Frequently Asked Questions

You can become an EMT by attending a class at a community college or the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. Becoming an EMT requires 175 hours of classroom training and 100 hours of clinical internship prior to licensure. Upon successfully obtaining a license to practice, the EMT then undergoes a clearance process with the county for medical director approval to render care.

You do not have to be affiliated with a department to obtain an EMT license, however, an EMT must either volunteer or become employed by a local department in order to provide care.

An EMT and a Paramedic both perform similar job functions and usually work together to crew an ambulance. The main difference between an EMT and Paramedic is education and training. Becoming an EMT requires 175 hours of classroom training and 100 hours of clinical internship prior to licensure. To become a paramedic, an individual must be an EMT for at least 12 months first, and undergo a training program of approximately 1,100 hours of classroom instruction and clinical rotations. 

Please, visit the Jobs Center for a listing of current openings within the Emergency Medical Services division.