Becoming an EMT or Paramedic – Cetronia Ambulance Corps
Becoming an EMT or Paramedic is Important as Demand is at an All-Time High
With an increase in our aging population, the demand for EMTs and Paramedics is at an all-time high.
To become a certified EMT in Pennsylvania
You must be at least 16 years of age. The EMT training course is approximately 240 hours and includes both classroom and practical lab scenarios. See our complete student handbook, here. Upon completion of the course, you must pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician’s (NREMT) examination in order to obtain your certification. In Pennsylvania, EMT certification is valid for three years. Cetronia Ambulance Corps is a PA Department of Health EMS Educational Institute for BLS Training Programs and holds accreditation number 023913211.
EMTs are trained to perform general patient assessments and provide emergency care including:
- Bleeding control
- Spinal immobilization
- Oxygen administration
- AED usage
- Complex immobilization procedures
- Airway management
- Assist in the administration of certain medications
- CPR
View the PA Department of Health Functional Position Description for an Emergency Medical Technician, here.
View our Program Outcomes.
To become a Paramedic in Pennsylvania
You must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid EMT and CPR certification. The Paramedic course varies from 14 months – 2 years, depending on whether the student chooses a certification or degree program, and includes components from classroom lecture, practical labs, in-hospital clinical experience and a field internship. Paramedics are trained to perform all of the skills as an EMT plus:
- Advanced patient assessment
- Airway management
- Intravenous fluid therapy
- Trauma management
- Pharmacology
- Cardiology
- Other life-saving medical skills