School of EMT | Advanced Emergency Medical Technician

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Overview

The Advanced Emergency Medical Technician’s (AEMTs) scope of practice includes basic and limited advanced skills focused on the acute management and transportation of critical and emergent patients. This may occur at an emergency scene until transportation resources arrive, from an emergency scene to a healthcare facility, between healthcare facilities, or in other healthcare settings.

For many communities, AEMTs offer an option to provide high-benefit, lower-risk advanced skills for systems that cannot support or justify paramedic-level care. This is frequently the case in rural and volunteer systems. In some jurisdictions, AEMTs are the highest level of out-of-hospital care. In communities that utilize emergency medical dispatch systems, AEMTs may function as part of a tiered response system. In all cases, AEMTs work alongside other EMS and healthcare professionals as an integral part of the emergency care team.

AEMTs practice basic, limited advanced, and pharmacological interventions to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with acute out-of-hospital medical and traumatic emergencies. Emergency care is based on assessment findings. Additionally, AEMTs provide care to minimize secondary injury and provide comfort to the patient and family while transporting the patient to an emergency care facility.

The AEMTs knowledge, skills, and abilities are acquired through formal education and training. They have the knowledge associated with—and are expected to be competent in—all the skills of the EMR and EMT. The major difference between an AEMT and EMT is the ability to perform limited advanced skills and provide pharmacological interventions to emergency patients.

The AEMT is the minimum licensure level for patients requiring limited advanced care at the scene or during transportation. The scope of practice model is limited to lower-risk, high-benefit advanced skills that are effective and can be performed safely in an out-of-hospital setting with medical oversight and limited training.

Additionally, AEMTs:

  • Transport all emergency patients to appropriate medical facilities, and often perform medical transport services for patients requiring care within their scope of practice.
  • Are not prepared to independently make decisions regarding the disposition of patients.
  • Serve as part of an EMS response system, assuring a progressive increase in the level of assessment and care.
  • May make destination decisions in collaboration with medical oversight. The principal disposition of the patient encounter will result in the direct delivery of the patient to an acute care facility.

After successful completion of the AEMT Course, students are eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Certification Written and Practical Examinations required to apply for licensure in the State of Michigan as an AEMT. 

AEMT courses begin each October and run consecutively through May of the following year.

The program is sanctioned by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Preparedness, EMS, and Systems of Care as an EMS Education Program Sponsor.

UP Health System – Marquette School of Emergency Medical Technology Application

Applicants who meet the following criteria will be fully considered on an individual basis for admission.

Admissions criteria:

  • Must be 18 years of age.
  • Must be an EMT upon admission (Paramedic and CIP Programs ONLY).
  • Must have a high school diploma or GED certificate—students requiring assistance in attaining this requirement can locate the contact person for Region 1: Adult Education Programs offered through the Michigan Workforce Development Agency here.
  • Valid, government-issued ID.
  • Must be capable of meeting the Essential Requirements for the profession of Emergency Medical Services.
  • You may be asked to complete a personal interview with an admissions committee.
  • Must have reliable internet and email access throughout the program.
  • Must provide completed School of EMT forms required for admission and clinical.
  • Required to submit to a Criminal Background Check based on the applicant’s social security number—with acceptable results—to continue in the program upon receipt of the results by the School of EMT. (Results of a Background Check that are consistent with felony or misdemeanor convictions as identified in MCL 400.701 to 400.737, including 34(b) and 34(c), may result in disqualification for participation in the education program.)
  • Must submit an approved UPHS Drug Screen at your own expense with acceptable results to continue in the program upon receipt of the results by the School within 30 days of the course start date. You are also required to provide the results of the completed 10-panel UP Health System Drug Screen to the SEMT to be maintained as part of any current student’s active file. (Please call Occupational Medicine at 906.449.1140 to schedule.)
  • Course participation requires the submission for verification of completion to the SEMT official documentation of the following vaccinations/health examinations (positive titer will be accepted if vaccination records are not available). Any vaccinations that may be required by the student must be initialized before completion of any clinical time. Waivers of any vaccinations will be considered for religious or medical reasons with facility documentation.

Applicant must submit proof of the following to the School of EMT:

  • Hepatitis B Vaccination
  • TB Testing
  • Two completed TB tests or chest x-rays from an approved public health source; provide proof of annual testing for each year enrolled in any EMS Education Program. The student must provide proof of these requirements that will remain current (within one year of the last day of the course).
  • MMR Vaccination
  • Varicella Vaccination
  • COVID Vaccination
  • SEMT Health Examination Report

Incomplete applications will not be considered.