AMT FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Why choose Allied?
We’ve been innovating EMS education since 2010, with a proven track record of highly competent and satisfied graduates across all of our programs. We believe knowledge saves lives and focus on training that emphasizes the fundamentals of patient care to develop high-quality and compassionate EMS providers.
We also know everyone has busy lives – so we aim to make our courses as convenient as possible, without sacrificing knowledge.
Our curriculum is created in-house by our medical and learning experts, and we’re constantly seeking to improve our own offerings to meet the needs of EMS professionals and the next generation of EMS.
We’ve seen that navigating the world of EMS certification and recertification can be confusing, and we want to do anything we can to assist with your EMS journey, so we offer support via phone, website chat, and email to best help you meet your goals!
Training and support for EMS professionals is what we do best!
Where are you located?
We are located at: 7405 Bush Lake Road, Edina (just outside of Minneapolis), Minnesota 55439
Do I have to come to your facility in Edina, MN for training?
For any in-person training component (EMT initial, EMR initial, RN to EMT, skills exam) you are required to come to our facility in Edina for the hands-on skills training of life-saving EMS skills! The in-class time is spent learning the skills with hands-on practice time – we save the lectures and knowledge portion for the online self-paced course component!
For refresher training, we offer the courses fully online.
What is an EMT?
EMT stands for Emergency Medical Technician. EMTs are the second level of certified Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers. They can be found working in ambulances, hospitals, event centers, casinos, transport services, and more.
EMTs provide life-saving prehospital care. For a more detailed description of becoming an EMT and what EMTs can do, please check out our blog: https://alliedmedtraining.com/what-is-an-emt/
What is the starting salary for an EMT and where do they work?
Check out our blog post here (https://alliedmedtraining.com/what-is-an-emt/) to find out more about what EMTs earn and where they work!
What is an EMR?
EMR stands for Emergency Medical Responder and used to be known as just “First Responder”. An EMR is the entry-level emergency medical certification in the United States. It’s commonly required for police, fire fighters, coaches, security guards and trainers.
It’s a great certification for people that may encounter injuries or illnesses as part of their job, but providing patient care is not the main part of their job. EMRs learn how to deal with life-threatening injuries and illnesses while they wait for help to arrive. For a more detailed description of the EMR and the other certification levels, please read it here (https://nremt.org/EMR/Certification).
Where can I work as an EMR?
EMR certification is more of an add-on certification to specific professions, including law enforcement, security, and firefighting.
Depending on your location, some agencies will allow an ambulance to have a certified EMT and certified EMR, which would mean a job working on an ambulance as an EMR.
What is the difference between EMR and EMT?
EMR and EMT indicate different levels within the EMS system. An EMR is a lower level, which means it’s a shorter course with less medical knowledge than the EMT level.
EMR is mainly an add-on certificate for life-saving knowledge for specific fields, such as law enforcement, security, and some fire departments.
EMT certification, on the other hand, can function as a career in itself since EMTs can find jobs on ambulances, in hospitals, for event services, and more. EMT level certification includes more medical knowledge and skills geared towards a higher level of out-of-hospital patient care.
Is there a candidate approval process to apply for the EMT or EMR initial course?
If you complete the full registration form and submit payment, you can take the course! There are some requirements listed in the Terms & Conditions to be able to be successful in the course, so please review those if you have concerns.
What are the prerequisites for the EMT and EMR course?
Must be 16 years of age or older and have access to a computer or tablet with strong internet connection for completing our online courses.
Can I become an EMT/EMR with a criminal background?
It depends on your specific background and circumstances. You’ll need to contact the NREMT about your situation to determine if you can get certified: https://nremt.org/Document/Support-Center
Then you should also contact your state EMS agency to verify if you’ll be able to get EMT certification there. Here’s a link to state EMS office contact information: https://nremt.org/resources/state-ems-offices
We recommend you verify you’ll be able to get certified before you sign up for our course!
How does certification work?
EMT:
National EMT certification is based on completion of a state-approved EMT initial program (such as ours), passing a psychomotor skills exam (included in our course), and passing the national certifying (cognitive) exam. Once all those steps are successfully completed, national EMT certification can be used to apply for an EMT certification or license within your state to actually work as an EMT. More information about our EMT course is here.
EMR:
EMR certification can be gained nationally or just through your state. In Minnesota, EMR certification is granted based on completing an EMR initial course with an approved program (such as ours). If you want to pursue national EMR certification, then in addition to the initial course, a psychomotor skills exam (included with our course) and the national certifying (cognitive exam) is required. More information about our EMR course is here.
RN to EMT:
We offer a one-of-a-kind accelerated EMT training program intended for those with an advanced healthcare license, including RN, PA, and MD. Candidates must apply to the NREMT to gain national certification, and complete a psychomotor skills exam (included in our course) and the national certifying (cognitive) exam. Once all those steps are successfully completed, national EMT certification can be used to apply for an EMT certification or license within your state to actually work as an EMT. More information about the course here.
Does my state accept this course?
