Top 12 Emergency Medical Technician Skills to Put on Your Resume
In the high-stakes world of emergency medical services, a clear, compact resume that spotlights your strongest clinical abilities can tilt the odds. The following guide lists 12 core skills Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) should feature to show readiness for fast decisions, clean execution, and safe, lifesaving care.
Emergency Medical Technician Skills
- CPR Certified
- ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)
- PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
- ECG Interpretation
- IV Insertion
- Airway Management
- Triage Assessment
- Hemorrhage Control
- Splinting Techniques
- Oxygen Therapy
- Patient Assessment
- BLS (Basic Life Support)
1. CPR Certified
CPR certification confirms an EMT has trained and tested in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, with the skills to deliver high-quality compressions and ventilations when breathing or circulation stops.
Why It's Important
Cardiac arrest does not wait. CPR keeps blood moving to the brain and vital organs until a heart rhythm returns or advanced care takes over, directly improving survival and neurologic outcomes.
How to Improve CPR Certified Skills
Sharpen your CPR by drilling the basics relentlessly and staying current with recognized guidelines. Key points:
Precision first: Compression rate 100–120/min, depth 5–6 cm (2–2.4 in) for adults, full recoil, minimal interruptions, early AED use.
Refresh regularly: Re-certify on schedule (typically every two years) and review focused updates as they’re released.
Train with feedback: Practice on manikins that provide real-time coaching on depth, rate, and recoil.
Team choreography: Rehearse roles, timed switches, and airway/compression coordination to cut pause time.
Scenario variability: Run adult, pediatric, opioid-related, and trauma scenarios to stress-test decision-making under pressure.
How to Display CPR Certified Skills on Your Resume
2. ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)
ACLS is a framework for recognizing and managing cardiac arrest, peri-arrest rhythms, stroke, and related emergencies with advanced airways, medications, defibrillation, and team-based algorithms.
Why It's Important
It structures rapid decisions in chaotic moments—shock now or not yet, drugs on time, airway secured, reversible causes hunted—so care is consistent and swift.
How to Improve ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) Skills
Know the algorithms cold: Cardiac arrest, bradycardia, tachycardia, post–cardiac arrest care—memorize sequences and timing (including early defibrillation and timely epinephrine).
High-fidelity simulations: Practice closed-loop communication, role clarity, and rapid rhythm recognition in timed scenarios.
Debrief every case: After real calls or drills, identify delays, missteps, and wins, then adjust your playbook.
Update awareness: Track guideline updates; focused revisions may change emphasis (e.g., titrated oxygen, avoiding hyperventilation, post-arrest normoxia and normocapnia).
Fitness and ergonomics: Strong compressions and swift equipment handling demand stamina and efficient movement.
How to Display ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) Skills on Your Resume
3. PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
PALS trains providers to recognize pediatric distress early and intervene decisively—airway, breathing, circulation—tailored to infants and children.
Why It's Important
Kids compensate until they suddenly don’t. PALS frames timely oxygenation, ventilation, shock management, and rhythm treatment to prevent the cliff-edge drop.
How to Improve PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) Skills
Weight-based mastery: Use length/weight tapes and pre-calculated dosing charts; prepare size-appropriate equipment ahead of time.
Early recognition: Drill signs of impending failure—work of breathing, mental status changes, capillary refill, weak pulses.
Team drills: Practice pediatric arrest, respiratory failure, and shock scenarios with clear roles and post-event debriefs.
Renew routinely: Keep certification current and track focused updates to pediatric algorithms.
Parent/caregiver input: Build the habit of quick history capture; small details redirect care fast.
How to Display PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) Skills on Your Resume
4. ECG Interpretation
ECG interpretation for EMTs centers on recognizing dangerous rhythms and ischemic patterns quickly. In some systems, EMTs acquire and transmit 12-leads while advanced providers interpret; in others, EMTs also identify time-critical patterns like STEMI or lethal arrhythmias.
Why It's Important
Early rhythm recognition guides defibrillation, medications, and destination choices. Seconds saved become myocardium saved.
