These qualified staff will need to perform very important duties when assisting patients and the national EMT registry will ensure they are more than capable. Such an important role an EMT worker has that strict qualifications and guidelines must be adhered to. The national registry of emergency medical technicians was founded in 1970 and was recommended by the committee on highway traffic safety. This committee proposed a national certification agency to establish uniform standards for training and examination of personnel that are active in the delivery of emergency ambulance service.

NCCA Accreditation

Committed to service excellence the NREMT holds accreditation from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies known as the NCCA. This is connected to the National Organisation for Competency Assurance known as NOCA. The NCCA is recognized as the authority on accreditation standards for professional certification organisations and programs. This means the standards set by the NREMT have been reviewed by the NCCA and is deemed credible for ensuring the health, well-being, welfare and safety of the general public.

Information About The National Registry Of EMT

The national registry is a non-profit organisation that provides a strict standard for determining the skill and knowledge required for emergency personnel. The registry offers a centralized location for certification, re – certification and continuing education requirements. Students will be required to complete a state approved education course that involves both written and practical exams. The NREMT certifies five different levels of EMS professionals from first responders to paramedic. Re-certification is required every two years which ensures that all personnel are always competent in what they are doing. This can be through taking the exam again or continuing education. Progress is conveniently tracked and documented on the NREMT website. The registry provides computer based exams which are fair, accurate and precise. Classes can be completed online which can be very beneficial not only to the candidates but to the educators as well. Candidates will be able to choose where to sit their final exams when finished their classes. Once qualified, the registry will update their database. This will be very beneficial for the public, state licensing agencies and employers as they will easily be able to verify the candidate’s qualifications. Due to the excellent work of the national registry the US public can be assured of a consistent high standard of all emergency medical technicians.

The Different Levels Of Training

There are different levels of EMT training and qualifications. The NREMT is a comprehensive government agency that ensures through accreditation that all EMT educational institutions maintain a very high level of standard established by the law. If you decide to apply for an EMT program make sure that they are accredited to the NREMT. If not, you will be unable to apply for certification or licensing. Once you have completed the appropriate EMT education program you will then have to apply for an assessment exam before you can take any national registry EMT test. You will need to be at least 18 years old when you apply. Once you have successfully completed the assessment and depending on your EMT educational and training level, you will then be allowed to take one of the six national registry EMT tests. The NREMT will send you an authorization to test, known as an ATT. The six different examinations that are available are:

• First responder – This is the first level of training. There are 80 to 100 questions in the exam and the cost of the exam is currently $65.
• EMT B – This stands for basic which is the next level of training which can normally be completed within just a few months of training. A high school diploma or GED is required. The exam comprises of between 70 and 120 questions and the cost to sit the exam is $70.
• EMT I – This is an intermediate level which increases levels of practice with additional training and field experience. There are between 85 and 135 questions in the exam and the cost is $100.
• EMT A – This involves an advanced level of training over the intermediate exam which costs $100 to sit the exam. There are 135 questions involved.
• Paramedic – Only when you have completed all the previous studies and skills are in place gained from practical and classroom experience can you become a paramedic. This is the highest level which normally takes one to two years to complete. This often results in an Associate degree. There are 80 to 150 questions involved and costs $110 to sit.

There are free EMT practice tests available to do which are a convenient way to prepare for any of the above EMT exams. These exams not only include what you have learnt, but also your ability to safely and effectively execute the tasks of an EMT. They will include such things as your ability to think, cognitive, and perform, psychomotor, in emergency situations so not to make a patient’s condition worsen. If you happen to be renewing your certification you would be required to take a refresher course according to National Registry EMT Test requirements and guidelines. This would need to be done within two years as if not you would need to complete another entire EMT course before taking your exam.

Available Jobs For A qualified EMT

There is always the need for qualified EMT’s. There are many different areas of workplaces that require dedicated and good workers. This can be in hospitals, frail care centers, hospices as well as assisting at large crowd sport and music events, schools and colleges.

