EMT Resume Examples: 5 Best Samples & Why They Work

EMTs (emergency medical technicians) are in a fantastic position. These are the people who show up in the ambulances whenever you call 911 and help keep people safe until they can either return to regular activities or get to the hospital.

Are you an EMT looking for work but don’t know how to get your resume in order? We’re here for you!

When writing a great EMT resume, it can feel difficult to know what you need to include and how to word everything.

To make your life easier, we’ve gathered EMT resume examples and tips that should put you on the right path to creating a resume you can be happy with.

EMT Resume Examples

Many EMT positions are the same, but depending on your experience level and background, your resume won’t look exactly like another EMT’s. We compiled different EMT positions to showcase how you can create a resume regardless of how much experience you have.

Entry-Level EMT Resume Example

Every EMT has to start somewhere. Entry-level positions can be intimidating to craft a resume for, regardless of the position. This entry-level EMT resume is a perfect example of a high-quality resume for someone just starting out in their EMT career.

Objective

I’m a highly motivated EMT with a year of experience in emergency medicine, seeking a role where I can use my skills and passion to aid those and further develop my skills as an EMT.

Work Experience 1: Volunteer EMT

• Respond to emergency calls as quickly and safely as possible to help the patient with whatever’s going on.
• Provide medical care such as medications, bleeding control, providing oxygen, and immobilization of patients to ensure their safety as they travel to a hospital.
• Assess patients at the scene to determine the best approach for their injuries or condition.
• Communicate with other EMTs on the best course of treatment, travel, and truck organization to ensure a seamless workflow.

Work Experience 2: Lifeguard

• Survey the pool to ensure all swimmers stay safe and not distressed.
• Respond to swimmers in distress as quickly and efficiently as possible to remove them from the situation.
• Perform emergency responses like CPR when necessary while waiting for paramedics and EMTs to arrive.
• Provide first aid care for minor cuts and scrapes.

Project Experience:

• Taught CPR: Helped teach other lifeguards at my summer job how to perform CPR successfully on adults and children so that if the time came, they knew what to do without panicking.

Skills:

• CPR
• EMT training
• Communication skills
• Adaptability
• Empathetic
• Patient stabilization

Education:

• EMT Training Program: Completed 120 hours of EMT-basic training.
• High School Diploma: Graduated from San Diego High School with a 3.4 GPA.

Licenses & Accreditations:

• EMT-B (EMT-basic)
• CPR certification

Why This Resume Works

The above resume is a perfect example of an entry-level EMT resume. We say this because it showcases EMT experience and relevant work experience, like being a lifeguard. The skill sets and verbs used within the resume are all relevant and allow the candidate to stand out compared to other entry-level resumes.

Some of the skills may seem basic, but they’re some of the best ones to list on an entry-level EMT resume. Knowledge of basic EMT training, empathy, and adaptability are great qualities and skills that not everyone has but are necessary for EMTs.

This EMT resume works because of the minimal yet required certifications in basic EMT training and CPR. Hiring managers will look at this resume and see someone ready to tackle being an EMT and eager to further their training in the field.

Experienced EMT Resume Example

“Experienced” means something different for everyone, but if you’re an EMT with a few years of experience, your resume should look a little different from an entry-level EMT’s resume. The following resume is an excellent example of how to craft an experienced EMT resume.

Objective:

A passionate and knowledgeable EMT with ten years of experience working as an EMT and in other aspects of patient care looking for a position where my expertise can get put to great use. I’m eager to continue working in the field I love while helping other EMTs learn and hone their skills.

Work Experience 1: Paramedic

• Perform advanced medical treatment like IV medications, reading ECGs, and pre-hospital care.
• Drive the ambulance as fast as possible to get to patients while abiding by all traffic laws.
• Collaborate with team members on the best course of action for the patient at hand.
• Conduct trauma assessments and management to see the severity of the condition and handle it while being able to communicate correctly with the hospital staff upon arrival.

Work Experience 2: EMT

• Assist with lifesaving measures like CPR and basic life support until the patient arrives at the hospital.
• Organize the rig to ensure all medications, bandages, and equipment are in the correct place to streamline care with patients.
• Work with other EMTs on the best course of action for the patient(s) at hand.
• Perform patient care like stabilizing fractures, bandaging wounds, and administering oxygen and medications.

