Major Industries And Employers Of EMTs In Alabama

In Alabama EMTs are generally found in general medical and surgical hospitals (this is the most common location for EMTs to be employed in Alabama), colleges and universities, employment services, offices of physicians, other support services, outpatient care centers, power generation and supply industries, and ship and boat building companies.

The main employers of EMTs in Alabama are the following:

• Alabama Hospital Assn (General Medical and Surgical Hospitals)
• Alabama A & M University (Colleges and Universities)
• Able Body Labor (Employment Services)
• Kirklin Clinic (Offices of Physicians)
• Afni Incorporated (Other Support Services)
• Alabama Dialysis Services (Outpatient Care Centers)

The hourly wage for an EMT working in Alabama is about $8.37 for entry level positions, $14.56 on average and about $24.81 for the top earners in the industry. The annual wage you can expect to earn in the region of $17,410 a year if you are in an entry level position, $30,270 a year on average, and about $51,610 a year if you are lucky enough to be one of the top earners in the state of Alabama. The overall US average for EMTs is $9.48 for entry level positions and $24.70 for top earners, so Alabama compares well overall as a good state to complete an EMT training program. There are some basic requirements that you will need to meet in all states in order to become an EMT, including Alabama. You must be at least 18 years old, you must have a high school diploma or GED, and you must have a valid state driver’s license. If you meet these basic requirements and are willing to do the training involved through one of the EMT programs in Alabama, you will soon be an EMT.

Alabama EMT Training

There are two main types of EMT training programs that you can do in the state of Alabama in order to become an EMT. These are as follows:

• You can choose to complete a basic EMT training program. This should last a semester or two, and includes basic emergency care, basic clinical, and basic EMT skills courses, awarding an EMT certificate at the end.

• You can choose to complete a paramedic program, which takes longer (up to two years) and awards either a certificate or an associate degree, allowing graduates to apply for a paramedic license.

Clearly a more advanced qualification will increase your chances of employment and provide you with more prestige within the profession. the basic requirements that are true of all states (namely that you must be at least 18 years old, you must have a high school diploma or GED, and you must have a valid state driver’s license) hold true for all EMT programs in Alabama but some schools may have additional prerequisites that you will need to adhere to before you can begin training. For example you may need to hold a CPR certificate before you can be allowed to enter a training program to become an EMT.

There are two components to EMT training:

• You need to get hands-on experience in emergency medical situations as this is the only way to ensure that you fully understand what is expected of you.

• In addition you must complete textbook learning of theory work.

Advanced EMT courses and paramedic courses will also require you to complete courses in the following subjects:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Cardiovascular electrophysiology (uses crash carts and paddles)
• Patient management

The training you will receive in Alabama is quite similar to the training you will receive elsewhere.

EMT Certification Requirements In Alabama

The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Exam is an examination that certifies EMTs in most states, including Alabama, and it is therefore this exam that you will need to pass in order to become an EMT. Passing this exam will earn you certification as an EMT. However it does not earn you the right to practice as an EMT. It does allow you to apply to write the licensing exam that all EMTs must undergo before they can practice. NREMT re-certification occurs every two years for EMTs who wish to continue practicing. This test, which costs around $70 in Alabama, measures the knowledge of the potential EMT by increasing or lessening the difficulty of the test questions depending on whether the potential EMT passed or failed the previous question. This test is computerized. In addition you must complete a psychomotor exam which is hands-on and overseen by an examiner. This is the real test as it determines whether or not you actually have what it takes to be an EMT. To take the test you must contact the Alabama Department of Public Health Office of EMS and Trauma for testing.

National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
Morando Building
6610 Busch Blvd.
P.O. Box 29233
Columbus, OH 29233
614-888-8920
nremt.org

To be licensed the prospective EMT must apply to sit the exam at one of the 20 sites in Alabama offer the practical licensing exam. This will cost around $75. The two main topics that will be tested are:

• CPR
• The ability of the candidate to manage an emergency vehicle

It should also cover many of the same topics tested in the NREMT. For more information:

Alabama Department of Public Health
Office of EMS and Trauma
The RSA Tower
201 Monroe St., Suite 750
Montgomery, AL 36104
334-206-5383
adph.org

List Of EMT Programs In Alabama

Here is a list of some of your options along with the contact details you need to get in touch with the program.

