Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): Duties, Salary, and More

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) provide critical medical care to patients both on-site and in ambulances on their way to the hospital. As key members of UK ambulance services, EMTs work with paramedics and other healthcare professionals to provide life-saving care to those in need. 

If you're interested in a fast-paced medical profession, you might consider a career as an EMT. Learn what an EMT does, what skills you'll need to perform the job, what you can expect in terms of salary, and how to become one. Also, discover courses that can help you make a start today.

What does an EMT do? Duties and responsibilities 

An EMT typically works as an urgent care team member of the National Health Service (NHS) to provide emergency onsite medical care and transportation for critically injured or ill individuals. Making sure every second counts, EMTs perform this basic and critical medical care out of an ambulance, using the tools and resources available inside the vehicle.

Within the emergency medical technician job description, EMTs stabilise individuals and safely transport them to a medical facility that can further assist the patients. To ensure they provide the best possible care, though, EMTs typically work in pairs or teams with paramedics rather than on their own. A paramedic has received additional training and qualifications to perform more complex procedures.

Typical duties and responsibilities of an EMT include: 

• Providing basic first-aid treatment as needed

• Responding appropriately to emergency calls 

• Assessing a person’s condition and providing proper medical care 

• Formulating an initial care plan to stabilise an individual quickly 

• Providing life-saving medical interventions like CPR

• Determining where to transport a patient for continued care

• Communicating clearly and effectively with other urgent care providers 

• Maintaining required shift schedules and on-call hours 

• Reporting the patient's condition to appropriate medical professionals  

Skills you’ll need to work as an EMT

Working as an EMT requires a high level of physical fitness and good problem-solving skills. For effective action in high-stress situations, the ability to think and act quickly may also prove valuable. As an EMT, you will likely meet people in crisis that need both physical and emotional care. Knowing how to strike that balance is also likely to help you in this role. 

A few vital personal skills needed to work as an EMT include: 

• Quick decision-making 

• Problem-solving 

• Empathy and understanding 

• Effective communication 

• Good listening 

• Patience 

• Compassion and caring 

• Mental resilience 

Some critical technical skills EMTs should possess include:

• Patient assessment and observation

• Airway management

• CPR

• Distribution of oral medication

• Administration of oxygen

• Application of splints, cervical collars, and other medical devices

• Proper movement and transport of patients with musculoskeletal problems

EMT average annual salary 

According to Talent.com, a website featuring jobs, salary, and company information, EMTs earn a median annual salary of £31,201 in the UK [1]. As an entry-level worker, you might expect to earn about £25,116 annually, and as a more experienced EMT, you're likely to earn close to £63,005 each year [1]. 

How to become an EMT

You do not need a degree to work as an EMT, but the NHS requires a general standard of education. Explore the following steps that may help you become an EMT.

1. Complete secondary school. 

As mentioned, unlike many other professions in the healthcare industry, you don’t need to earn a degree to work as an EMT. As long as you are at least 18 years of age, have completed secondary school, and meet the additional requirements, you can enrol in an EMT apprenticeship programme and work to gain the required skills and certifications for the job. Minimum educational requirements for NHS ambulance service trusts typically include five GCSEs, including English, maths, and science at grades 4–9 or the equivalent.

2. Obtain a C1 driving licence.

Part of your job as an EMT will involve driving an ambulance to reach people in medical distress and transport them to the hospital. In addition to a regular driving licence, you'll need a C1 driving licence that allows you to drive vehicles (like ambulances) weighing between 3,500 and 7,500 kg. 

3. Pass a physical fitness test.

As an EMT candidate, you must pass a physical fitness assessment offered by the NHS ambulance service. The expectations for your assessment may vary depending on the ambulance service trust you wish to work for. To begin preparing for the fitness test, you can contact the specific trust to find out what its assessment requires.

4. Enrol in the Associate Ambulance Practitioner apprenticeship programme. 

The apprenticeship programme for EMTs typically takes 15 to 18 months to complete, depending on your aptitude. The programme encompasses classroom learning and practical training in a practice setting and in the field. When you have completed the programme, you will qualify to begin working as an EMT. Many apprentices go to work for the trust they trained with. To verify your training and competency (and that of other pre-hospital emergency care professionals), you'll receive registration through the UK Registry of EMTs.

Next steps 

EMTs perform life-saving procedures every day. Knowing more about the process of becoming an EMT can offer a good first career step. Taking a cost-effective online course that covers EMT basics can help you decide further if this career fits into your life plan. 

Consider EMT Foundations, offered by the University of Colorado on Coursera. This course covers an introduction to emergency medical services, basic medical terminology and human anatomy, the process of taking vital signs and health histories, and more. When you've finished, you should have a good idea if you wish to continue pursuing the EMT career path.