Project Experience:

• EMT Training Courses: Assisted with running basic EMT training courses for local individuals pursuing their certification.

Skills:

• ASL
• First aid
• Adaptability
• Timeliness
• Paramedic skills (advanced airway treatment, IV medication, etc.)

Education:

• EMT Training Program: Completed all three levels (basic, intermediate, and paramedic) of EMT training.
• CNA Training: Completed 150 hours of CNA training.
• High School Diploma: Graduated from San Diego High School with a 3.6 GPA.

Licenses & Accreditations:

• ALS (Advanced life support)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Paramedic License
• CNA License

Why This Resume Works

For an experienced EMT or paramedic, this resume works wonders. The work experience is ideal because it shows someone who’s worked in an EMT capacity as more entry-level and advanced capacity (paramedic).

The project experience is relevant to the positions without being too in-depth, and the skills match up with the candidate’s EMT skills and experience. The education section showcases someone with a high level of EMT training and other experience working in a patient care capacity.

Overall, this experienced EMT resume works well because it includes several licenses that showcase advanced skills like cardiac life support, their paramedic license, and a commitment to developing their skills and pursuing their EMT career.

Firefighter EMT Resume Example

EMTs don’t always work in a firehouse, but there are many positions where EMTs are also firefighters and will switch out roles depending on the shift and need. Whether you’ve been working as a firefighter EMT or are getting ready to apply for a firefighter EMT position, the following resume showcases how to highlight all the best things about you as a candidate.

Objective:

Professional and experienced firefighter with three years of experience looking to further my career by performing EMT duties while working alongside those in a firehouse. I’m looking for a house and role where I can further my career and help more people.

Work Experience 1: Firefighter EMT

• Consult with firefighters on situations where medical care needs to be provided to ensure proper care is provided.
• Assist with delivering oxygen, medications, and other more advanced medical care before getting patients to the hospital.
• Organize the ambulance to ensure all equipment and medications are secure and where they need to be.
• Conduct trauma assessments to determine the best course of treatment to stabilize the patient before arriving at the hospital.

Work Experience 2: Firefighter

• Perform search and rescue missions during and after a fire in various locations while abiding by all safety regulations.
• Assist in putting fires out as quickly and efficiently as possible to save people first and structures second.
• Provide minor emergency medical services like bandaging minor wounds and providing oxygen to those reduced from fires.
• Ensure all equipment is up to code and ready at a moment’s notice to head to a fire.

Project Experience:

• Fire and EMT training drills: Conduct firefights and EMT training drills with local firehouses to ensure staff are ready for almost anything the field can throw at them.

Skills:

• Advanced Airway Management
• Organizational skills
• Ability to adapt
• EMT training
• Fire safety
• Basic first aid

Education:

• Fire Academy: I graduated from the San Diego fire academy at the top of my class.
• EMT Training Program: Completed 150 hours of EMT training.
• High School Diploma: Graduated from San Diego High School with a 3.8 GPA.

Licenses & Accreditations:

• Paramedic license
• ALS

Why This Resume Works

Even though firefighter EMTs are a little different than your standard EMTs, they have similar job duties and backgrounds. This firefighter EMT resume works because it highlights the best parts about being an EMT and firefighter and how the skills and job experience cross over in many ways.

The education section showcases thorough firefighter and EMT training, plus the licenses and certifications that enhance this education.

While some areas of the resume seem sparse for someone who has this amount of experience, a paramedic license encompasses a vast amount of skills that don’t need listing because they fall under it. Anyone looking for an EMT role within a firehouse can benefit from using this resume as a reference.

EMT Certification Resume Example

You can use EMT and EMT certification interchangeably in many ways, especially when it comes to applying for jobs. Having your EMT certification can mean you have a variety of EMT skill levels and years of experience. For this example, we chose to highlight someone who has a few years of EMT experience and falls somewhere between entry-level and seasoned.

Objective:

A Certified EMT with four years of professional experience handling patient care ranging from minor wounds to more serious situations looking for a position where I can utilize my skills, expand on them, and start a long-term career.

Work Experience 1: EMT

• Collaborate with other EMTs to assess patients and perform all necessary emergency medical treatments for patients.
• Ensure the transport van is fully stocked at all times and organized most efficiently for optimal patient care.
• Perform minor medical care to patients, like CPR, immobilizing when necessary, and administering medications.
• Conduct educational sessions to educate other EMTs on protocols and how to perform the job efficiently.