How to Improve ECG Interpretation Skills
Start with the skeleton: Rate, rhythm, axis, intervals, then look for ischemia, injury, and chamber effects.
Daily reps: Read a handful of tracings often—build pattern recognition for SVT, VT, AF with RVR, blocks, and STEMI mimics.
Case libraries and simulators: Use rhythm strips and 12-lead cases with explanations; escalate difficulty over time.
Peer huddles: Discuss ambiguous tracings with experienced colleagues; compare reasoning, not just answers.
Operational readiness: Practice clean 12-lead acquisition, artifact reduction, right- and posterior-lead placement when indicated, and rapid transmission.
How to Display ECG Interpretation Skills on Your Resume
5. IV Insertion
IV insertion establishes venous access for fluids, medications, or labs. Scope varies: in many regions this is performed by Advanced EMTs or Paramedics rather than EMT-Basics, so follow your certification level and local protocols.
Why It's Important
When shock is looming or medications can’t wait, reliable access changes the trajectory. It also supports pain control and safer transport.
How to Improve IV Insertion Skills
Anatomy plus options: Know common sites, vein direction, and backup plans (hand, forearm, antecubital). Consider IO access when time-critical and IV attempts fail—if within scope.
Setup ritual: Organize gear the same way every time; good preparation raises first-pass success.
Technique refinement: Low angle, steady advance, watch for flash, then thread gently. Secure well to survive transport bumps.
Varied practice: Train on different vein sizes, dehydrated patients, cold environments, and moving platforms.
Feedback loop: Track attempt count, complications, and dwell performance; seek coaching from high-performers.
How to Display IV Insertion Skills on Your Resume
6. Airway Management
Airway management preserves a clear path to the lungs and adequate ventilation using positioning, suction, airway adjuncts (OPA/NPA), bag-valve-mask ventilation, and, where authorized, supraglottic devices or endotracheal tubes.
Why It's Important
Without oxygen, everything unravels. Early airway control prevents hypoxia, hypercarbia, and secondary injury, buying time for definitive care.
How to Improve Airway Management Skills
Assess fast, act faster: Look for obstruction, gurgling, stridor, altered mentation, poor chest rise, low SpO2. Decide on positioning versus adjuncts immediately.
Perfect BVM technique: Two-person seal, appropriate tidal volumes, slow controlled breaths, and waveform capnography when available to monitor ventilation.
Adjunct familiarity: Choose OPA/NPA sizes quickly; know contraindications and insertion nuances.
Escalation pathways: When basic measures fail, move to supraglottic airway per protocol and confirm with capnography.
Reassess relentlessly: Monitor chest rise, breath sounds, SpO2, EtCO2, and mental status; adjust immediately.
How to Display Airway Management Skills on Your Resume
7. Triage Assessment
Triage sorts patients by urgency so the sickest get care first, especially during multi-patient incidents. Systems commonly used include START, SALT, and pediatric JumpSTART.
Why It's Important
Resources are finite. Smart triage directs attention, equipment, and transport to those who’ll benefit most, fast.
How to Improve Triage Assessment Skills
Choose a system and master it: START/SALT locally? Learn the tags, steps, and edge cases cold.
Pediatric proficiency: Practice JumpSTART for children; normal vitals and responses differ by age.
Realistic drills: Simulate noise, crowding, low light, weather, and evolving scenes to build speed and accuracy.
Calm communication: Short, clear directions and radio reports keep teams synchronized.
After-action reviews: Refine thresholds and flow after every exercise or incident.
How to Display Triage Assessment Skills on Your Resume
8. Hemorrhage Control
Hemorrhage control means stopping life-threatening bleeding using direct pressure, tourniquets, and wound packing with hemostatic gauze when appropriate.
Why It's Important
Uncontrolled bleeding can be rapidly fatal. Early, decisive control prevents shock and saves lives.
How to Improve Hemorrhage Control Skills
Scene safety first: Gloves, eye protection, and a quick scan for hazards before you touch the patient.
Direct pressure as default: Firm, targeted pressure with adequate dressings for most external bleeding.
