Switching from EMT to RN is not uncommon. Despite their vital role in healthcare, EMTs are not generally well-compensated. In contrast, switching from EMT to nursing offers much better pay and opportunities for career advancement. Plus, you can use your prior education toward earning a nursing degree more quickly.
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) play a vital role in the healthcare system. Still, it’s not uncommon for EMTs to seek career advancement opportunities, as the career is among the lowest-paid of all healthcare careers. A natural progression might be to become a registered nurse (RN) instead. The EMT to RN transition is common, as it allows former EMTs to continue using their skills while developing new ones and pursuing career advancement.
If you’re considering switching from EMT to nursing, you’ll find a supportive community at Utica University. Utica’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program allows you to fast-track your career transition and earn a nursing degree much more quickly than a traditional B.S. in Nursing program.
Paramedic vs. nurse: Consider which healthcare career could be the right choice for you.
As you plan your career transition, consider how your current skills will translate to a nursing career, which career requirements you’ll need to meet, and how to navigate the process.
Why Transition from EMT to Nurse?
One of the most common reasons EMTs pursue nursing careers is the difference in pay. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2024, EMTs earned a median annual wage of just $41,340, while RNs earned a median annual wage of $93,600.
Job growth is also stronger for RNs. The BLS expects healthcare employers to hire about 194,500 new nurses from 2023 through 2033, while only about 19,200 new EMTs will be needed.
In addition, switching from EMT to nursing offers:
- Vast opportunities for specialization
- Diverse workplace settings to choose from
- Opportunities for career advancement
- Ability to work more closely with patients
- Broader scope of professional practice and greater autonomy
Why EMTs Make Great Nurses
As an EMT, you’re well-positioned to enjoy a successful nursing career. There are many reasons why EMTs make great nurses, including their hands-on clinical experience. You’ve already received thorough exposure to various medical emergencies and know how to perform fundamental clinical skills. Plus, you have experience working with diverse patients, from babies to seniors, who suffer from simple and complex medical conditions.
EMTs tend to remain calm under pressure. They need to think well on their feet, handle stress, collaborate as part of a team, and communicate effectively with many different people. These soft skills, plus a basic understanding of how the healthcare system operates, are some of the advantages former EMTs have as nurses.
From EMT to RN: Licensure and Certification Requirements
As an EMS professional, you know the importance of certifications to ensure that someone can safely work with patients. Nursing is no different. Your nursing degree will qualify you to sit for the nursing licensure exam, the NCLEX-RN.
Your state-issued RN license will allow you to work as a nurse, but you may also wish to earn one or more voluntary certifications that align with your chosen nursing specialty. Some of these certifications may have clinical experience requirements, so you might not be able to earn them right away.
How to Go from EMT to Nursing
When you’re ready to switch to a nursing career, start by researching your academic options and applying to nursing school.
Research Your Options
EMTs do not generally need a college degree if they pass a state-approved training program. If you’re transitioning to nursing without any college education, you’ll need to apply to a traditional B.S. in Nursing program, which takes four years.
If you have a bachelor’s degree or at least 65 completed credits, you may be eligible for the ABSN program at Utica. Here, you can leverage your past education toward earning a nursing degree in as few as 16 months. You’ll get the same quality nursing education as in a traditional program without the general education requirements.
Apply to Nursing School
Utica offers dedicated admission representatives. Your rep will answer questions, review your eligibility, and walk you through the application process step by step. You’ll need to meet the credit and GPA requirements and complete any outstanding degree requirement courses, although our admission team looks beyond GPA when assessing applicants.
Learn about your financial aid options for paying for nursing school.
Graduate From Nursing School
Utica offers three start dates per year, so you can get started quickly. You can expect a rigorous curriculum that teaches everything you need to care for patients as an RN. You’ll work through a hybrid, blended learning approach that includes:
- Online classes: Our e-learning management system provides an interactive approach to online coursework.
- Nursing labs: You’ll complete in-person nursing skills and simulation labs that teach you how to carry out nursing tasks and apply critical thinking skills in a clinical environment.
- Clinical rotations: To gain hands-on experience, you’ll complete clinical rotations at various healthcare facilities throughout central New York.
What to Expect in Nursing School as an EMT
As an EMT, you know how to respond to various medical emergencies. EMTs are limited in their response, however. While EMTs can administer oxygen and similar emergency treatments, they are typically unable to administer any treatments that puncture the skin, apart from epinephrine auto-injectors.
When switching from EMT to RN, you’ll learn how to perform a broader range of treatments, such as how to place IV lines and administer injections. You’ll also take a much deeper dive into physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and learn how to perform more thorough patient assessments.
Take the NCLEX and Get a License
Nursing school graduates typically take the NCLEX about 45 days after graduation. It’s generally not recommended to wait longer than this, as you’ll want to take the exam with the nursing school curriculum fresh in your mind. Increase your NCLEX prep activities in the weeks leading up to the exam date, such as by taking multiple full-length practice exams and reviewing your notes and assignments from nursing school.
You can retake the exam if you don’t pass it the first time. Once you pass it, though, you can get your NY-issued nursing license and start applying for jobs as an RN.
Career Opportunities for EMTs Turned Nurses
There are many career opportunities for those who have navigated the EMT to RN transition. If you’d like to stay in a clinical environment like emergency response, you might consider pursuing nursing specialties like emergency room, urgent care, or trauma nursing. Critical care nursing could also be a good fit.
On the other hand, if you’d like to experience a slower work environment, you might consider nursing careers in pediatrics, oncology, dialysis, dermatology, or public health.
Fast-Track Your Nursing Career at Utica University
Utica University offers an accelerated pathway toward a nursing career that allows you to build on your previous non-nursing education. You may be eligible to apply if you have a non-nursing bachelor’s or at least 65 college credits.
Contact an admission representative at Utica today to switch from EMT to nurse. You’ll find our ABSN program incredibly supportive of your career transition, with dedicated reps, academic success coaches, and a close-knit cohort to help you along the way.
