American systems for providing emergency medical services and transport to hospitals did not receive much attention until the 1960s. Before that time, ambulance drivers and attendants were often volunteers who had undergone some first-aid training. The quality and quantity of their instruction and experience varied widely, as did the medical equipment they had available in their vehicles. By current-day standards, much of the nation's initial ambulance service was deplorable.
A major milestone was the federal Highway Safety Act of 1966, which included, for the first time, uniform standards for emergency medical services. Another important piece of federal legislation was the Emergency Medical Services System Act of 1973, which authorized funds for research and training. In addition, this act also made money available for organizing regional emergency medical systems.
In 1970, the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) was formed. Today, NREMT is an independent agency that establishes qualification levels for EMTs, determines the competency of working EMTs through examination, and offers educational and training programs to promote the improved delivery of emergency medical services. NREMT provides uniform national certification for qualified EMTs who wish to be included in the National Registry.
In 1971, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) published a national standard basic training course for ambulance personnel. By 1977, all the states had adopted the DOT course, or a close equivalent, as the basis for state certification. Now, more than 600,000 individuals have taken this basic training course.
- Advanced Practice Nurses
- Airport Security Personnel
- Allergists/Immunologists
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Anesthesiologists
- Bail Bondsmen
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Bodyguards
- Border Patrol Agents
- Bounty Hunters
- Cardiologists
- Cardiovascular Technologists
- Child Life Specialists
- Chiropractors
- Clinical Applications Specialists
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Community Health Nurses
- Construction Inspectors
- Contact Tracers
- Corrections Officers
- Cosmetic Surgeons
- Creative Arts Therapists
- Crime Analysts
- Critical Care Nurses
- Customs Officials
- Cytogenetic Technologists
- Cytotechnologists
- Dental Assistants
- Dental Hygienists
- Dental Laboratory Technicians
- Dentists
- Deputy U.S. Marshals
- Dermatologists
- Detectives
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
- Dialysis Technicians
- Dietetic Technicians
- Dietitians and Nutritionists
- Directors of Security
- Dispensing Opticians
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists
- Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists
- Emergency Nurses
- Emergency Services Dispatchers
- Endocrinologists
- Endodontists
- Endoscopy Technicians
- Epidemiologists
- Ergonomists
- FBI Agents
- Fire Inspectors
- Fire Investigators
- Fire Protection Engineers
- Fire Safety Directors
- Fire Safety Technicians
- Firefighters
- Forensic Experts
- Forest Fire Prevention Specialists
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators, and Analysts
- Gastroenterologists
- General Practitioners
- Genetic Counselors
- Geriatric Nurses
- Geriatric Psychiatrists
- Geriatric Social Workers
- Geriatricians
- Grief Therapists
- Health Advocates
- Hematologists
- Histologic Technicians
- Holistic Physicians
- Home Health Care Aides
- Home Health Care and Hospice Nurses
- Hospice Workers
- Hospitalists
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
- Informatics Nurse Specialists
- Intelligence Officers
- Kinesiologists
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Medical Assistants
- Medical Laboratory Technicians
- Medical Scribes
- Medical Technologists
- Microbiologists
- Music Therapists
- Neonatal Nurses
- Neurologists
- Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
- Nuclear Medicine Physicians
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Nurse Assistants
- Nurse Managers
- Nurse Practitioners
- Nurse-Midwives
- Obstetricians/Gynecologists
- Occupational Health Nurses
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides
- Oncological Nurses
- Oncologists
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
- Ophthalmologists
- Optometrists
- Oriental Medicine Practitioners
- Orientation and Mobility Specialists
- Orthodontists
- Orthoptists
- Orthotic and Prosthetic Technicians
- Orthotists and Prosthetists
- Osteopathic Physicians
- Park Rangers
- Parole Officers
- Pathologists
- Pediatricians
- Pedorthists
- Perfusionists
- Periodontists
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacologists
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Phlebotomy Technicians
- Physiatrists
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapy Assistants
- Physician Assistants
- Physicians
- Podiatrists
- Police Officers
- Polygraph Examiners
- Preventive Medicine Physicians
- Prosthodontists
- Psychiatric Nurses
- Psychiatric Technicians
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Radiologic Technologists
- Radiologists
- Recreational Therapists
- Registered Nurses
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Respiratory Therapists and Technicians
- School Nurses
- Secret Service Special Agents
- Security Consultants and Guards
- Senior Care Pharmacists
- Social Workers
- Special Procedures Technologists
- Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
- Sports Physicians
- Sports Psychologists
- Surgeons
- Surgical Technologists
- Toxicologists
- Transplant Coordinators
- Urologists