Most states don't allow a person to be certified as an EMT until they are 18 years old. That isn't to say they could not take the training before they turn 18--we teach high school kids (17 to 18 yrs.) here in Utah all the time. But until they turn 18 they can't take the certification exams to certify, and no one can represent themselves as being an EMT here until they are fully certified by the state.