Online Basic EMT (EMT-B) Certification Program Overview

Although there is some physical, in-person training that one must complete to become an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B), partial requirements can be completed through the Web. Online EMT-B courses introduce students to emergency medical services and prepare them to function as care providers in a pre-hospital environment.

Online EMT-B Training Options

Online EMT-Basic courses are available from commercial training organizations and colleges. Commercial organizations might relay content through videos and interactive tutorials that are either downloaded or sent by mail, but candidates must travel to a training site to complete their experiential hours. In this case, prospective students will want to be sure their state's board of health or a national government agency, such as the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, approves the program.
Some colleges and universities offer hybrid programs through their continuing education divisions. Students must visit the campus at certain intervals, but they primarily use the school's Web-based education services to access class content. These distance-learning options are paired with in-person training modules that teach prospective emergency medical care providers the techniques they need to save lives in crisis situations. Potential applicants should be sure they're choosing an accredited school so that they can qualify for licensure upon graduation.

Online EMT-B Course Content

EMT-B courses are designed to give students the entry-level knowledge required for pre-hospital emergency care situations. This includes first recognizing how serious a patient's condition might be and determining the nature of the injuries, then administering appropriate medical care and moving patients in such a way that they are not injured further. Courses often contain basic information about human physiology, legal medical issues, pharmacology, cardiac emergencies, respiratory ailments, substance abuse problems, childbirth, pediatrics and trauma.

Online EMT-B Program Delivery

Online EMT-B classes are usually available through a central learning system created for students to log on and access all of their work in one place. However, some materials may be transferred via downloaded files or physical mail. Correspondence with instructors and peers generally takes place via e-mail or instant messenger. There could also be discussion forums on the student's learning portal where participants can add replies to each others' conversation threads. Unlike on-campus programs, students participating in an online course can study at their own pace and usually have a longer time period to complete the course.