People tend to forget about the need in those fields and normally just think of the more traditional jobs such as ambulance workers and fire fighters. Many EMT’s are so dedicated to assisting the sick or injured that they use this start in the health field to further their education and knowledge to springboard a move into other health care careers such as nursing, PA’s and some even continuing their education to become medical doctors.

Overview Of EMT Work

The Emergency Medical Technicians are usually the first point of contact for a patient who is unwell and need the assistance of an emergency worker. An EMT will always need to be responsible and careful as they will be handling the lives of people in need. Apart from this they will also need to be quick on their feet when answering an emergency call.

When studying to become an EMT they will learn all about essential first aid response in an emergency situation. Like medical professionals they will also undergo training on basic life support and advance cardiac support. EMT’s will be performing basic procedures according to physicians orders. All EMT’s will only be able to practice their profession once they are certified to do so. Some duties that an EMT may have to perform could include giving necessary medication, patient intubation, management of airways and giving ventilation. Depending on your rank of EMT qualification will determine what level of procedures you can perform. Only qualified paramedics can perform certain procedures. The ranking of an EMT will depend on the level of training they have done. An EMT must always upgrade because they need updated information on emergency procedures. A qualified EMT can be the difference of saving a patient’s life.

The Legal Differences Between Certification And Licensure

Many people think that these are the same. However there are important functional distinctions between the two concepts. The federal government has defined certification as the process by which a non government organisation gives recognition to an individual who has met predetermined qualifications specified by that organisation. This can be also deemed as voluntary where an individual has demonstrated the necessary level of skill and knowledge required in the profession.

The three hallmarks of certification are:

• Voluntary process
• By a private organisation
• This is by providing the public information on individuals who have successfully completed educational and testing requirements. They would also have demonstrated their ability to perform their profession competently.

Licensure is where the state grants legal authority. Under the licensure system, states define by statute the tasks and function or scope of practice of a profession and provide that these tasks may legally be performed only be people who are licensed to do so. As such, licensure restricts anyone from practicing the profession who is not licensed, regardless of whether or not the individual has been certified by a private organisation.

In the US there is often confusion between the terms certification and licensure because many different states call their licensure processes certification, especially when they incorporate the standards and requirements of private certifying bodies in their licensing statues and require that an individual be certified in order to have state authorization to practice. The national registry EMT is a private certifying organisation. The various state offices serve as the state licensing agencies. Certification by the national registry is a distinct process from licensure and serves the purpose of identifying for the public, state licensure agencies and employers individuals that have successfully completed the registry’s educational requirements as well as demonstrating their skills and abilities in the mandated exams.

National Registry EMT Summary

Before the national registry EMT was formed by President Lyndon Johnson’s recommendation in 1970 there were many thousands of people in the US each year that were permanently disabled due to the mishandling by poorly trained ambulance and emergency personnel. It was deemed that the patient was being mistreated twice, once by the injury or illness and once by failing to receive competent emergency care. This all fortunately changed once the new organisation was formed.

It took a number of years to really be efficient, but today if you find yourself in the unfortunate position of being in need of emergency treatment you can feel rest assured that the level of service that you will get will be excellent. Since the 1970’s, pre-hospital emergency medical care has continually evolved and improved. The EMT has been acknowledged as an important member of the health care team. Excellent training programs have been developed and a vital focus has been placed on continuing education. High standards have truly been established. It all has helped that ambulance equipment essentials are set, national accreditation or paramedic programs have been achieved, and professional associations for the EMT have been organised. Without obtaining a licence through the national registry a person will not be able to perform any type of EMT job. You will need to study very hard, pass exams provided by the organisation before becoming qualified.

