Your Transition Plan: From EMT-I/85 to Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by lilac

Newsletter outlining a required transition from EMT-Intermediate/85 (I/85) to Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT). It explains the EMS certification background, including how Intermediate levels evolved and why the national Scope of Practice Model created new provider levels. Readers are instructed to complete a state-approved EMT-I/85 to AEMT transition course over upcoming recertification cycles, then pass practical and National EMS Certification examinations to become a Nationally Registered Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (NRAEMT).

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Your Transition Plan: From EMT-I/85 to Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)

NREMT Transition Policy (Adopted June 8, 2011)

NREMT Board Position Opportunity

Course, Practical Exam, and Certification Steps

| | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
Your Transition Plan: From EMT-I/85
to Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Fall 2011
| | | | | An Important Letter from the Executive Director
You Will Soon be a Nationally Registered Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (NRAEMT) ... | | |
The new AEMT patch.
LOOK FOR YOUR SPECIAL EMAIL NEWSLETTER
To keep you informed of important news and updates, we have sent you an email newsletter to the email address you indicated in your NREMT online profile. Be sure your NREMT account is current! INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Learn what YOU need todo to transition from I/85 to the new AEMT level as determined by the new Scope of Practice.
NREMT SEEKS CANDIDATE FOR AT-LARGE BOARD POSITION
The NREMT is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the at-large position on its Board of Directors. This candidate will bring a high level of expertise in his/her respective field.
cont. on pg. 2 | | ...and no longer an EMTIntermediate/85. During the next four years everyone in EMS will be going through a“transition” from levels of certification designated in the 1980’s to new titles with new interventions and responsibilities. These changes have been planned since 2000 and are being accomplished in conjunction with the EMS Education Agenda for the Future: A Systems Approach. Hundreds of national EMS leaders participated in discussions with states and stakeholders to help everyone arrive at this decision over the past 11 years.
This newsletter is being sent to you to outline specifically what YOU must do to become a Nationally Registered Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (NRAEMT).
First a little history regarding the EMS title of EMTIntermediate/85 and the new Advanced Emergency Medical Technician. In the 1970’s as EMS levels were being designated, certification and licenses were issued at two levels initially; EMT-Ambulance and EMT-Paramedic. During the late 70’s and early 80’s some states started their own designations at levels in between EMT-A and EMT-P. In the early 80’s, in order to develop some national unity regarding those levels, states provided input to the NREMT Board of Directorsand we adopted a new national certification; EMT-Intermediate. | In 1985 the Department of Transportation developed the first national standard curriculum for this new level of EMTIntermediate. The 1985 course provided advanced knowledge and mainly three “advanced interventions”(at that time); IV’s, MAST trouser application and use of the Esophageal Obturator Airway. Simply stated, EMT-I care centered on trauma patients. Soon after 1985 some states started adding “enhancements”(skills) to the Intermediate and others adopted a more expansive level called Cardiac Care which included some ACLS drugs. In 1994 a blue ribbon panel of EMS stakeholders gathered and endorsed the EMS Education and Practice Blueprint. That blueprint was to resolve the fragmented levels of Intermediates used across the nation. In 1999 the Department of Transportation, based upon the blueprint, developed a national standard curriculum for the EMT-Intermediate. Immediately it ran into political opposition and the National Association of State EMS Directors (now the National Association of State EMS Officials) asked the NREMT Board to continue to offer Intermediate certifications at both the former (I-85) and the new (I-99) designated levels.
Between 2004 and 2006 the National EMS Scope of Practice Model (SOP) was being developed. That group of stakeholders learned that by then there were over 30+ | scopes of practices adopted by states at levels between EMT-Band EMT-P. The SOP taskforce wanted to reduce the fragmentation and thus the Advanced EMT level of care was born. As with any birth, now come the changes. Some I-85’s have already enhanced their levels of state practice; others may have not. Some may even exceed the new Advanced EMT.
Regardless of those local decisions, the National Registry will c

FAQs

What is the goal of the newsletter for EMT-I/85 providers?

It outlines what providers must do to transition to the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) level under the updated Scope of Practice.

What is the NREMT Transition Policy and why was it adopted?

The policy commits to implementing the EMS Education Agenda for the Future and requires NREMTs to meet minimum knowledge and skills in the National EMS Scope of Practice Model.

What steps must you complete to become a Nationally Registered Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (NRAEMT)?

Complete a state-approved EMT-I/85 to AEMT transition course, complete a course-ending practical examination, and pass the new Advanced EMT National EMS Certification Examination.

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by lilac