrate proficiency in the areas like Trauma, Ventilatory Management, Cardiac Arrest Management etc.
Once the applicant has received certification for both exams they will be issued with an NREMT certificate which is valid for 2 years; this certificate is needed for the state EMT license application.
Training offered by schools
- Basic EMT (EMT-B)
- EMT- Paramedic Certificate
- EMS Instructor Certificate
- EMT Advanced Certificate
- EMT- Emergency Management Response Certificate
- Certificate in Paramedic- EMT
EMT Training Schools in Connecticut
Capital Community College
- This college is located in Hartford and offers various certificate options for EMT Training.
- College offers Basic training covering topics such as trauma, patient assessments, EMT operations and infants and children.
- College offers Basic training covering topics such as trauma, patient assessments, EMT operations and infants and children.
- In addition to EMT- B training, students can also achieve a certificate in a few other courses like; Emergency Management Response, Paramedic, EMS Instructor and Fire Science.
Goodwin College
- Situated in Hartford, this college offers a certificate in Paramedic studies.
- Applicants to this program must have certified for EMT- Basic and EMT- Intermediate.
- This certificate program is 4 semesters long and the syllabus requires various EMT Paramedic courses; a field internship, clinical classes, several anatomy and physiology courses.
Manchester Community College
- The EMT course offered at this college prepares students for the initial Connecticut Certified EMT examination and national board examination.
- Students have to attend a minimum of 150 hours of training, achieve a grade of 75% or above and be recommended by the instructor to sit for the exam.
- students will need access to a computer with internet and email to receive course handouts, quizzes and to complete training. Apart from classroom sessions, students will also be riding along in an ambulance and observe a Hospital Emergency Department. Students applying to this college must be aged 18.
Fairfield University
- Officers from Fairfield University’s Department of Public Safety are also teachers and trainers at the university.
- Providing pre-hospital care for emergencies such as head trauma is also covered and training on ambulance operations and dealing with hazardous materials.
Tunxis Community College
- Located in Farmington, CT and EMT courses offered include EMT Basic and EMT Basic Refresher courses.
- Classroom sessions and hands-on experiences are provided. On completion of the EMT- Basic training, an Advanced EMT course can be taken and certification will be awarded.