Advancing the EMS profession

About NAEMT

Formed in 1975 and over 110,000 members strong, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) is the only national association representing the professional interests of paramedics, advanced emergency medical technicians, emergency medical technicians, emergency medical responders and other professionals providing prehospital and out-of-hospital emergent, urgent or preventive medical care.

NAEMT members work in all sectors of EMS, including government service agencies, fire departments, hospital-based ambulance services, private companies, industrial and special operations settings, and in the military. They also work in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare settings.

NAEMT serves its members by advocating on issues that impact their ability to provide quality patient care, providing high quality education that improves the knowledge and skills of practitioners, and supporting EMS research and innovation.

Our Strategy/Tactics

  1. Advocate for appropriate funding from local, state, and federal government authorities as well as commercial insurers for all EMS agencies and personnel from all delivery models.
    • Support federal legislation that increases CMS reimbursement rates and expands the types of care eligible for reimbursement.
    • Support federal and state legislation that increases EMS funding.
    • Disseminate information about government EMS funding opportunities to the EMS community.
  2. Educate government and healthcare leaders and support legislation on the value of EMS to our nation’s healthcare and emergency response systems.
    • Educate congressional leaders and staff on the value of EMS and how Congress can support the critical service EMS provides at the community, state, and national levels.
    • Educate federal agency leaders and staff on the critical role EMS plays in healthcare and emergency response systems and how federal policies impact the effectiveness of EMS.
    • Educate leaders of national healthcare organizations on the role and value of EMS in local healthcare systems.
  3. Advocate for and support the health, safety, well-being and resilience of the EMS workforce.
    • Support federal legislation that addresses the health, safety, well-being and resilience of the EMS workforce.
    • Develop and disseminate high quality and evidence-based education and other resources to strengthen the health, safety, well-being and resilience of the EMS workforce.
  4. Promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the EMS workforce and encourage and support EMS recruitment from underrepresented communities.
    • Collaborate with other national EMS organizations, and EMS agency and education leaders to promote a diverse and inclusive EMS workforce and encourage individuals from underrepresented communities to attend EMS education programs.
    • Expand scholarship opportunities for individuals from underrepresented communities to attend EMS education programs and provide these communities with information about scholarship and grant opportunities to cover the cost of EMS education.
  5. Understand and respond to the professional needs and interests of emergency medical technicians (EMTs), advanced EMTs, paramedics, and specialty paramedics.
    • Communicate with current and prospective members about the association’s programs, initiatives and benefits.
    • Conduct outreach to current and prospective members to learn about the key issues that are impacting them on the job and transmit findings to association committees and councils for consideration and action.
    • Develop and disseminate resources to current and prospective members on the variety of professional opportunities and career pathways open to emergency medical technicians (EMTs), advanced EMTs, paramedics, and specialty paramedics.
  6. Collaborate with other EMS and healthcare organizations and government agencies on key EMS issues.
    • Work with key EMS organizations on federal EMS legislative initiatives.
    • Develop and strengthen relationships with national organizations that represent other healthcare providers and educate them on the value of EMS in in our nation’s healthcare system.
  7. Advocate for education and certification systems that support a well-trained, qualified EMS workforce.
    • Actively engage with national organizations that develop and oversee EMS education and certification systems to ensure that the needs of EMS agencies and practitioners are addressed.
    • Support research that identifies the competencies that EMS practitioners need to fully and effectively perform within their designated scopes of practice.
    • Advocate for evidence-based processes that identify best practices for initial EMS education programs to ensure qualified entry-level practitioners.
  8. Develop and disseminate high-quality, evidence-based education that strengthens and enhances the knowledge, skills, and resilience of EMS practitioners.
    • Develop and publish educational curricula that meets the needs of emergency medical technicians (EMTs), advanced EMTs, paramedics, and specialty paramedics.
    • Support and enhance our global system for disseminating education curricula through courses offered in live classrooms, virtual classrooms, and digitally.
    • Provide mentorship opportunities to emergency medical technicians (EMTs), advanced EMTs, paramedics, and specialty paramedics.
    • Develop and publish affordable professional development training for emergency medical technicians (EMTs), advanced EMTs, paramedics, and specialty paramedics.

 

The NAEMT Education Catalog includes course descriptions, as well as key attributes of the NAEMT curriculum, course administration and information for course coordinators.  
NAEMT Fact Sheet
The NAEMT Fact Sheet provides an overview of the association, our members, our continuing education courses, and the association's advocacy efforts on behalf of EMS practitioners and their patients.