EMS technicians are a variety of paramedic. EMS training will take you up to a higher level of education than a general paramedic. With this extra training you will be expected to carry out more critical, and complex procedures than expected of a standard paramedic. Due to the emergency nature of this type of work, you will be expected to work variable shift patterns to enable 24/7 cover. EMS Technicians are usually the first medically trained personnel at the scene of an emergency. You would carry out pre-hospital procedures to help victims of auto accidents, drowning, poisoning, or heart attacks. Other medical emergencies include illness, or childbirth. The aim of an EMS Technician is to provide stabilizing medical treatment at the scene to enable a victim to be transported to a hospital facility. Roles may be available with an ambulance service, air-sea rescue, in hospitals, or fire service. Clearly, a high school life science qualification and maybe chemistry or math would be useful pre-requisites for EMS training. All fifty states and the District of Columbia require certification. Most EMS training involves a continuing program of education. There are progressive levels EMT-basic through four however you would be expected to keep up to date once certified. You may learn basic subjects such as anatomy, physiology, first aid, patient assessment, and how to manage airway, breathing, and cardiac emergences. Further EMS training would probably involve how to deal with childbirth and how to use emergency equipment for fractures or transporting patients. Each state has its own set of criteria for what constitutes certification. You would be wise to check transferability of state certification if you are thinking of relocating at some stage.