You can become an EMT by attending a class at a community college or the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. Becoming an EMT requires 175 hours of classroom training and 100 hours of clinical internship prior to licensure. Upon successfully obtaining a license to practice, the EMT then undergoes a clearance process with the county for medical director approval to render care.
You do not have to be affiliated with a department to obtain an EMT license, however, an EMT must either volunteer or become employed by a local department in order to provide care.