Work Experience 2: Urgent Care EMT

• Work in an urgent care setting by providing medical care to patients under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
• Assist with patient transportation to and from rooms and vehicles.
• Perform basic medical care like bandaging wounds, stabilizing breaks, and providing medications when necessary.
• Take a medical history from patients to get a better health picture before giving care and reporting to the provider.

Project Experience:

• Educate community members: Conduct educational seminars in the community about first aid, CPR, and basic safety to prevent accidents.

Skills:

• Basic first aid
• Minor wound care knowledge
• Adaptability
• Teamwork
• Medication management

Education:

• EMT Training Program: Completed 120 hours of EMT-intermediate training. 
• High School Diploma: Graduated from San Diego High School with a 3.3 GPA.

Licenses & Accreditations:

• BLS
• EMT Certification
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)

Why This Resume Works

The above EMT resume is an excellent example of a high-quality resume that won’t get stuck in applicant tracking systems. When a hiring manager or recruiter gets ahold of this resume, they’ll see an individual dedicated to learning as many skills as possible to further their career as an EMT.

The education is standard, but where this candidate excels is in their professional experience and licenses and certifications.

You see how this candidate has taken the time out of their busy EMT life to earn extra certifications like the PALS and PHTLS. These aren’t required for most EMT positions, so having these in addition to their BLS and passing their EMT certification shows a passionate and intelligent individual with extra skills.

Volunteer EMT Resume Example

Volunteer EMT resumes are unique. You don’t necessarily have to have any specific education or experience other than EMT training. Depending on what your skills and experience are, your volunteer EMT resume will look different. Below is an excellent example of a volunteer EMT who has other healthcare experience and how this works well.

Objective:

A passionate volunteer EMT with nursing experience looking to put my skills to good use and give back to my community in an EMT capacity to educate people on minor care and safety in everyday life.

Work Experience 1: Emergency Room LPN

• Perform patient assessments to provide proper care before the physician shows up and continues care.
• Conduct accurate and efficient documentation and charting to ensure nothing is missed and that all care is provided at the highest quality.
• Assist providers with performing sutures and splinting injuries.
• Administer patient education on chronic illnesses, medication management, and more.

Work Experience 2: Part-Time EMT

• Provide basic emergency medical services to patients ranging from heart attack victims to broken bones and minor injuries.
• Collaborate with other EMTs to ensure we provide proper care most efficiently before arriving at the hospital.
• Assist with medication management so patients aren’t in pain but get the medicine they need to stay stable until they arrive at the hospital.
• Organize and stock the ambulance with all medications and equipment necessary to provide high-quality emergency medical care to patients.

Project Experience:

• Volunteer at the hospital: Volunteer at the local hospital by passing out meals to patients, listening to their stories, and providing companionship to them while assisting nurses and hospital staff with non-medical tasks.

Skills:

• Medication administration
• IV insertions
• Excellent bedside manner
• CPR and first aid
• Efficient documentation

Education:

• EMT Training Program: Completed 120 hours of EMT-basic training.
• Licensed Practical Nursing Program: Graduated with a 4.0 GPA from San Diego Nursing School.
• High School Diploma: Graduated from San Diego High School with a 3.9 GPA.

Licenses & Accreditations:

• LPV Licence
• EMT-B
• BLS

Why This Resume Works

When applying for a volunteer position in healthcare, it’s essential to highlight all healthcare experience you have. This candidate clearly works as a nurse and is looking to volunteer as an EMT for her community.

The work experience is excellent because it shows that the candidate works as a nurse currently but has work experience as an EMT before pursuing nursing school. Their wide array of healthcare knowledge makes this candidate uniquely qualified to be a volunteer EMT.

Besides their work experience, the licenses, certifications, and skills are some of the best things hiring managers and recruiters look for in a volunteer EMT. Even though this is a volunteer position that someone’s applying for, they still need to prove they know how to perform emergency medicine which this person does.

Common Skills & Action Verbs to Include On an EMT Resume

It’s not enough to list your work experience on a resume. You need to highlight your strengths via the skills section on your resume. Besides that, utilizing common skills and action verbs on your EMT resume will allow you to pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) easier.

