Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics act in many of the same roles when they provide urgent medical assistance. Their key differences lie in the amount and types of training they receive and which procedures they have the skills to perform.

If you’re wanting to understand the similarities and differences between these two positions, this article will explain their roles and responsibilities, training requirements, and potential salaries.

EMT Vs. Paramedic - Similarities And Differences

When it comes to emergency medical services (EMS), EMTs are entry-level first responders who arrive first on the scene, assess an individual’s injuries, and transport them to the hospital. Paramedics are also first responders, but they have additional knowledge, and skills EMTs lack.

Shared Responsibilities

As first responders, EMTs and paramedics evaluate a patient’s condition, provide immediate medical care, and safely transport the patient to a health center. There they report to physicians the information they have gathered and the care they have provided.

EMTs and Paramedics both have general knowledge in these areas:

• Human anatomy

• Physiology 

• Common illnesses and injuries

• Psychiatric symptoms

Additional Paramedic Responsibilities

Paramedics are certified EMTs, but they have taken additional training courses and mastered more advanced medical equipment and procedures. They are licensed healthcare professionals who treat emergency patients at the same level administered in an emergency room.

They have extensive knowledge in these areas:

• Physiology

• Cardiology

• Medical procedures

• Medications

• Acute illnesses and injuries

• Triaging

This chart compares where the responsibilities of EMTs and paramedics overlap and diverge.

Procedures Performed by EMTs vs. Paramedics

EMTs perform the essential life-support work to stabilize a patient and keep them alive while in transport, but a paramedic has the experience and knowledge to perform more advanced procedures from stitching wounds to inserting an intubator.

Education And Training Requirements For EMT Vs. Paramedic

To become certified, an EMT must take an EMT training program. To become a paramedic, you must be a certified EMT and then take a paramedic program. Before either can practice medicine, both are required to pass the NREMT exam and receive a state license.

For both professions, it is required you gain a license from the state you live in to be able to practice emergency medical services. For some states, the NREMT exam will suffice to prove you are qualified, but other states will want you to take an additional test.

EMT Training

To become an EMT, you must take an EMT training program. These include about 150 hours of classroom instruction and field experience. Then you must pass the National Registry Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam and apply for a state license.

Paramedic Training

To become a paramedic, you must join a paramedic training program that takes about 16-18 months to complete with 1,200 hours of classroom instruction and field experience. Upon completion, you must pass the NREMT certification exam and then apply for a state license.

This chart breaks down the steps of certification and recertification for both professions.

Salary Differences Between An EMT And Paramedic

On average, an EMT makes a salary of $35, 690 a year or $17.64 an hour, and a paramedic makes a salary of $49,500 a year or $23,80 an hour.

An EMT can earn more than the average salary if they work in outpatient care, state or local government facilities, general medical and surgical hospitals, and medical and diagnostic labs.

These states offer EMTs higher than average pay:

• Hawaii ($55,600)

• Alaska ($51,330)

• Maryland ($50,770)

• Washington, D.C. ($48,500)

• Illinois ($44,460)

Paramedics can earn higher than average pay if they work in physicians’ offices, chemical manufacturing, non-scheduled air transportation, local government facilities, and medical and diagnostic labs.

These states offer paramedics higher than average pay:

• Washington ($82,810)

• New Jersey ($71,180)

• Washington, D.C ($64,940)

• Connecticut ($62,210)

• Maryland ($59,520)

Conclusion

While EMTs and paramedics both work in ambulances and perform many of the same jobs, paramedics have better training and better pay. We hope this guide has made it easy to see the key similarities and differences between the two careers.

Resources

Close But No Cigar: A Comparison of Paramedics and PAs. (2023). Hmpgloballearningnetwork.com. https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/emsworld/article/10323797/close-no-cigar-comparison-paramedics-and-pas

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) vs. Paramedic. (n.d.). MTS. https://www.medicaltechnologyschools.com/emt/emt-vs-paramedic#:~:text=The%20basic%20difference%20between%20EMTs%20and%20paramedics%20lies

EMT Scope of Practice. (n.d.). Www.wvoems.org. https://www.wvoems.org/medical-direction/scope-of-practice/emt-scope-of-practice

Lee, S. (2020, June 11). EMT vs. Paramedic: Education, Job Responsibilities & Salary Potential. EduMed. https://www.edumed.org/medical-careers/emt-vs-paramedic/

Munday, R. (2022, August 9). EMT Vs. Paramedic: What’s The Difference? | NurseJournal.org. Nursejournal.org. https://nursejournal.org/healthcare/emt-vs-paramedic/