HOW TO Join MERT

There are a variety of paths those interested in joining MERT can take in order to become a member and we are here to help along the way.

Requirements of members

24 hours per month on shift

All members are required to take a total of 24 hours of shifts each month. Part of these 24 hours include a minimum of one athletic shift per semester.

MCI, NSO, and Fling

In addition to weekly GBMs, MERT also holds special training events throughout the school year to prepare members to better handle more complicated events.

Weekly GBMs

Each week MERT holds general body meetings which are meant to maintain members’ competency in a variety of skills ranging from cardiac arrest to trauma.

Maintenance of certifications

Like any EMS organization, MERT members must do continuing education in order to keep both state and national EMT licenses and CPR certification.

How to join mert

ALREADY EMT CERTIFIED

If you have a current EMT certification from another state/NREMT, you are eligible to apply for MERT through our reciprocity pathway.  If your license is not from Pennsylvania, you will also need to complete the reciprocity process to transfer your license, which you will work on with MERT after acceptance to our organization. 

To receive the application, you must attend a mandatory info session either on Saturday, September 6th or Sunday, September 7th. Please fill out the interest form below to receive updates on the times/locations of these info sessions. If you are unable to attend due to extenuating circumstances, please email membership@pennmert.org.

Applications will be due on Thursday, September 18th. 

We will reach out to schedule coffee chats and send out interview invites to selected applicants after the application deadline. Coffee chats with members of the MERT Board will occur between Monday, September 22nd and Friday, October 3rd. Interviews are scheduled to be on Saturday, October 4th. Final decisions will be sent out shortly after interviews.

CERTIFY THROUGH MERT

If you are a freshman or sophomore and would like to obtain your certification, MERT holds an EMT class held through the Perelman School of Medicine during the spring semester. 

To receive the application, you must attend a mandatory info session either on Saturday, September 6th or Sunday, September 7th. Please fill out the interest form below to receive updates on the times/locations of these info sessions. If you are unable to attend due to extenuating circumstances, please email membership@pennmert.org.

Applications will be due on Thursday, September 25th.

We will reach out to schedule coffee chats and send out interview invites to selected applicants after the application deadline. Coffee chats with members of the MERT Board will occur between Monday, September 29th and Thursday, October 16th. Interviews are scheduled to be from Friday, October 17th, to Sunday, October 19th.  Final decisions will be sent out shortly after interviews.

CERTIFY EXTERNALLY

If the timing of MERT’s EMT class does not fit with your schedule, there are many classes offered by other organizations that may work for you.

Please email membership@pennmert.org if you have any questions or need help finding a class.

To receive email updates from MERT about applications, please fill out the 2025 MERT Interest Form and/or follow us on Instagram (@pennmert).

Have a question? Need Help? Reach Out!

There are a variety of reasons and lists of paperwork which make the process confusing and difficult. Reach out and we can offer our expertise!