EMT Resume Job Description, Examples, and Skills List

What goes into an EMT resume?

An emergency medical technician (EMT) is one of the first people to respond to emergency situations and administer First Aid and life support to patients. This position requires a person to function efficiently under highly stressful conditions. Let’s take a closer look into how you can craft the perfect professional resume for your new job as an EMT.

According to the California Employment Development Department, there are three levels of EMT: EMT-Basic (or EMT-I), EMT-Advanced (or EMT-II), and EMT-Paramedic (or EMT-III). The higher the level of EMT, the more emergency medical services the EMT can provide. Just as an EMT would evaluate a patient’s symptoms and vitals to determine a treatment, the same holds true for building a resume. Consider it this way.

On a resume, you are evaluating your skills and experience and presenting a detailed report. Instead of vital signs and symptoms, you are selecting your best attributes to feature in your EMT resume design. Your EMT resume should focus on safety certifications, licenses and patient care experience. Each state will require an aspiring EMT to obtain these licenses before they are allowed to work.

How to write an EMT resume

Selecting the right resume format might not involve a medical treatment plan but it does involve planning out an organized structure that shows off your skills and work experience at their best.

Consider starting with a chronological resume format. This format will focus on your EMT work accomplishments first and foremost.

However, if you’re switching to an EMT job from another line of work, you may want to use a combination resume format or a functional format for your EMT resume, as these formats emphasize transferable skills and experiences.

Regardless of the format you choose, you should highlight relevant EMT skills, certifications and licenses, and any previous work experience you have had in the health care or first responder fields. Your EMT resume should include these sections:

• Header
• Resume summary
• Skills section
• Work experience
• Education section and EMT certifications

Contact information

The resume header is where you will include your contact information, such as:

• Your full name
• Your address
• Your phone number
• Your email address
• Your LinkedIn profile link, if applicable

Resume summary or objective

Use a resume summary if you’re currently an EMT and have incredible on-the-job work experience, skills and career highlights to “wow” a prospective employer.

Use a resume objective if you are an entry-level EMT, changing careers or you lack direct EMT experience, but have training for the field, and can display drive and passion.

Whichever option you choose, summary and objective, think of this section as your “elevator pitch” for your qualifications, featuring your top skills and experiences relevant to the job.

This is how an experienced EMT resume summary should look:

Hardworking and solutions-driven EMT with five years of experience. Proven ability to work under pressure and manage cases while improving team responsiveness. Received the “EMT Excellence” award for quick response times and exceptional document handling in 2021.

This is how an entry-level EMT objective in a resume should look:

Energetic EMT skilled in medical evaluation, medical assessment and vehicle operation seeking to offer medical excellence to local Smithfield County residents. Continuously commended by training supervisors for zealous work ethic. Worked as a volunteer on Smithfield County ambulance service, including 50+ ride-along experiences.

Skills

List all key qualifications and skills you have. Include hard skills as well as soft skills. Don’t forget about specific technical skills either. Always refer to the job ad to take note of skills the employer expects. Be sure to list these skill-related keywords on your EMT resume.

A few relevant EMT resume skills examples to include on your resume:

• Airway management
• Stabilization of injuries
• Emergency vehicle operation and upkeep
• Emergency response
• Patient assessments
• Assisting in pre-hospital care
• Teamwork
• Ability to handle pressure
• Communication skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail

Work history

Start with your most recent work experience and follow it with previous positions in reverse-chronological order. Include the job title, company name, dates of employment and three to five bullets outlining your EMT duties and achievements. Your job descriptions should:

• Be full of action words and power verbs
• Include quantified metrics that can validate your achievements

If you are applying to different EMT jobs, customize each EMT resume to match the requirements from each specific job ad. That means you don’t need to list every medical responsibility. Instead, highlight the skills that are relevant to the position.

Some EMT training courses offer internship opportunities. If you are an aspiring EMT, these internships can be invaluable to your overall work experience and are a great addition to your resume. Volunteer experience as a lifeguard or EMT ride-along is also good to add to a resume if you don’t have much, or any, work experience. These roles can build up your professional experience for higher-level EMT positions in the future.

Education

EMTs should at least have a high school diploma or GED. Although you don’t need a higher degree, keep in mind that EMTs do need to know medical terminology and medical procedures.

All the formal education an EMT needs is the following:

• An accredited EMT program approved by the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
• Pass the National Registry Emergency Medical Technician cognitive exam
• Pass the psychomotor exam in your state

After undergoing all this training and passing these exams, you can apply for an EMT certification in your state and fully begin your new job search. Recent graduates of an EMT program will want to list their coursework on their resume in lieu of any nonexistent work experience.

All EMTs must be certified by their respective state before they can practice. The qualifications for each state differs. Some states require a fee to receive your certification. For example, in California, you need to apply to a local EMS agency to be certified. Once you pass their background check and meet all other requirements, you will be issued an EMT number from the State Central Registry.

EMT resume sample: text version

Barry Smith
101 Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 12345
(210) 987-6543
barrysmith@example.com

Resume Summary

Certified Emergency Medical Technician skilled at providing pre-hospital evaluations of patient conditions. Able to start critical treatments in field and transport sick and injured patients to hospitals.

Skills

• Vital signs monitoring
• Patient stabilization
• Patient transport
• Clean and sanitize equipment

Work Experience

Emergency Medical Technician Trainee
Example Medical Center, May 2020 – Current
Los Angeles, CA

• Participated in professional development training to improve patient care proficiency
• Provided pre-hospital care to assess conditions, deliver preliminary treatments, and ultimately save lives
• Took vital signs and interpreted EKGs to determine the immediate condition of the patient
• Prepared logs and patient records in full compliance with company and legal requirements
• Cleaned, organized, and restocked emergency vehicles to prepare for transport

Education

California Institute of Emergency Medical Training – Los Angeles, CA, January 2021

Certifications

Certified California EMT – February 2021