Essential Information
An emergency room technician differs from a regular EMT in that he or she provides assistance only within the confines of an emergency room at a healthcare facility. An EMT-Intermediate certificate program provides students with the practical skills necessary to administer life-saving procedures on ill and injured patients before they reach a healthcare facility.
Most EMT certificate programs offered at the intermediate level contain an EMT-Basic clinical component that teaches individuals how to perform patient assessment, treat basic wounds and fractures, and handle respiratory trauma.
Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate Certificate
In addition to holding a high school diploma, students interested in enrolling in an EMT-Intermediate certificate program should also have basic training in CPR. They should be physically fit and able to lift and place patients onto stretchers. The courses included within an EMT-Intermediate certificate program include both theoretical concepts, like advanced practice theory, and practical skills related to emergency life-saving procedures, such as airway management. Some examples of such courses include:
- Human anatomy and physiology
- Patient assessment
- Trauma management
- Emergency medical service operations
- Clinical practicum
Employment Outlook and Salary Info
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report data that differentiates between emergency medical technicians and emergency room technicians. It did project, however, that all emergency medical technicians and paramedics would see 6% employment growth from 2019-2029 (faster than average). The median annual salary for these workers was $36,650 in 2020 (www.bls.gov).
Continuing Education and Certification
While there are different specific methods to becoming an emergency room technician, most healthcare facilities require that individuals be certified at least at the EMT-Intermediate level before working in such a position. Some professionals can even advance beyond that level and earn an associate's degree as an EMT-Paramedic. Certification in the field is offered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).
The EMT-Intermediate certificate is the most common way for individuals to gain credentials to work as an EMT in an emergency room. These programs provide the necessary skills for students to gain certification and enter this fast-growing field.
