by Bruce Ziebarth

Created on: May 05, 2010

First step to becoming an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is to learn the basics. US Department of Transportation is responsible for setting standards for both EMT training and licensing. US Department of Transportation allows states to issue licenses as EMT – Basic, EMT – Intermediate, and/or EMT – Paramedic. Alabama offers all three types of licenses; however, before you can train as an Intermediate or Paramedic level Emergency Medical Technician, you must first possess an Emergency Medical Technician – Basic license. This information will detail how to become an EMT Basic in Alabama.

Before you can enroll in an EMT basic course there are some prerequisites you should know about.  Every EMT basic course requires you to have CPR training.  In Alabama, the Alabama Department of Public Health compiled a list of approved CPR courses. Aspiring EMT Basic students must complete either AHA Health Care Provider, American Red Cross Professional Rescuer, EMP America/Medic First Aid Basic Life Support for Professionals, Heart Smart, INC. CPR for Medical Professionals, Emergency Care and Safety Institute Professional Rescuer CPR, Americna Safety and Health Institute CPR Pro, or National Safety Council-Green Cross Professional Rescuer.

CPR is just one prerequisite to enrolling in an EMT Basic course. Aspiring EMT Basic students must also show proof of immunizations. EMT Basic courses require students to receive such immunizations as Hepatitis B, Tetanus, and MMR. Some EMT Basic courses also require a drug screening. The majority of the EMT Basic courses do not require criminal background checks; however, you should keep in mind that a criminal background check is required before receiving your Alabama EMT Basic license.

Obtaining your EMT-Basic certification requires completing a training program. EMT-Basic training consists of both classroom and practical coursework. EMT-Basic training consists of a minimum of 110 hours of classroom instruction. US DOT regulations state that 100 hours is a minimum requirements and may not include, “…specific education that will be required of EMT-Basics who operate in the field, i.e. ambulance driver training, heavy and light rescue, basic extrication, special needs, and so on.” (EMT-B National Standard Curriculum, n.d.) In Alabama, there are many schools offering EMT-B courses.

University of Southern Alabama Offers a EMT-B certificate. University of Southern Alabama describes this

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