If you want to be an emergency medical technician (EMT) in Texas, you must meet the federal and state certification requirements. You can be disqualified from becoming an EMT in Texas if you are under eighteen years old, do not have a high school or GED diploma, have certain criminal or drug offenses, have a record of certain driving or traffic violations, or submit a non-state-approved EMT training certificate.
EMT certification requirements in Texas include:
- Being at least eighteen years of age
- Completing high school, a homeschool equivalent, or GED
- Passing a background check
- Completing a state-approved EMT training program
- Holding an American Heart Association Basic Life Support certification
- Passing the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) EMT exam
- Applying for a license with the Health Department of Texas
Working as an EMT can be extremely rewarding and a career path you can grow in. Paramedics are the highest level of EMT professionals, for example. How much are paramedics paid in Texas? Paramedics typically make $25 or more an hour in Texas, depending on their location and level of experience.
But before you can reach the top of the EMT food chain, you need to know if you qualify for the job before you enroll in a program. In this post, we will discuss what can disqualify you from becoming an EMT in Texas.
The Basics
All states have their license application requirements, and Texas is no different. In Texas, you must be at least eighteen to apply for an EMT licensure at any level.
What are the levels of EMT in Texas? Texas has five levels of EMT:
- Emergency Care Attendant (ECA)
- Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B)
- Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)
- Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P)
- Licensed Paramedic (LP)
If you are applying for an EMT-Basic (EMT-B) license or above, you must have a high school or general education diploma to qualify for your EMT license.
Criminal Offenses
When you apply for your EMT license, you will need to pass a background check and submit your fingerprints to the state of Texas and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. If you have certain criminal offenses on your record, you will automatically be disqualified from EMT eligibility.
This is because EMTs provide care to vulnerable populations every day. Some criminal charges that can disqualify you include sexual assault or abuse, attempted murder or murder, physical assault, or use of a dangerous weapon.
Driving Offenses
EMTs are responsible for transporting patients to hospitals, often driving an ambulance. Therefore, driving offenses on your record are taken very seriously when you apply for an EMT license. If you’ve been convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) within the last three years or have more than one DUI on your record, you can be disqualified.
Additionally, you may be disqualified from becoming an EMT if you have been convicted of three or more moving traffic violations within the last two years.
Drug-Related Charges
EMT professionals of all levels have access to a wide range of medications and other pharmaceutical drugs, which is why drug charges are considered when you apply for an EMT license. You may be disqualified if you have any drug possession, distribution, or other drug-related crimes on your record.
Investing in the Wrong Certification Program
This disqualification isn’t as serious as most of the other items on this list and won’t permanently disqualify you, but it’s important to remember that only state-approved EMT courses will qualify you for the NREMT and your EMT licensure. This is because Texas has strict rules about which curricula actually prepare you for what you need to know and what skills you’ll exercise in your career.
If the Health Department of Texas doesn’t approve the program you complete, it will be a waste of money. You can check whether the program you’re interested in is state-approved by visiting the Health Department’s website.
The Bottom Line
Investing in your future matters, and the EMT career path can open you up to many opportunities. If you meet the basic qualifications for becoming an EMT and want to make a difference in your community, check out our resources in The Paramedic Coach’s Video Vault. This all-in-one study tool and resource library can get you the ultimate competitive edge in the industry and help you pass your EMT training course with flying colors!
