ASOURCE Navi

In recent years, with the aging of society, the demand for emergency medical services has increased. Expectations for emergency medical technicians, who are indispensable for saving patients' lives by quickly responding to accidents and sudden illnesses, are increasing. In this second installment, we will explain the path to becoming a certified emergency medical technician.

To work as a paramedic at a fire station, you need to pass both the local civil service exam and the national paramedic exam. There are two ways to become a firefighter: you can first obtain the national qualification and then become a firefighter, or you can become a firefighter and then take the national exam.
The national qualification first approach is the most common way to become a paramedic. Of the 61 designated training schools nationwide, 29 are vocational schools and 18 are universities, where students acquire specialized knowledge. The standard period of study is more than two years, with 16 compulsory subjects including public health, anatomy, and physiology. To be eligible to take the exam, students must complete two or more years of specialized education at a designated training school, or complete 13 designated subjects at a university or other institution, plus one or more years of specialized education at a training school, or complete 16 designated subjects at a university.
On the other hand, in the fire service worker-first type, you aim to obtain qualifications while gaining practical experience as a fire service worker. In this case, in addition to completing emergency service-related courses, you will need to have more than five years or more than 2,000 hours of emergency service experience. You will also need to receive training for six months at a local government training school or one year or more at a general training school.

A high pass rate of 86.7% was reported for the national exam in 2020, and with proper preparation and study, it is quite possible to obtain the qualification. However, in order to acquire the advanced specialized knowledge and calm judgment required in the workplace, it is important to continue training and on-the-job training even after obtaining the qualification. In particular, if you wish to work in a firefighting organization, you can acquire more practical skills by gaining basic experience as an ambulance technician.

Ambulance crews are in teams of three, and at least one of the team must be a certified emergency medical technician. There are 41,266 certified emergency medical technicians among fire department personnel, of which 28,722 are actually working as emergency medical technicians. The number of certified technicians and the number of people in operation are steadily increasing every year.

Employment opportunities include public institutions such as fire department ambulances and local government emergency medical institutions, as well as the private sector, such as medical institutions, welfare facilities, and private emergency transport companies. Employment at fire departments varies by municipality, and it can be difficult to find employment even if you have the qualifications. A Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare science study titled "Research on the Promotion of Emergency Medical Systems" introduces potential paramedics, and as of the end of March 2018, 16% of the total are potential paramedics. Potential paramedics include not only those who have retired or retired midway through their careers, but also those who are unable to find employment at the fire department and are working in other jobs.

Being a paramedic is a very rewarding profession that has the important mission of saving lives. By having a clear career vision and preparing in a planned manner, you can walk a sure path. The path to qualification is not a short one, but by steadily taking each step, you will be able to reach your goal.