Ohio Ophthalmological Society, 5115 Parkcenter Ave, Ste 200, Dublin, OH 43017, US

History of the NREMT It has been nearly four decades since President Lyndon Johnson's Committee on Highway Traffic Safety recommended the creation of a national certification agency to establish uniform standards for training and examination of personnel active in the delivery of emergency ambulance service. The result of this recommendation was the inception of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT ) in 1970. Since that time, pre-hospital emergency medical care has continually evolved and improved. The EMT has been acknowledged as a bonafide member of the health care team. Excellent training programs have been developed and a vital focus has been placed on continuing education. National standards have been established. Ambulance equipment essentials have been set. National accreditation of paramedic programs has been achieved, and professional associations for the EMT have been organized. Through every change, the NREMT has remained steadfast in upholding its mission to provide a valid, uniform process to assess the knowledge and skills required for competent practice required by professionals throughout their careers and by maintaining a registry of certification status. The organization has done what was necessary to establish, implement and maintain uniform requirements for the certification and recertification of emergency medical technicians. The NREMT has also been involved in numerous national projects and its staff participates on major national committees, playing an active part in the ever-continuing process of improving standards of emergency medical services. President Lyndon Johnson's Committee on Highway Traffic Safety recommends the creation of a national certification agency to establish uniform standards for training and examination of personnel active in the delivery of emergency ambulance service. This resulted in the appointment of a Task Force by the American Medical Association's Commission on EMS to study the feasibility of a National Registry for EMTs. The Task Force was headed by Oscar P. Hampton, Jr., M.D., a physician recognized for his pioneering work with the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma. Representatives of organizations actively involved in emergency medical service attend the first meeting of the Task Force on January 21, 1970. Organizations invited to participate were: On June 4, 1970, the Task Force was dissolved and was immediately reconvened as the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Roddy A. Brandes of the Ambulance Association of America was elected the Board's first Chairman. The NREMT calls a meeting of national EMT-Paramedic leaders and educators to develop initial guidelines for the national EMT-Paramedic curriculum. Continuing education requirements for recertification are established for EMT-Ambulance and EMT-Non Ambulance personnel.