Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification courses in Texas can take around fifteen weeks to complete, but this depends on your course and level of certification. What are the levels of EMT in Texas? While there are many professions in emergency medical services (EMS), there are only five levels of EMT in Texas: Emergency Care Attendant (ECA), EMT-Basic (EMT-B), Advanced EMT (AEMT), EMT-Paramedic (EMT-P), and Licensed Paramedic (LP).
Each level requires varying training and education–for example, LPs require a two-year or four-year EMT program and an academic degree. However, your chosen level isn’t the only factor determining how long it will take to get your certification.
EMT Training Courses: Standard Versus Accelerated
All EMT courses in Texas offer standard and accelerated course options. Standard courses typically take fifteen weeks or more, allowing you to delve into the material and get the hands-on learning you need. This gives you more time to study, which can help your chances of passing the course and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam.
Accelerated courses teach the same material over a shorter period. These courses can range between six to twelve weeks depending on the level of EMT you want to earn and the specific program. One benefit of an accelerated program is that it can help you earn your certification faster so you can hit the ground running as an EMT as soon as possible.
One downside is that these programs have to cover a lot of complicated concepts and material over a much shorter span of time, making it more challenging to keep up with the class and fully understand the information. It can be more difficult to pass these courses and the NREMT because you need to dedicate all of your time to the course and to study until you pass.
We recommend that most students take the standard certification course unless they’ve already taken a standard course and are using the accelerated one as a refresher. It can also be a good idea to take the accelerated course if you have no other major obligations or responsibilities, so you can take the time you need to focus on passing the class.
NREMT Exam
Passing your certification course is only one piece of the puzzle. After you pass the course, you need to pass the NREMT cognitive (knowledge) test. Some certification programs automatically enroll you in this exam upon successful course completion, and the cost of the exam is included in your program tuition.
If the NREMT exam is not included in your program, your program instructor must submit evidence that you have successfully completed a state-approved EMT certification course to the Health Department of Texas and the NREMT. Once those entities have received those documents, you can sign up for the exam.
You must take and pass the exam within two years of completing your course.
Texas Regulations on Recertification
EMTs in Texas must recertify their state license every four years and recertify their NREMT certification every two years. This means that you need to enroll in an NREMT recertification course every two years and submit your course completion to the Health Department.
For the state license recertification, you need to submit evidence of forty hours of continuing education. This continuing education must meet the requirements of EMT National Continued Competency Program (NCCP). It must be a state or nationally-approved course and relate directly to EMS patient care.
These courses can be online or in-person. Experience that doesn’t count towards recertification includes:
- Clinical rotations
- Duplicate courses
- Preceptor hours
- Performance of duty
- Leadership or management courses
- Volunteer hours
For more details about what recertification courses count, refer to the Health Department of Texas’ website.
Prep With the Video Vault
Failing your certification program or NREMT exams can make becoming an EMT take longer. Unfortunately, only about 70% of students pass the NREMT on the first try.
You can save time and increase your chances of passing by investing in the right study resources. Our Video Vault is an all-in-one tool for EMS professionals to help them prepare for exams, pass their courses, and further their careers.
The Video Vault includes more than 480 videos that simplify the complex medical terms and concepts you learn in class, as well as worksheets, drug cards, and more than 2,000 NREMT practice questions. If you sign up today, you’ll have exclusive lifetime access to our private student group. Sign up for the Video Vault today and get started on your career as an EMT!
