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According to Instructor Jess Nalley: “We don’t throw you in the deep end and see if you sink; we practice, practice, practice.”
That practice involves the following:
Yes, the program is approved by the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency.
The program is conducted in-person.
Yes, we offer a Saturday/Sunday cohort. Check the program schedule to see when our next weekend offering will be.
The course fees are available on the program schedule.
Yes, payment is due at the time of registration. However, payment plans are available; connect with our registration staff for more information.
The tuition includes the following:
Students wear the required uniform to each class session as well as to ride along shifts.
Instructions for purchase at LA Uniform is provided during the initial class session. Payment will be made by the students directly to LA Uniform.
Fieldwork shifts are scheduled by the program instructor at one of CSUDH’s EMT ride-along partners. Shifts are scheduled according to student and site availability and are typically 12-hour shifts.
The certificate of completion is issued by CSUDH and reflects program approval by Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency. The course completion is also reflected on the CSUDH Official Transcript.
The EMT course at CSUDH is offered 3-4 times each calendar year. Sign up for our mailing list to receive announcements about new course offerings!
The Spring and Fall offerings are typically 15-16 weeks and the Summer offering is approximately 10 weeks.
No, anyone may apply directly to the EMT Training Course at CSUDH without university admission.
No, the EMT Course at CSUDH is a non-academic program and does not count toward course load or continuous enrollment.
Physical requirements include the ability to lift, carry, and balance up to 125 pounds, and to walk, bend, and stoop on uneven terrains.
Our program teaches lifting techniques throughout the duration of the program. When it comes to lifting a gurney, we’ll show you how to lift smarter, not harder.
You can start the program while still in high school, but need to obtain and be able to show proof of a high school diploma before the end of the course.
American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) The AHA’s BLS Course is designed for healthcare professionals and other personnel who need to know how to perform CPR and other basic cardiovascular life support skills in a wide variety of in-facility and prehospital settings. Note: EMT Program Applicants are highly recommended to take the in-person session for maximum benefit.
Find A Classroom: sign up for a 1-day BLS course near you ►
Full BLS Provider Course takes approximately 4.5 hours to complete, including skills practice and skills testing. BLS Renewal Course takes approximately 3 hours to complete, including skills practice and testing.
Both the Tuberculosis test and the Hepatitis B vaccine can be obtained through your primary care provider. However, they can also be completed at many pharmacies such as CVS. Negative TB test results must be dated within 6 months of class start.
Hepatitis B vaccine is an important source of protection for healthcare workers and is a requirement for many ambulance companies. It is important to have the Hepatitis B series started at the time of application.
Yes, you could take the class. However, you would not be able to pursue certification and/or employment.
Yes, a social security number is required by California law to complete the EMT certification process in CA. The Central Registry regulations require that this information be collected by the certifying entities, documented in the Registry and available for certification action if necessary (https://emsa.ca.gov/emt).
Expect to spend 10-14 hours per week for reading and activities, depending on existing familiarity with EMS/medical terminology. Daily practice with coursework is recommended.
EMS practice activities, videos, scenarios, quizzes, readings to ensure students come to class prepared. Book work is assigned within the digital textbook with assignments to complete.
Our program includes live-scenario skills training that mimics what can happen in real life and prepares you for your future career.
Yes. Our live-scenario skills training includes training on the paperwork that is required to be filled out after each call. The paperwork is evaluated by the course instructor and feedback is provided.
The National Registry of EMTs is an independent, not-for-profit organization. National EMS Certification is not a license to practice, but is the process utilized to validate competent practice by EMS professionals. For information about licensure, contact the Office of EMS in the state you desire to work.
The NREMT exam (a computer adaptive test) is held at a testing center. It will use as many questions as needed to either pass or fail the participant. Often, it includes around 70 questions and takes under an hour to complete; it could be extended longer with up to 125 questions if a high number of wrong answers were provided.
Students who wish to become qualified EMTs are required to take and pass the NREMT exam. (*Our passage rate is high!)
There are no other courses to take in the program.
It is recommended that right after completing the course, you take the exam... That’s when the information is most fresh.
You must apply for certification within two years of being issued an EMT course completion record. In certain cases, if course completion is greater than two years old, but NREMT certification has been maintained, the two-year rule may be waived.
Visit the Los Angeles County EMS Agency ►
Other Southern California EMS Agencies:
A driver’s license is not required to complete the EMT Course and certify as an EMT in California. However, individual employers may have requirements for employees to hold a valid driver license.
We partner with several ambulance companies that are eager to hire our students!
Starting pay rates for EMTs can range from $18–21 per hour.
According to EMT professionals, the hourly rate is deceptive if you are looking at that alone; hourly work is different: it provides a more compact schedule, and overtime is a large factor in increased wage earnings. Benefits include health insurance and time off.
There is a high need for EMTs right now, meaning there are a lot of competitive opportunities with upward career mobility.
Work schedules as an EMT depend on the employer. Shifts can be 8, 10, 12, or even 24 hours. MedReach and other ambulance companies are committed to flexible scheduling for college students.
Here are just a few examples: