EMT Resume Examples, Templates, and Guide for 2025
Create Your Resume NowWriting an EMT resume might not be as intense as responding to an emergency call, but it still requires skill, strategy, and precision. I’ll help you build a resume that’s organized, impactful, and showcases your readiness to jump into action.
Let’s turn your experience and achievements into an EMT resume that stands out in any pile!
This guide will show you:
- An EMT resume example better than 9 out of 10 others.
- How to write an EMT resume that gets more interviews.
- Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on an EMT or EMT-B resume.
- How to describe your experience on a resume for an EMT to get any job you want.
Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.
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Are you an EMT plus other things? See our other medical resume guides:
- Nursing Resume
- Registered Nurse (RN) Resume
- Massage Therapist Resume
- Surgical Tech Resume
- Professional Resume Examples for All Jobs
EMT Resume Example
Daniel Thompson
Certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Nationally Registered EMT (NREMT) License
808-555-6789
daniel.thompson@email.com
linkedin.com/in/daniel-thompson
Summary
Compassionate and certified EMT with over 6 years of hands-on experience in emergency response, trauma care, and patient stabilization. Seeking to bring my skills in rapid assessment and life support to Hawaii Emergency Response Services to improve patient outcomes and reduce response times across the island. Notable achievements include reducing on-site treatment times by 20% at Pacific EMS through streamlined protocols and successfully managing over 800 emergency cases.
Experience
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Pacific EMS, Honolulu, HI
March 2017–February 2023
- Responded to high-volume emergency calls across Honolulu, providing life-saving treatments and stabilizing patients for safe transport.
- Implemented a new documentation system that improved patient data accuracy, reducing report errors by 15% and facilitating smoother handoffs to ER staff.
- Administered CPR, advanced airway management, and trauma care during critical incidents, ensuring timely interventions and minimizing complications.
- Conducted monthly training sessions on emergency response updates, improving the team's adaptability to new protocols.
Key Achievement:
- Reduced on-site treatment times by 20% through updated protocols, leading to faster ER admissions and higher patient survival rates.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Island Care Ambulance, Hilo, HI
June 2015–February 2017
- Delivered prehospital care to trauma and cardiac patients, maintaining composure in high-stress situations to ensure optimal care.
- Developed a standardized checklist for trauma response kits, resulting in a 10% decrease in on-scene preparation times.
- Built strong working relationships with local hospitals, improving communication and expediting handoffs for critical patients.
- Regularly completed ride-alongs with new EMTs, offering guidance on best practices for patient safety and on-scene efficiency.
Key Achievement:
- Increased average transport efficiency by 15% through process improvements and stronger hospital partnerships.
Education
Associate Degree in Emergency Medical Services
Hawaii Community College, Hilo, HI
September 2013–June 2015
Relevant Extracurricular Activities:
- Volunteer EMT, Maui Community Rescue (2012–2015)
- Member, American Ambulance Association (2014–2016)
Academic Achievement:
- Honored with the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Emergency Medical Services, 2015
Skills
- Emergency Response & Trauma Care
- Advanced Life Support (ALS) & Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Rapid Assessment & Patient Stabilization
- Airway Management & CPR Certified
- Effective Communication & Patient Handoff Skills
- Protocol Development & Training
- Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving in Crisis Situations
- Medical Documentation Accuracy
- Communication and Interpersonal Skills
- Decision-Making
Certifications
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), American Heart Association, 2018
- Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS), National Association of EMTs, 2021
Awards
- EMT of the Year, Pacific EMS, 2022
Memberships
- Active Member, National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) since 2017
Languages
- English–Native
- Japanese–Conversational
Interests
- Surf Lifesaving: Volunteer for beach lifeguard services during summer events
- Wilderness First Aid Training: Regularly participate in wilderness first aid workshops to enhance emergency response skills in remote environments
Now that’s one of those great EMT resume examples. Let’s see how to write a resume that’s equally great:
1. Select the Best Format for Your EMT Resume
As an EMT, you must deliver critical information efficiently. Keep the same approach when creating your resume, as it needs to show what’s most important for recruiters. This way, they’ll see you as the perfect candidate.
Here’s how to organize your resume:
- Build your document from the following resume parts:
- Resume Header (which will include your contact information, such as your phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile address)
- Summary Statement or Career Objective
- Work History
- Education
- Skills
- Extra Sections
- Follow the reverse chronological format, which is the most common resume format preferred by recruiters. If you’re moving to EMT jobs from another line of work, use the combination resume format instead.
- Use a professional resume font and set it to 11–12 points.
- Apply one-inch resume margins on every side of your page and a line spacing of 1.5 points.
- Keep the right length of your resume. Aim for one page, but if you’ve got years of relevant experience and many achievements to show, you can fit them all on a two-page resume.
- Save your file as a PDF resume format, which keeps the resume formatting intact.
- Name your resume like this: Your Name + EMT Resume
Pro Tip: Don’t let the recruiter think you’ve got no license—show it on a resume in a way that cannot be missed. Put your license either underneath your job title in the resume header, at the beginning of your resume summary, or in a special “License” section.
2. Create a Strong EMT Job Description for a Resume
Do you know how many openings for EMTs and paramedics are projected each year? On average, that's about 19,200. To make sure you can always choose the opening that interests you, keep improving your EMT resume. Next stop: your work history.
Here’s how to write an EMT job description for resumes to win the job:
- Start with your current job title, followed by the company’s name and dates you worked there.
- Include up to 6 bullet points and start each with an action word.
- Focus on your relevant achievements rather than your duties to make better impressions on your recruiters.
- Quantify these achievements to prove you understand the impact of your great work.
- Add a “Key achievement” at the end of each entry to highlight your most impressive success even more.
Let’s see some examples:
EMT Resume Examples: Experience
Right |
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Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Pacific EMS, Honolulu, HI March 2017–February 2023
Key Achievement:
|
Wrong |
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Emergency Medical Technician City Ambulance, Springfield, IL May 2018–Present
|
The first candidate followed my advice. Take a look at the result—the numbers and the key achievement tell a great story of an experienced candidate.
The second example? Just a list of duties and responsibilities, so not impressive at all.
But what if you’re writing a resume with no experience at EMT jobs?
There’s a way to do it right. List transferable accomplishments from:
- Volunteering
- Filling in
- Ride-alongs
- IFT driving
Don’t have any of those? Get them this week and put them on your emergency medical technician resume. Let’s see an example of how it should be done:
Entry-Level EMT Resume Sample: No Experience
Right |
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Medical Volunteer City Health Outreach Program, Portland, OR June 2022–Present
|
See? Despite no direct EMT experience, this candidate showed transferable skills to prove they’re the right fit for the job. Notice that it still looks better than the wrong example I’ve shown you before!
Pro Tip: Can you just lie on your resume about your EMT experience? No, never. Even if you get invited to a job interview, the recruiter will quickly spot your lies and you might have a problem finding a job in the future.
Creating a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide and use content from Certified Professional Resume Writers to have a resume ready in minutes.
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.
3. Highlight Relevant Education on a Resume for EMTs
The most common credential for EMTs is a 1- to 2-year postsecondary certificate. Whether you’re continuing your education, haven’t finished a degree, or have a certificate, you need to create a good education section on your resume.
Here’s what you should always include:
- Your Degree
- College Name and Location
- Years in School
Here are some more things you can consider adding:
Let’s see some examples:
EMT Resume Examples—Education
Right |
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Associate Degree in Emergency Medical Services Hawaii Community College, Hilo, HI 2013–2015 Relevant Extracurricular Activities:
Academic Achievement:
|
Wrong |
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Completed EMT Training Program Local Community College, Springfield, IL |
Candidate No. 1 created a great education section showing a variety of activities. See how they incorporated volunteer work and memberships? The second candidate only mentioned the field of study. And that’s not enough, especially when competing with the first candidate for the same opening.
Pro Tip: To GPA or not to GPA? Add grades to your EMT or EMT-B resume if they’re high (that’s 3.5 or higher) or recent.
4. Select Key Skills Fitting a Resume for an EMT
You need experience and education, but your EMT resume needs one more pillar: a skills section. But don’t list all the skills that pop into your head. Instead, create a targeted resume that will prove to your recruiter that you’re the one they’re looking for.
Here’s how to add competencies to your EMT resume:
- List skills and resume keywords that you can see in the job offer.
- Write down your soft skills and your hard skills.
- See which skills on these two lists overlap.
- Put 5–10 of the best-matching skills on your resume.
- Make sure to include both soft and hard skills for better effect.
Here are some skills that will give you an idea of what to think about when creating a list of your skills:
List of Skills to Put on an EMT Resume
Soft Skills | Hard Skills |
Emergency Medicine | |
Airway Management | |
Assessment | |
Physically Fit | Patient Stabilization |
Perceptiveness | Medical Terminology |
Emergency Vehicle Operation | |
Compassion | Vehicle Maintenance |
Rescue & Medical Equipment | |
Incident Command System (ICS) |
And here’s what they can look like on a good (and bad) resume for an EMT:
EMT Skills on a Resume—Sample
Right |
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Skills
|
Wrong |
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Skills
|
This time, both examples might look well at first sight. But just see how the first example combined soft and hard skills, while the second one only focused on the hard ones. This mixture is very important, so don’t forget to include both types of skills on your EMT resume.
Want to see what skills were included on resumes most in 2024? Read our study: Top Skills in 2024
5. Add Extra Sections to Build a Healthy EMT Resume
You have the experience and education needed for the job, plus an impressive list of skills. But what sets you apart from other candidates? It’s the extra sections on your EMT resume that show you’re genuinely invested in the work.
You can add some of the following additional information to your EMT resume:
- Associations and Memberships
- Resume Certifications
- Fitness Activities
- Awards and Honors
- Conventions
- Volunteer Activities
- Hobbies and Interests
- Language Skills
Watch that in two sample EMT resumes:
EMT Resume—Examples of Other Sections
Right |
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Certifications
Awards
Memberships
Languages
Interests
|
Wrong |
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Certifications
Languages
|
The first example is perfect—it shows an EMT who’s really into their work and sacrifices time to rise in that field. The second one? There’s nothing to it. CPR is required for every EMT, and speaking English is hardly an asset.
Make sure you’ve got it all. Read our guide: What to Put on a Resume
6. Impress With an EMT Resume Profile
Let’s go back to the very first part of your resume. Why only now are we focusing on your resume profile, which summarizes all the most important information? Because you’ve already included these bits in other resume sections.
Now, it’s time to choose whether you’ll write an objective or a summary. Here’s how these two differ:
- If you’ve been helping others as an EMT for 2 years or more, write a professional summary.
- If you don’t have 2 years of relevant experience, write a resume objective.
Here are two formulas to use when writing either:
- EMT Resume Summary
Adjective + EMT + Years of Experience + Achievements + Skills + What You Want to Do for the Employer
- EMT Resume Objective
Adjective(s)/Certificate(s) + Your Current Job Title or Degree + seeking employment as an EMTat + Company Name + to apply my + Your Relevant Skills + to help + What Do You Want To Help The Company Achieve
Now, let’s see some examples.
EMT Resume Examples—Summaries
Right |
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Compassionate and certified EMT with over 6 years of hands-on experience in emergency response, trauma care, and patient stabilization. Seeking to bring my skills in rapid assessment and life support to Hawaii Emergency Response Services to improve patient outcomes and reduce response times across the island. Notable achievements include reducing on-site treatment times by 20% at Pacific EMS through streamlined protocols and successfully managing over 800 emergency cases. |
Wrong |
---|
Certified EMT with experience in emergency response. Looking for a job at Hawaii Emergency Response Services. Have worked with patients and done trauma care. Want to use my skills to help people and get more experience in the field. |
Achievements and numbers make the first example extraordinary. The second example gives a vague idea of who that person is apart from being an EMT. And that’s not how you impress a recruiter.
Entry-Level EMT Resume—Examples of Objectives
Right |
---|
Certified and compassionate EMT with 6+ years of experience in emergency response and trauma care, seeking employment as an EMT at Hawaii Emergency Response Services to apply my skills in rapid assessment and patient stabilization. Successfully managed over 800 emergency cases and reduced on-site treatment times by 20%, aiming to help improve patient outcomes and reduce response times across the island. |
Wrong |
---|
Looking for a job as an EMT at Hawaii Emergency Response Services. Have an EMT certification and want to gain more experience working with patients. Excited to join the team and help where I can. |
We can clearly see the relevance of the first candidate compared to the vagueness of the second, who only focuses on themselves and their needs—a sure way to miss out on an interview invitation.
Always start your resume profile strongly. See how it’s done: Resume Headline
7. Complete Your Application With an EMT Cover Letter
Do you need to submit a cover letter with your EMT resume? Let me rephrase that question: Do you think a cover letter will boost or lower your chances of landing an interview? Exactly. So don’t miss this opportunity to convince your recruiter to invite you over.
Here’s how to write a cover letter:
- Format your cover letter before you start to write it.
- Use the hiring manager’s name in your EMT cover letter.
- Open with a cover letter greeting.
- Write a cover letter opening that will convince the reader to continue reading.
- Show a few quick highlights of how you fit the role. Focus on your skills and achievements, just like you did when writing a resume.
- End your cover letter with a powerful closing statement that asks for the interview.
- Finish with a cover letter sign-off.
Pro Tip: Write a follow-up letter to your EMT cover letter or paramedic resume not once but three times. In three days, in a week, and three weeks. Each one is another chance to land the job.
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
Key Takeaway
Here’s a quick recap of how to write an EMT resume:
- Pick the right format for your EMT resume to improve readability.
- Include details like your degree, school, awards, and relevant extracurriculars.
- Highlight experiences that demonstrate compassion, collaboration, or community service.
- Focus on achievements with measurable results (e.g., reduced response times) instead of listing tasks.
- Mention any family in healthcare or EMS to show commitment to the field.
- Emphasize soft skills like empathy, resilience, and critical thinking; skip unrelated technical skills.
- Craft a compelling objective to show what you can bring to the position.
- Add a personalized cover letter to create a connection and highlight your dedication.
Do you have questions about writing a great resume for an EMT? Leave me a comment, and I’ll reply!
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