What Is a Technical Rescue and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

Technical rescue jobs involve emergency responders who are specially trained to perform emergency search and rescue efforts. Many technical rescue teams are made up of firefighters, but may also include law enforcement and emergency medical professionals. Your specific field governs the procedure and equipment you use for your job. As a fire and rescue worker, you are a firefighter who has completed additional training on search and rescue duties, such as in collapsed buildings or rescuing someone who fell through the ice. Confined space rescue technicians have the skills to remove people from small, life-threatening spaces. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) can also train for search and rescue duties to provide both emergency response assistance and rescue efforts.

To obtain a technical rescue job, you need emergency responder qualifications for the specific team with which you want to work. Firefighters and EMTs need to hold a high school diploma or GED certificate and complete specific training and certification programs. Most rescue technician jobs require various emergency responder qualifications and skills, such as first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification, plus Rescue Technician (RT) training and certification. Other qualifications include excellent communication and problem-solving skills and patience; excitable or aggressive responders may not be a good fit for this role. You can find technical rescue positions with fire departments, safety groups, staffing firms, and government agencies.