Many people think of these as resume adjectives because they help describe you better to potential employers. They’re great for showcasing your skills and even describing personality traits that you have, also known as soft skills.

Common Skills for EMT Resumes

You never want to lie when thinking about skills you want to include on your resume. You probably have more skills than you think, but to give you a better idea of what you might want to include on your EMT resume, here are some common skills:

• CPR
• Trauma skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Medical terminology
• Decision making
• Teamwork capabilities
• Communication skills
• Adaptable
• Detail oriented
• Emergency medicine
• Vehicle maintenance
• Problem-solving
• Patient stabilization
• Physical stamina
• Emergency vehicle operation

Common Action Verbs for EMT Resumes

Action verbs you might want to consider incorporating into your EMT resume are:

• Provided
• Communicated
• Assisted
• Coordinated
• Sympathized
• Collaborated
• Maintained
• Educated
• Responded
• Administered

Tips for Writing a Better EMT Resume

Whether you’re applying for a part-time position or something that will jumpstart your career, having a high-quality resume is the first step. Your resume is the first thing a hiring manager or recruiter sees of you, and you only have one chance to make a first impression.

Having a well-written resume is the best way to land your dream job. Not everyone knows how to write a great resume. That’s why we’ve listed some helpful tips that can help you write a better EMT resume before you submit your resume for a job.

1. List Volunteer Experience

Listing volunteer experience is something that everyone applying for an EMT position should be doing. It’s best if the volunteer experience is somehow related to being an EMT, like volunteering at firehouses or hospitals, but any volunteer experience is good.

Even showing volunteer experience unrelated to EMT work can show employers you’re compassionate, dedicated to helping others in any capacity, and that you generally enjoy doing things that don’t benefit you directly.

2. Emphasize Certifications and Licenses

Secondly, you’ll need to emphasize your certifications and licenses. Since working as an EMT requires specific training and licenses, highlighting these is vital to ensure employers know you’re qualified for the position you’re applying for.  

You can add additional certifications like CPR and BLS too. Depending on where you’re applying for a job, there might be additional license and certification requirements that you can obtain first or state that you’re planning on getting them as soon as possible. Doing this shows your dedication to the profession and employers.

3. Tailor Your Resume to the Specific Job

This tip is crucial for any type of resume, but it’s still relevant to EMT resumes. Tailoring your resume to each specific role can help you stand out better to employers. Since most EMT positions are generally the same, it can feel challenging to tailor your EMT resume to each role you’re applying for, but it’s not impossible.

One way you can adjust your resume for each EMT job is to alter your objective. You should generally know your objective, but you can state different things, like how you want to work for a long-standing company if the one you’re applying for has been around for decades, etc.

While it might seem like the changes are minimal to you, they can make a massive difference in the number of interview requests you see.

4. Focus on Important Action Verbs

Action verbs are vital to any resume, but since EMT positions are physical, there are plenty more options for you to use. You can utilize our list of common action verbs only on our resume to show how you performed past job duties and volunteer experience.

For example, as an EMT, you have administered medication. Using the word administering sounds much better than giving medicines to a patient in this specific context. Slight changes like using stronger action verbs will help you seem more committed to getting a position and like you have a better understanding of what your job duties will entail.

Frequently Asked Questions

As you craft your EMT resume, here’s what other people are asking about this type of resume.

Similar Resume Types to Reference

One of the best things you can do when writing your EMT resume is to look at similar resumes for inspiration. Below you’ll find three resumes that are similar to EMT resumes that might be able to help you out:

• Military Resume: Military resumes have a lot of similarities with EMT resumes, like skills training and many similar standard action verbs and skills.
• Firefighter Resume: Since firefighters and EMTs often work side by side, looking at their resumes can be beneficial.
• Police Officer Resume: Like firefighters, police officers often work alongside EMTs in a small capacity, so their resumes can provide valuable insights on what you should add to yours.

Wrapping Up

Being an EMT is a rewarding and exciting career path. Whether you’ve been working as an EMT for years or are just starting out, landing a position with a company you enjoy is the key to a happy work life.

Writing a resume that allows you to stand out as an EMT can feel daunting, but as long as you consider our above examples, look at similar resume types, and follow our tips, you should be well on your way to landing a position as an EMT.

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