In Texas, there are five levels of emergency medical technician (EMT): Emergency Care Attendant (ECA), EMT-Basic (EMT-B), Advanced EMT (AEMT), EMT-Paramedic (EMT-P), and Licensed Paramedic (LP).
Because there are so many levels of EMT, how you become an EMT in Texas and how long EMT certification takes depends on the type of certification. No matter the level of EMT you’re preparing for, the disqualifications remain the same. What disqualifies you from becoming an EMT in Texas can include failing a background check, certain traffic violations, and varying types of criminal offenses.
In this post, we’ll walk you through all of the levels of EMTs in Texas, their level of training, and their average salary. Then, we’ll connect you with an exclusive all-in-one EMT career and study guide that can help you skyrocket your career as an EMT.
What Is an ECA?
ECAs are very similar to emergency medical responders (EMRs) because the minimum curriculum for ECAs includes all the content required by the current national EMR educational standards. They provide basic life support care and transportation to the sick and injured while waiting for additional EMS support to arrive at the scene of an emergency.
You may qualify as an ECA in Texas if you complete a national EMR certification course. ECAs in Texas usually make between $15 and $20 per hour, with a median annual salary of $32,000.
What Is an EMT-B?
EMT-Bs share the same responsibilities as an ECA, but they can also assess a patient’s condition and manage emergencies at the incident scene. They are a step above ECAs and can provide basic life support and transport patients to a hospital. These EMS professionals are trained to control bleeding, stabilize fractures, and address shock.
EMT-Bs make between $15.91 to $21.06 per hour in Texas, depending on their experience location. The median annual salary is $34,000 for this role.
What Is an AEMT?
AEMTs are a rung above EMT-Bs and are responsible and trained for all of the same duties as an EMT-B and ECA. However, AEMTs can also give medications, start IVs, and provide advanced airway management interventions. They can also use advanced life support equipment that lower-level EMTs are not allowed to use.
While AEMTs have more extensive training than EMT-Bs and ECAs, their hourly rate ranges between $16 to $26 per hour with an average salary of $36,000.
What Is an EMT-P?
EMT-P is the second-highest level of EMT in Texas. This level is for EMS professionals who have completed and passed a paramedic course but still need to complete a formal degree or paramedic licensure. A formal degree can include a two-year EMS degree or a four-year degree in a related field.
This role has all of the training and skills of EMS professionals from ECA to AEMT. EMT-Ps are able to perform interventions using diagnostic equipment approved by an agency medical direction and facilitate medical decisions at the scene of an emergency or during transport.
EMT-Ps in Texas make between $23.94 to $30.54 per hour, with an average annual salary of $50,000.
What Is an LP?
Licensed paramedics are at the top of the EMS chain in Texas. To become an LP in Texas, you must complete a nationally accredited paramedic training program and have at least an associate’s degree.
LPs have similar training and exam requirements to EMT-Ps and virtually the same practice scope. The main distinction here is the level of education, which can come with a significant pay increase.
The average hourly rate for LPs in Texas ranges between $29 to $37, with a median annual salary of $68,000.
The Paramedic Coach: Your EMT Mentor
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