• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.17-27
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• 2019

Purpose: To provide legislative data for the amendment of Article 36 of the Emergency Medical Service Act on the qualifications of emergency medical technicians. Methods: The study was drafted based on the Emergency Medical Service Act; data on the emergency medical technicians (EMT) system and curriculum in Korea, United States. Japan, and Taiwan; and previous studies on the EMT system in Korea. Results: The length of education. work scope. amd role of level 1 EMTs vary significantly depending on the type of qualifications they have as emergency medical professionals, while the supply of level 1 EMTs has already reached a point of saturation. Accordingly, the current regulation on allowing level 2 EMTs with at least three years of experience to take the level 1 EMT test presents serious inequity for students just graduating from their emergency medical services program. It is also a factor that degrades the professionalism of level 1 EMTs. Conclusion: Article 36, paragraph 2. subparagraph 3 of the Emergency Medical Services Act pertaining to regulations on "EMTs who have worked as level 2 EMTs for at least 3 years" needs to be removed.