Tourniquet early for limbs: If severe extremity bleeding continues, apply a commercial tourniquet high and tight, note the time, reassess frequently.
Wound packing for junctional sites: Pack deep with hemostatic gauze and hold pressure for several minutes.
Avoid outdated steps: Elevation and pressure points are no longer primary methods for controlling major bleeding.
Continuous reassessment: Check for rebleed during movement and transport; secure dressings for bumps and turns.
How to Display Hemorrhage Control Skills on Your Resume
9. Splinting Techniques
Splinting immobilizes injured bones or joints to prevent further damage, reduce pain, and protect neurovascular status during transport. Options include rigid, soft, vacuum, and traction splints.
Why It's Important
Good splinting preserves function and eases suffering while you move from scene to definitive care.
How to Improve Splinting Techniques Skills
Assess before and after: Check circulation, motor, and sensation (CMS) pre- and post-splint; document changes immediately.
Immobilize above and below: Stabilize the joints surrounding the injury; maintain neutral alignment unless resistance or severe pain stops you.
Padding and protection: Cushion bony points and secure without strangling circulation.
Use traction splints appropriately: For isolated mid-shaft femur fractures where allowed by protocol; monitor distal pulses after application.
Practice with time pressure: Apply splints rapidly in tight spaces, rain, or low light to mimic field conditions.
How to Display Splinting Techniques Skills on Your Resume
10. Oxygen Therapy
Oxygen therapy is the targeted delivery of supplemental O2 for hypoxemia or respiratory distress. Modern practice emphasizes titration rather than routine use.
Why It's Important
Too little oxygen harms; too much can, too. Titrated delivery supports organs while avoiding hyperoxia-related risks.
How to Improve Oxygen Therapy Skills
Assess first: Use pulse oximetry and clinical signs to decide if oxygen is needed; avoid routine oxygen when saturations are adequate per protocol.
Choose the right device: Nasal cannula for mild hypoxemia, non-rebreather for severe distress, consider assisted ventilation when ventilation is inadequate.
Titrate to targets: Follow local targets (commonly around 92–96% for most adults; COPD exacerbations may target 88–92%).
Monitor continuously: Reassess SpO2, work of breathing, mental status; adjust flow as the patient improves or fatigues.
Safety savvy: Secure cylinders, avoid flames, and check equipment for leaks.
How to Display Oxygen Therapy Skills on Your Resume
11. Patient Assessment
Patient assessment is a structured approach to understanding threats and needs: scene size-up, primary assessment for life threats, focused or head-to-toe secondary assessment, and ongoing reassessment.
Why It's Important
It prevents tunnel vision. Systematic checks spot hidden problems early and direct the next intervention without drift.
How to Improve Patient Assessment Skills
Follow a consistent flow: Primary survey with immediate interventions, then a focused or full exam as indicated.
Use decision tools: SAMPLE and OPQRST for history; consider MARCH in trauma to prioritize massive bleeding, airway, respiration, circulation, and hypothermia.
Refine observation: Scan from the door; note position, speech, skin, respiratory effort before touching the patient.
Communicate cleanly: Short, purposeful questions; closed-loop updates with your team; crisp handoffs.
Practice under noise: Simulate distractions, bystanders, and limited space so your sequence holds steady.
How to Display Patient Assessment Skills on Your Resume
12. BLS (Basic Life Support)
BLS is the foundation: high-quality CPR, rapid AED use, airway positioning, and ventilation for cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, or choking until advanced care arrives.
Why It's Important
BLS buys time and preserves organs. Everything else builds on it.
How to Improve BLS (Basic Life Support) Skills
Master the metrics: Compression rate 100–120/min, proper depth, full recoil, minimal pauses, early defibrillation.
Ventilate wisely: Avoid hyperventilation; deliver just enough volume to see chest rise, coordinated with compressions.
Train with devices: Use feedback tools to tighten performance; practice single- and two-rescuer workflows.
Renew on schedule: Re-certify regularly and review focused updates that refine practice.
Condition your body: Good CPR is physically demanding; strength and endurance matter.
How to Display BLS (Basic Life Support) Skills on Your Resume