Alabama Fire College
2501 Phoenix Drive
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405
Phone: (205) 391-3743

Bevill State Community College
(Walker, Hamilton, and Fayette Campuses)
PO Box 800
101 State Street
Sumiton, Alabama 35148
Phone: (800) 648-3271, Extension 5568

Bishop State Community College
1365 Martin Luther King Avenue
Mobile, Alabama 36603
Phone: (251) 405-4495

Calhoun Community College
6250 Highway 31 North
Tanner, Alabama 36671
PO Box 2216
Decatur, Alabama 35609-2216
Phone: (256) 306-2791

Central Alabama Community College
34091 U.S. Highway 280
Childersburg, Alabama 35044
Phone: (256) 378-2062

Chattahoochee Valley Community College
2602 College Drive
Phoenix City, Alabama 36869
Phone: (334) 291-4925

Enterprise State Community College
PO Box 1300
Enterprise, Alabama 36331
600 Plaza Drive
Enterprise, Alabama 36330
Phone: (334) 347-2623, Extension 2238

Faulkner State Community College
3301 Gulf Shores Parkway
Gulf Shores, Alabama 36542
Phone: (251) 968-3104

Fortis Institute Birmingham*
100 London Parkway, Suite 150
Birmingham, Alabama 35211
Phone: (205) 940-7816

Gadsden State Community College-McClellan Center
100A Commandants Drive
Anniston, Alabama 36205
Phone: (256) 238-9366

Gadsden State Community College
PO Box 227
1001 George Wallace Drive
Gadsden, Alabama 35902-0227
Phone: (256) 549-8654

Herzing University*
280 West Valley Avenue
Birmingham, Alabama 35209
Phone: (205) 916-2800

Jefferson Davis Community College
PO Box 958
Brewton, Alabama 36427
2200 Alco Drive
Brewton, Alabama 36426
Phone: (251) 867-4832

Jefferson State Community College
Jefferson Campus
2601 Carson Road
Birmingham, Alabama 35215

Shelby Campus
4600 Valleydale Road
Birmingham, Alabama 35242
Phone: (205) 856-6066

Lawson State Community College
3060 Wilson Road, S.W.
Birmingham, Alabama 35221
Phone: (205) 929-6437

Lurleen B. Wallace Community College
PO Box 1418
1000 Dannelly Boulevard
Andalusia, Alabama 36420
Phone: (334) 222-6591, Extension 2210

Northeast Alabama Community College
PO Box 159
138 Highway 35 West
Rainsville, Alabama 35986
Phone: (256) 228-6001, Extension 2341
Phone: (256) 638-4418, Extension 2341

Northwest-Shoals Community College
PO Box 2545
800 George Wallace Boulevard
Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35662
Phone: (256) 331-5436

Southern Union Community College
1701 Lafayette Parkway
Opelika, Alabama 36801
Phone: (334) 745-6437, Extension 5533

H. Councill Trenholm State Technical College
PO Box 10048
1225 Airbase Boulevard
Montgomery, Alabama 36108
Phone: (334) 420-4432

University of South Alabama-Brookley Field
2002 Old Bay Front Road
Mobile, Alabama 36615-1407
Phone: (251) 431-6418

The University of West Alabama
Station 14
Livingston, Alabama 35470
Phone: (205) 652-3714

Wallace Community College
1141 Wallace Drive
Dothan, Alabama 36303
Phone: (334) 556-2442

Wallace State Community College
801 Main Street N.W.
Hanceville, Alabama 35077-2000
Phone: (256) 352-8336

When choosing EMT programs in Alabama, be sure to make your choice carefully as the program that you select at this point in your career may affect your future as an EMT. Although the financial aspect is a consideration try not to base your entire decision on the relative cost of programs as the most expensive schools are not always the best ones. In addition, the cheapest schools are not always the worst. There are a number of factors that you will need to keep in mind.

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Choosing The Best LPN Program In Alabama For You

There are a number of LPN programs in Alabama on offer and it is important that you choose the best program for you. There are many factors that could influence your choice of program and all of them are very important. You will need to look into each of these factors carefully before making your final decision about which LPN program is indeed the best one for you to follow.

• Accreditation: The most important thing that you have to consider when choosing an LPN program is whether or not the program is accredited by the necessary board. If it is not, you will find that your qualification will not be taken very seriously and you will have trouble getting the job that you have always wanted in nursing. The State board of nursing can tell you if it is accredited or not.

• Preparation: A good LPN program will prepare you properly for the NCLEX-PN exam. You can ascertain whether or not a program provides proper preparation by considering whether or not the vast majority of students have passed the program n the past. If the program does not prepare you adequately for the exam, you will, once again, be wasting your time and your money. Past students can help you to make this judgment adequately.

• Coursework: Theoretical and Practical: A good LPN program will provide you with both theoretical and practical coursework. It is impossible to become an LPN without doing both. There are a number of programs that claim to offer tuition entirely online, but this is simply not possible as you have to do both sides of the work. Choose a program that offers a large amount of clinical exposure as this will make your life as an LPN far easier when you qualify.

