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EMS in the United States has the following levels:

CFR/EMR: Certified First Responders/Emergency Medical Responders can respond to calls and provide basic first aid to patients, but cannot transport or ride in an ambulance.

EMT-B: "Basics" are the first level required in order to work on an ambulance. They are BLS providers and can perform first aid, ventilation, splinting, etc... as well as give a few medications. In the majority of states, EMT-Bs cannot perform invasive procedures.

EMT-I: "Intermediates" are ALS providers with a limited scope of practice. They can start IVs, intubate, and give a few drugs, including ACLS, but are limited in both their scope of practice and their education on A&P and pharmacology. Some states have custom levels, such as EMT-CC (Critical Care) in NY, which is between EMT-I and EMT-P.

EMT-P: Paramedics are the highest standardized level of prehospital care in the United States. They can perform both BLS and ALS skills (IV, intubation, pacing, etc...), as well as administering a wide range of medications. They have an in depth knowledge of A&P and pharmacology.

CCEMT-P (Critical Care EMT-P) is a special course that teaches paramedics additional A&P, pharmacology, and use of IABPs, IV pumps, LVAD operation, ventilators, etc... in order to train them to transport critical patients between facilities.

There are also some other special certifications, such as FP-C (Flight Paramedic-Certified), although, like CCEMT-P, they are not recognized as licensure levels and are merely requirements for jobs.

[–]DreadPiratesRobertTX EMT 6 points7 points  (2 children)

National Registry just changed what it is called, it's now EMR, EMT, EMT_A (Advanced) and Paramedic.

[–]RidonkulousleySC NREMT-P 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I just transitioned when I re-uped my NR.

Now I am "just" a Paramedic.

[–]medicaid_driverNY Paramagician 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Better change that flair before someone gets confused!

[–]alphanovember 2 points3 points  (1 child)

You forgot that it varies by state.

[–]PurePeppermintCT - NREMT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also within each state by medical director.

[–]HelassaidUnregistered Paramedic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In Pennsylvania AEMTs (intermediates) are specifically at the BLS level.


Georgia EMT-Intermediate here. Here, we are considered BLS providers, however we have some ALS interventions such as IVs, etc. We can use esophageal airways, but we can't intubate. We are being slowly phased out, and Advanced EMTs are being introduced to replace us. In Georgia, the current, new and improved ranking goes: EMT, AEMT, Paramedic, Critical Care Paramedic.

Edit: I forgot Emergency Medical Responder

[–]TheWhiteRabbitY2KFL NREMT-B 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We also have CCEMT-B where I'm at. Not sure it's accredited nationwide or anything, but my company teaches it to us to ensure we can aid our medics as much as possible.

[–]MavrandeNJ - EMT 5 points6 points  (0 children)

We sure do like our acronyms.

EMT, EMT-B, and Basic mean the same thing. Stateside, this is a level of provider that can work either 911 or transport, or as an ER tech, but usually has no invasive procedures, no cardiac monitoring, and can only administer O2, Nitro, Aspirin, Epi-pens, oral glucose and if the patient has their own prescribed asthma rescue inhaler, they can assist with that. Most can use a BGL meter, but not all. Some carry Nitro and Aspirin, some can only administer them if the patient has their own.

EMT-I and AEMT are two different transitional programs. There are also two types of EMT-I, called EMT-I/85 and EMT-I/99. These are between the EMT-B and the EMT-P, and usually incorporate IV starts, saline administration, some drugs, and cardiac monitoring and interpretation. Many parts of the US do not use this level at all.

EMT-P, Paramedic, or Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic, sometimes abbreviated to simply Medic, is the highest level of dedicated pre-hospital provider. They have IVs and quite a few drugs, including narcotics, cardiac monitors with manual defibrillators and pacers. In most places, they operate under online medical control, meaning they're contacting a physician to approve their treatment plan on almost every call. They have standing orders for some drugs and in order to exceed those standing orders they need to call a physician and get approval. They're all associated with hospitals in New Jersey, but some other states do allow fire-based, third-service, or even volunteer paramedics.

CCEMT-P can mean two things - critical care emergency medical technician-paramedic, which is just what Paramedics are legally called in some places, or critical care emergency transport program, which is a certification for high-risk interfacility transports that some paramedics, nurses, and doctors can get.

Some places allow RNs and NPs to get a critical care certification, which allows them to work in 911 systems as a Critical Care Nurse or Mobile Intensive Care Nurse (MICN), which is either the same as or slightly above a paramedic, depending on the are.

We also have a few abbreviations for the units themselves. Some of these I think are specific to NJ.

A 911 unit with a Paramedic or Nurse can be called a Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) in some places.

A transport unit with a Paramedic, Nurse, or Doctor, which may be provided by the hospital requesting the transport rather than the transport company itself, is called a Specialty Care Transport Unit (SCTU).

We also have Mobility Assistance Vehicles (MAV), which are pure BLS transport vehicles - wheelchair vans. Not to be confused with the Mobile Ambulance Bus (MAB), which is an actual bus and used for MCIs or hospital evacuations or that sort of thing.

[–]abrickwallUK - ECP[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not that I think the role someone does affects their input to this subreddit or the knowledge and experience they have to offer!

[–]what_an_assCA - EMT-B 0 points1 point  (7 children)

EMT-B is the same as Basic

EMT-P is a paramedic

There used to be an EMT-I, which was intermediate. I think that they are trying to phase that out, but i'm not too sure.

I'm not sure what the CCEMT-P is. Wikipedia says that it is critical care emt program. I'm not sure how that fits in.

[–]DreadPiratesRobertTX EMT 2 points3 points  (6 children)

National Registry just changed that, it's now EMT, EMT-Advanced, and Paramedic (no more EMT-P)

[–]what_an_assCA - EMT-B 1 point2 points  (5 children)

My bad, i've been out of the field for a while.

[–]DreadPiratesRobertTX EMT 0 points1 point  (4 children)

No problem, only reason I know that is because I am in school still.

It's not a big deal, it's just a change.

[–]what_an_assCA - EMT-B 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Best of luck with your studies.

[–]DreadPiratesRobertTX EMT 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Thank you! I take my test on April 5th, super freaked out.

[–]what_an_assCA - EMT-B 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Don't worry. You'll be fine.

Also don't freakout if the test ends sooner then you expect.

[–]DreadPiratesRobertTX EMT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you!

[–]FriedGold9kNY - EMT-P 0 points1 point  (0 children)

where i work, everyone is called a "medic"

where i worked before this, paramedics were "medics" and basics were "basics" intermediates were "I's" or "intermediates"

wherever you go, there's going to be some getting used to, but macwiz1220 has the basics there.

[–]redhot916gear 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Earn Money Sleeping, that's the only one I remember

[–]Zack_NicholasonNR-AEMT 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Every Menial Task

[–]dykemoneyEMTP 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Almost Made Rent

[–]treehouseboatNY EMT-B 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ALS - Ain't Lifting Shit