State acceptance depends on a couple of factors – whether they accept national (NREMT) certification at the EMR and/or EMT level, and whether they accept reciprocity, which means granting an EMS certification in that state based on being certified in another state. While many states accept NREMT and reciprocity, some states have additional requirements.
We always highly recommend you reach out to your state to verify if they will accept NREMT certification. If you need any assistance with this, please contact us at [email protected]!
Please note the state of New York does not accept any of our courses at this time, regardless of NREMT status.
Where is the NREMT cognitive exam taken?
The NREMT cognitive exam is taken at either a Pearson Vue Learning Center (nationwide) or remotely with a proctor through their testing system.
What is your NREMT pass rate for the cognitive exam?
Our pass rate varies between 80-90% depending on the year and the amount of time that lapsed between completing the course and taking the exam. We have always been significantly above the national pass rate for the cognitive exam.
We recommend taking the cognitive exam within one month of course completion for the highest chance of passing it.
If you don’t pass your NREMT exam on the first try and you took our course, please contact us at [email protected] for support!
How much does the course cost?
○ EMT Initial: Part 1 online: $795, Part 2: Skill Week: $1350 Total cost: $2145
○ EMR Initial: $895
○ RN to EMT: $425
○ EMT Recertification:
- NCCP: $245
- NCCR: $175
- ICCR: $85
- LCCR: $85
- California 24 hour: $145
- California 36 hour: $220
- Florida 30 hour: $145
○ EMR Recertification: $145
○ Basic Life Support (CPR): $80
What forms of payment are accepted?
We accept all major credit and debit cards in our course application forms.
We only accept checks from Sponsoring Organizations who are paying an invoice.
Do you offer discounts for returning students?
Yes! Please email [email protected] before registering to receive your discount code.
We also offer 10% off for previous EMR students who wish to complete our EMT initial course
Do you offer discounts for organizations sending students through your program?
Yes! We offer discounts based on the number of students and offer a referral program for organizations referring us to other organizations to help all departments save money on excellent training. Email us at [email protected] for more information.
Do you offer payment plans?
We do not currently offer payment plans or grants directly. We do accept credit cards for paying tuition fees.
Some employers are willing to sponsor their course if it relates to their work duties. If an organization has agreed to pay your tuition, we can invoice the organization directly.
How soon do I get access to begin the online training?
Right away! Within minutes of submitting your registration and payment online, you should receive an email with a link to log into the course (check your spam/junk folder).
Can I access my course on my cell phone?
Yes, you can access your course on your cell phone but it is more user friendly on a computer/tablet/iPad.
What is the attendance policy for skill training?
All hours and sessions of your in-person skill training must be attended in order to complete the course. Our training is accelerated with a specific timeline, so no part of it can be missed.
What is the uniform for in-person training?
EMT:
We require our students to wear our AMT shirt (provided at the start of Part 2) or a white collared shirt (either button-up or polo) tucked in, black pants or EMS tactical pants (no jeans, sweatpants, yoga pants, or leggings), a watch with a second hand, and closed-toe shoes (tennis shoes are acceptable).
When you work in the EMS field wearing a uniform will be required, so we require the same level of professionalism in class.
EMR:
During in-class training (Skill Weekend or Evening Skills), we require professional attire OR those who work in security, law enforcement, or fire can wear their work uniform.
Professional attire includes: a collared shirt (polo or button-down), black or tan pants, closed-toe shoes, and a watch with a second-hand.
Skills Exams
We have no formal dress code if you are just attending a skills exam, but be sure to wear clothes that are comfortable for moving around and kneeling. We do require wearing pants (no skirts or dresses) and closed-toe shoes.
What is the schedule for EMT Skill Week?
Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm, Saturday 8:30am – around 4:30pm.
What is the schedule for the public/refresher psychomotor skills exam?
Mandatory practice starts at 9am, then skill testing begins at 1pm. The day usually ends around 5pm
Do you offer the psychomotor skills exam?
Yes we do! The cost is $275 ($200 if you are taking a course with us). Please contact [email protected] to get registered.
If you are taking EMT or EMR initial training with us, the skills exam is included in your tuition fees and offered during the required in-class training.
What is your psychomotor exam pass rate?
Our psychomotor exam pass rate for our EMT initial students is nearly 100%. The rare time a student doesn’t pass their first full attempt is typically due to a lack of commitment to the course.
How long is the 40hr NCCP course?
The full NCCP training consists of 40 hours of topics available online and self-paced (F3), with 24/7 access to the course material.
On September 30th, 2022, the NREMT finalized their decision to no longer require live online (F5) training for EMT recertification, so all 40 hours can be completed online and self-paced.
When can I complete my EMT renewal application on the NREMT?
You can complete your renewal application up to 6 months in advance of your NREMT expiration date.
When can I complete my EMT recertification course?
You can complete your EMT recertification course anytime in your 2 year renewal cycle.
Example: If your NREMT EMT certification expires on 03/31/2025, you have from 4/1/2023 – 03/31/2025 at 11:59pm to complete your recertification course.