• Job Placement: A very important factor to consider when looking for a good LPN program to attend is whether or not the program or school will help you with job placement after you have completed the program. If it does then that may be the ideal program for you to choose. There is no point in qualifying from a program and then not finding work. A program that offers help in this regard will make the situation easier for you.

• Quality of Tuition: The quality of the tuition is clearly a very important factor to take into account when you choose an LPN program. This can be determined by comparing the coursework offered by each school and then seeing which of the programs match up with what you will be asked n the exam. Also consider whether there are any other additional aspects of the tuition structure, such as online video classes, that make it a better choice.

• Flexible Schedule: This is only a relevant dimension to consider if you need a flexible schedule. Often people who study to be LPNs already have a lot of other responsibilities on their plate which keep them from devoting the full amount of time that they would like to devote to their studies. In this case the flexibility of the schedule plays a very important role indeed in your choice.

• Tuition Fees and Financial Aid: If you are strapped for cash you may want to consider those LPN programs that are cheaper. However it is also important to remember that there are a number of financial aid options available for nursing students in this state that you may be able to benefit from if you are interested in studying further. Financial aid is offered by schools, the government, and even your employer.

3 Steps To Becoming An LPN In Alabama

There are three basic steps that you can follow if you want to become an LPN in Alabama through one of the several different programs that are offered in Alabama for that purpose. The steps are easy enough to understand but you must remember that this does not mean that becoming an LPN is an easy task. You will have to work hard and take the situations seriously if you are to be a successful LPN through one of the programs offered in the state of Alabama. Here are the three steps:

• Earn your LPN Degree: This is a rather obvious first step. Your degree can be earned through one of the programs offered by the state and should take you about 1 year to complete. When you engage in an LPN program remember that you will need to do both theory training as well as clinical practice in order to fully qualify as an LPN. This affects your decision of which LPN program you should choose. Hard work will be required in order to earn your LPN certificate or degree and you will have to be able to motivate yourself to do the work required.

• Apply for Licensure with the Alabama State Board of Nursing: Once you have completed the necessary coursework you will need to apply for licensure with your state board of nursing. This is why t is important to attend a program in your own state. The different state boards tend to have different requirements. The cost of this application will be something in the region of $85. You will also need to have the school where you completed your LPN program send your transcript to the State Board of Nursing to prove that you have completed the necessary work.

• Obtain a CPR Card and Pass the NCLEX-PN: Once you have completed the actual program there are a number of other things that you will need to do. Firstly you will need a CPR card. This may mean that you will have to attend an additional CPR course. Not all states require that you have this, but the state of Alabama is a state that does. You will also need to pass the NCLEX-PN examination. This is the examination that will allow you to become licensed and practice as an LPN in the state of Alabama.

List Of LPN Programs In Alabama

Here is a list of some of the schools that offer LPN programs in Alabama:

• Alabama Southern Community College
• Bevill State Community College
• Bishop State Community College
• Central Alabama Community College
• Chattahoochee Valley Community College
• Gadsden State Community College
• George C Wallace Community College- Dothan
• George C Wallace State Community College- Hanceville
• George C Wallace State Community College- Selma
• H Councill Trenholm State Technical College
• J F Drake State Technical College
• James H Faulkner State Community College
• Jefferson State Community College
• John C Calhoun State Community College
• Lawson State Community College- Birmingham Campus
• Lurleen B Wallace Community College
• Northeast Alabama Community College
• Northwest Shoals Community College- Muscle Shoals
• Reid State Technical College
• Shelton State Community College
• Snead State Community College
• Southern Union State Community

The important thing to keep in mind when choosing LPN programs in Alabama is that the program absolutely has to be accredited if you are going to get your degree legally and without wasting any money in the process. If it is not accredited your qualification will not be taken seriously.

There are different LPN qualifications and degree levels that you can work towards. The specific qualifications you will be able to study towards at each of these schools include the following:

• Licensed Practical Nurse/ Licensed Vocational Nurse to BSN
• Certification in Nursing – LPN
• BS in Nursing (RN Required)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration
• Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
• M.S. in Nursing
• M.S. in Nursing/Health Care Education
• M.S. in Nursing/MBA/Health Care Management
• M.S. in Nursing/Master of Health Administration
• RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing

You should now have a much clearer idea about what your options are in Alabama if you want to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. It is easy enough to become an LPN and in addition it is a fantastic line of work to be involved in as it is part of the health care industry where a great deal of growth will always be experienced. There are always jobs available for LPNs, and the LPN industry in the state of Alabama, specifically, is very good. Make your choice of LPN programs in Alabama wisely and be sure to give it the due consideration that is needed.

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