These stringent tests are certainly for the benefit of the public, knowing that the person who will be treating them in an emergency situation are fully trained and qualified to do so. The exams are difficult and extensive designed in a way to allow candidates to be tested whether they are ready for the job by testing not only their theoretical knowledge in performing emergency help but probably more importantly their practical skills including providing CPR to save a person’s life. With the National registry EMT being a highly critical organisation within the medical industry it would be very difficult to assess whether a candidate is ready to take on duties and responsibilities of an EMT worker without the organisation being in place.

We are all very aware how crucial the role of an EMT is and it should not be assigned to just any individual who wants it. Thanks to the national registry we can all be happy that this certainly is the case. The lives of many people on a daily basis will depend upon the services and assistance provided by a qualified EMT affiliated to the national registry.

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Categories For Medical Assistant Certification

Eligibility Category 1

Completing student or recent graduate of CAAHEP or ABHES medical assistant certification program

Eligibility Category 2

Non recent graduate of CAAHEP or ABHES medical assistant certification program

Eligibility Category 3

CMA (AAMA) recertification

There are many reasons why a medical assistant should register with a professional body. A few examples are as follows.

• Employers are more likely to employ a certified assistant on legal grounds. This is due to increasing pressures resulting from successful lawsuits against the medical profession for malpractice. In other words it is a form of protection against legal claims for a potential employer.

• Employers have recourse by way of legal protection and have access to advice and legal counsel from the certification for medical assistant bodies.

• A certified assistant on average earns more than a non-certified assistant.

• Re-certification ensures that the assistant is always current in terms of new developments on all levels.

General Description Of Medical Assistant Work Description And Purpose

Generally speaking medical assistants are trained professionals who provide doctors and other specialist care givers with health care assistance to clinical care tasks and also perform certain administrative and managerial tasks in the same field. In the case with the clinical aspect of the profession they would be involved with tasks such as blood taking, blood pressure and temperature measuring, checking of other vital signs, urine testing, screening, sample collections and other routine medical tasks. With the onset of the technological advances the demand for trained assistants has increased and continues to so as the health care profession grows and expands. Nowadays there are many routes and options open to people wanting to pursue a career as a medical assistant. Whichever direction they may choose to go in it is vitally important to get your medical assistant certification from AAMA.

Even though certification for medical assistants is voluntary more and more professional doctors and other specialists are demanding that their employees be registered with a professional body. Not only does it prove that a person is well trained but also shows a degree of competency that is acceptable to a recognized professional body. There are a number of bodies that offer accreditations such as AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants), CMA (Certified Medical Assistants), AMT(American Medical Technologist agency) and NHA (National Healthcareer Association).

Most employers will accept certificates from the aforementioned agencies but it would be advisable for the person embarking on a specific career in a specific area to do a little bit of research in this regard before committing to any one form of certification for medical assistants. The medical profession as it exists today would not function without the medical assistants who form a very valuable and intricate part of the industry as a whole.

Work Possibilities Prospects For Certified Medical Assistants

The type of work related to this industry cannot be considered glamorous in any way, nor is it extremely well paid. It is better suited to those who have a passion for the health care industry and care giving in general. In terms of job availability it is a very good industry to be involved in with numerous job possibilities continually opening up. In other words, the services of medical assistants are in high demand. Predictions in 2006 indicated over half a million additional medical assistants would be employed in the following eight year period. It is pretty safe to assume that a reasonably well trained and dedicated individual should not have much difficulty finding employment in this field and the possibility for long term growth does exist.

What And Where To Study To Earn A Medical Assistant Certification

Most people wanting to create a career in this field opt to study at a vocational school or community college for two years to obtain an associate degree. There are also one year specialized medical assistant training courses. In both instances it is vital that the student choose an accredited educational facility.

The course work covers a range of subjects from medical subjects to medical administrative courses. A competency exam will be written on competition and a pass is required for certification with a regulatory board such as AAMA. Although the medical assistant certification is optional it is preferable as it opens up a wider range of work possibilities for the aspiring medical assistant.

