A paramedic is a registered healthcare professional that provides emergency medical treatment to patients in many settings, while a nurse is a caregiver to patients in a hospital setting.

What is a paramedic and how to become one

Q: Can you become a paramedic without being an EMT?

No, you cannot become a paramedic without being an EMT in most cases. In the United States, being an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is almost always a prerequisite for becoming a paramedic.

Q: How hard is it to become a paramedic?

It is relatively hard to become a paramedic. Paramedic training is difficult because it tests candidates' physical stamina, calmness under pressure, medical-related knowledge, and the ability to make the right decisions quickly when small increments of time are crucial.

Q: What are the pros and cons of being a paramedic?

The pros of being a paramedic include helping those in need, having diverse work opportunities, and always encountering new things, while the cons include psychological effects, responsibility to patients, and health risks.

Q: What is the career path for a paramedic?

The career path for a paramedic includes jobs as a paramedic, EMT manager, and EMT instructor. To become a paramedic, you must first complete a training course and pass a licensing exam. Some roles often require additional education, so you may need a bachelor's degree depending on your specific path.

Q: What should I study to become a paramedic?

You should study anatomy and physiology, in addition to emergency life support skills, to become a paramedic. In addition to coursework, becoming a paramedic also requires work-related experience.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Elyse Zavar PhD

A paramedic provides emergency care to patients in need. They often serve as first responders on the scene of accidents and medical emergencies, and work with other emergency personnel to stabilize patients and transport them to hospitals. Paramedics are trained to administer life-saving interventions, such as CPR and defibrillation, and they are skilled at assessing patient conditions and making critical decisions. Their work requires physical and emotional stamina, as well as communication skills and teamwork.

What general advice would you give to a Paramedic?

Elyse Zavar PhD

Associate Professor, University of North Texas

Prior to entering the field, gaining hands-on experience through internships and volunteer opportunities can help new professionals not only stand out in the job market, but many employers will recognize and count these as years of experience thus increasing salaries. When offered a position, research comparable salaries and do not be afraid to negotiate salary, among other benefits, when discussing a job offer.

ScoreParamedicUS Average

Salary

3.5

Avg. Salary $44,640

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

10.0

Growth Rate 7%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.81%

Asian 4.51%

Black or African American 6.57%

Hispanic or Latino 15.42%

Unknown 5.46%

White 67.23%

Gender

female 31.57%

male 68.43%

Age - 34

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 34

Stress Level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

9.7

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

5.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Paramedic?

Pros

Good salary and benefits
Opportunities for career advancement, such as becoming a supervisor or educator
Opportunity to work with advanced medical technology and equipment
Flexibility in scheduling, with various shift options available
High demand for paramedics, leading to job security

Cons

Long hours and irregular schedules, including overnight shifts
Difficulty in separating work from personal life
High level of responsibility and accountability for patient care
Limited ability to provide long-term care or follow-up with patients
High turnover rate due to stress and burnout

Key steps to become a paramedic

Explore paramedic education requirements

Most common paramedic degrees

Associate

45.0 %

Bachelor's

30.2 %

Certificate

8.2 %

Start to develop specific paramedic skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	16.23%
Acls	7.35%
CPR	6.90%
EMS	6.31%
BLS	5.19%

Complete relevant paramedic training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New paramedics learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a paramedic based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real paramedic resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed paramedic usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed paramedic in most of states. 35 states require paramedics to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License Url
Kentucky	Specific course required	Third-party exam required	Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
Maryland	Degree required	Third-party exam required	EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (PARAMEDIC) AND CARDIAC RESCUE
Alabama	-	-	Registered Intermediate Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Alaska	Specific course required	State exam required	Emergency Medical Technician
Arkansas	Specific course required	Third-party exam required	Emergency Medical Technician

Gain additional paramedic certifications

Paramedic certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific paramedic certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for paramedics include Equipment Management Specialist (EMS) and Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS).

More About Certifications

Research paramedic duties and responsibilities

Manage critically ill/injure patients effectively with rapid assessments, aggressive resuscitation, packaging and transport to appropriate definitive care emergency departments.
Attend safety training seminars yearly as well as Haz-Mat safety, SCBA training and OSHA regulation training.
Perform Phlebotomy and specimen collection duties.
Administer emergency medical treatment to patients including CPR, medications/drugs.

Prepare your paramedic resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your paramedic resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a paramedic resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Paramedic Resume templates

Build a professional Paramedic resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Paramedic resume.

Apply for paramedic jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a paramedic job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

What is a paramedic and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a Paramedic?

What are the pros and cons of being a Paramedic?

Paramedic career paths

Key steps to become a paramedic

Explore paramedic education requirements

Most common paramedic degrees

Start to develop specific paramedic skills

Complete relevant paramedic training and internships

Obtain the necessary licensing

Gain additional paramedic certifications

Research paramedic duties and responsibilities

Prepare your paramedic resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Paramedic Resume templates

Apply for paramedic jobs

How Did You Land Your First Paramedic Job

Average paramedic salary

How do paramedics rate their job?

Paramedic FAQs

Can you become a paramedic without being an EMT?

How hard is it to become a paramedic?

Paramedic vs Nurse

What are the pros and cons of being a paramedic?

What is the career path for a paramedic?

What should I study to become a paramedic?

Search for paramedic jobs

Paramedic jobs by state