Massachusetts

Abdullah Rehayem, Director
Department of Public Health
Bureau of Emergency Medical Services
99 Chauncy Street
Boston, MA 02111
617/753-7300, Fax 617/753-7320
www.mass.gov/dph/oems

EMT-Basic: Skills include: Airway management with oral/nasal airways, pocket masks, B-V-M units, oxygen-powered resuscitators, oral suctioning, CPR and S/AED, bleeding control, splinting, supplemental oxygen, assessment, childbirth, spinal immobilization, use of EpiPen and aspirin, assisted medications and other skills in 1994 DOT EMT-B curriculum. Administration of albuterol is an optional skill for EMT-B ambulance services, as well a glucometry. Hours of training: Minimum 110-hour EMT-B DOT curriculum training course. Certification requirements: Initial certification—Current provider BLS-CPR/AED certificate, pass training course, along with state administered written and practical skills examinations. Recertification requirements: Current BLS-CPR/AED certificate, 24-hour EMT-B refresher course and 28 additional hours of approved continuing-education courses every two years.

EMT-Intermediate: Skills include: Basic EMT skills plus adult and pediatric endotracheal intubation (ET) and IV fluid replacement. Hours of training: 185–220. Certification requirements: Basic EMT certification, complete an approved EMT-I course that includes: DOT curriculum; hospital clinical practicum; field internship, 80 hours minimum. There are minimum skill performance requirements for hospitals and field internships. Recertification requirements: DOT level EMT-Basic refresher plus EMT-Intermediate add-on refresher course (minimum 36 hours), 28 additional hours of approved EMT-Intermediate level continuing education and current provider BLS-CPR/AED credential.

EMT-Paramedic: Skills include: Basic skills plus IV, ET, LMA/Combitube/EGTA, cardiac monitoring, defibrillation, transcutaneous cardiac pacing, drug therapy, pediatric and neonatal care. Hours of training: 1,050 minimum. Certification requirements: Basic EMT certification, ACLS certification, complete an approved Paramedic course that includes: DOT 1998 curriculum; hospital clinical practicums in ED, IV, OB/Gyn, OR (for ET), pedi/neonate, psych; field internship, 80 hours minimum. There are minimum skill performance qualifications for hospital and field internship. Recertification requirements: DOT level 1998 Paramedic refresher course (minimum 48 hours), 25 additional hours of approved EMT-Paramedic level continuing education, recertification in ACLS and provider BLS-CPR/AED credential.

Reciprocity: A candidate who is licensed/certified in another state and has passed a state-approved practical examination in order to become licensed/certified is required to successfully complete the Massachusetts EMT written examination only for all EMT levels. A candidate who is licensed/certified in another state and did not pass a state-approved practical examination in order to become licensed/certified is required to successfully complete both the Massachusetts EMT written and practical examinations. All others who qualify will complete written and practical examinations, along with meeting Massachusetts training requirements.

Salary ranges: Salaries in paid services vary greatly, influenced by any number of the following factors: civil service appointment, unionization, dual-role function, government vs. private, proximity to metropolitan areas, size of organization. Estimated salaries: Basic EMT: $8–13/hr.; Intermediate EMT: $13–15/hr.; Paramedic: $15–20/hr.

Number of licensed ambulance vehicles (public and private) in the state: 1,537.

Numbers of EMS personnel: State-certified Basic EMTs, 20,080; state-certified Intermediate EMTs, 667; state-certified EMT-Paramedics, 4,429.

Numbers of EMS services: Fire department (paid), 208; fire department (private, nonprofit), 2; police department (paid), 7; municipal—not police or fire (paid), 22; joint staffing (paid), 0; universities (private, nonprofit), 4; hospital-based, 10; other (private, nonprofit), 17; other (private), 52.