Areas Of Employment For Medical assistants

The specific areas in which the medical assistant aspirant can find work are as numerous and as varied as the medical profession. There are possibilities within the private sector as well as with institutions and the government, in the private sector medical assistance is required by general medical doctors, dentist, orthodontists, pathologists, x-ray and many others. In the area of government and institutions similar openings exist but one can also work in areas such as care for the aged, drug abuse and rehabilitation, occupational therapy, specialist care and many more. This is a very diversified field and one is bound to find a particular area within the profession that is of interest to the individual.

Salary Expectation

Although not of the highest paying areas of expertise the salaries are relatively good and do increase with age, experience and area of expertise. Like with other professions, there are professional bodies that protect the rights of its members and for medical assistants a number of bodies exist.

Average Salary Based On Experience / Hourly Rate

Average salary Based On Experience / Hourly Rate For Full Time Employees

As can be seen from the above tables medical assistant salaries are higher as full time employees however 95 % of full time medical assistants surveyed are paid on an hourly basis and only 5 % of those surveyed received an annual salary. It is also clear from the tables that the number of years worked by assistants paid on an hourly rate is nowhere near as high as those with more full time experience. Location was another factor that appears to affect the salaries earned. The states that employed the least medical assistants paid the highest salaries. Hawaii has a population of about 2.780 medical assistants and paid an average of 32.18 USD per person compared to California which has a medical assistant population of about 76.920 and paid out an average of 14.89 USD per person. The salaries also varied according to the field and in this regard assistants working in substance abuse and psychiatric hospital earned a mean hourly salary of 22.32 USD per hour. Second highest earning by sector was the dental industry which indicated a mean hourly average of 17.27 USD per hour. These last two statistics were taken on a national survey and are indicative of salary scale related to the sector within the medical assistant field.

Average Salaries By Region / Average Hourly Rates For Annual Gross Income

As can be seen from the above tables the rates do vary considerably depending on the regions but the overall figures are indicative of a pretty evenly remunerated industry.

Of all the assistants surveyed a figure of 62 % represented those who have a certificate or diploma as a medical assistant and around about 43 % hold associate degree in medical assistance. Of all registered assistants surveyed the majority worked as assistants in physicians offices. The figure is about 87 %. Around 6 % worked in hospitals or outpatient facilities and the remainder are determined as working for other.

Benefits For Certified Medical Assistants From Employers

Of the medical assistants surveyed 20 % indicated that their respective employers paid for all the medical assistant certification costs, 13 % received partial assistance and 7 % only had assistance from the employers in the form of board and lodging sponsorship for annual conferences and when exams needed to be written in out of town areas.

Rank And Orders Of Duties Related To Medical Assistant Employment

• CLINICAL 72 %
• ADMINISTRATIVE 25 %
• MANAGEMENT (Clinical) 5 %
• MANAGEMENT (Administrative) 4 %
• OTHER 6 %

Medical Assistants Responsibilities

• Outpatient history and vital signs 89 %
• Assist with patient exams 83 %
• Injections 73 %
• EKG’s 53 %
• Laboratory 50 %
• Venipuncture 47 %
• Other diagnostic testing 42 %
• X-Rays 10%
• Start IV’s 5 %
• Infuse medication into IV lines 2 %
• Not involved in clinical areas 5 %

Medical Assistants Involved With Administrative Responsibilities

• Schedule patients appointments 72%
• Medical records 52%
• Reception 45%
• Insurance, including coding 29%
• Bookkeeping 14%
• Not involved with administrative areas 16%

Medical Assistants Involved With Management Responsibilities

• Purchasing of equipment and supplies 33%
• Supervising of staff 12%
• Hiring, evaluating or termination of staff 6%
• Managing of office finances and investments 4%
• Not involved with management areas 61%

The majority of medical assistants are involved with preliminary checks and preparatory functions with smaller numbers being involved with administrative and managerial tasks. Although cross over does occur the amount of time spent on medical type duties far exceeds the other. There are exceptions where assistants have migrated entirely from the medical arena to being totally managerially or administratively involved.

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