Question: I had a car accident recently. Fortunately I was not really injured, but the paramedics came to the scene. They were great, and I think I would like the action and the excitement, as well as the "do-gooder" aspects of being an emergency medical technician or paramedic. How can I prepare for this job?
—John

Response: EMTs are hired in police and fire departments, and by ambulance companies.
Emergency medical technicians area assigned according to one's certified level. The levels of certified activities include:
1) EMT I-A (trainee),
2) EMT I-A Ambulance Attendant,
3) EMT I-A Driver, Ambulance or Emergency Vehicle,
4) Paramedic trainee,
5) EMT II Paramedic,
6) EMT-Paramedic/Mobile Intensive Care, and
7) Emergency Room Care Physician Assistant Training, frequently called paramedics.
California Highway Patrol requires that EMT's be 18 years old. Many commercial ambulance companies require EMT's to be 21 years old and hold an ambulance driver's license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. They must also hold a certificate in basic life support issued by the American Heart Association or CPR card from the Red Cross. After the job description provided below, there is detailed information about training options.

Job Description:
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's) provide immediate care to the critically ill and injured, commonly administering first-aid treatment to and transporting the sick or injured to a medical facility.

The technicians respond to instructions from emergency medical dispatcher and drive a specially equipped emergency vehicle to specified location. Upon arrival, the EMTs remove or assist in the removal of victims from the scene and determine the nature and extent of illness or injury in order to establish first aid procedures to be followed. This decision is based on statements of persons involved, examination of victim/victims and knowledge of emergency medical practice.

At the scene, as you may already have experienced, the EMTs may assist in controlling crowds, protecting valuables, or performing other related duties. The EMTs administer prescribed first-aid treatment at the emergency site, or in specially equipped vehicle, performing such activities as application of splints, administration of oxygen or intravenous injections, treatment of minor wounds or abrasions, or administration of artificial resuscitation.

At the emergency treatment facility, the EMTs communicate with professional medical personnel for instructions regarding further treatment and to arrange for reception of victims at the facility. In addition, the EMTs assist the treatment center admitting personnel to obtain and record information related to victims' vital statistics and circumstances of emergency.

At times, the EMTs are required to inspect and maintain medical equipment to ensure efficient operating condition as well as that of the ambulance. When not on call, emergency medical technicians spend their time at the station where they wait, sleep and eat.

Salary Range:

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT TECHNICIAN
projected 2002 annual salaries in the Los Angeles area according to Economic Research Institute:
YEARS EXPERIENCE 10th PERCENTILE TIME SERIES MEDIAN 90th PERCENTILE
5 $ 26,691 $ 30,843 $ 38,937
3 $ 23,454 $ 27,074 $ 34,216
1 $ 20,369 $ 23,481 $ 29,715

Training Options
All emergency medical technicians must be certified to practice in California. The basic requirements include being 18 years of age, EMT-I basic course completion, and passage of written and practical skills examinations.
The three levels of classification of EMTs practicing in California are as follows:
EMT-I (or Basic), which provide basic life support,
EMT-II (or Intermediate), which provide limited advanced life support and
EMT-Paramedic, which provide advanced life support.
EMTs practicing in Los Angeles County are primarily EMT-I and Paramedics.

A high school diploma or the equivalent is usually required for admission to EMT-I training programs. The general prerequisites for admission into the training program are CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and advance first aid certificates with courses offered through most chapters of the American Red Cross.

The following are American Red Cross local chapters in the Los Angeles County area which provide CPR and first aid certification:
American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles
Chapter Headquarters
2700 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90057
(213) 739-6813
(800) 627-7000
www.acrossla.org
South Bay Training Location
San Pedro YMCA
301 S. Bandini Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
SouthEast Los Angeles Training Location
9215 State St.
South Gate, CA 90280
Fax (310) 330-7753
EMT-I training is offered at the local level by state-approved training programs, which consists of 114 hours of laboratory and clinical studies. Upon completion of the program, the trainee must take both a written and skills examination for certification, which is administered by an approved training program or local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agency. Certification is provided through a local EMS or public safety agency. There is a $74 certification fee.

An EMT-I requires re-certification biannually by completing a minimum of 24 hours of refresher coursework or approved continuing education units and retaking the written and practical skills examination every four years. There is a $50 re-certification fee.

The following schools offer Los Angeles County approved EMT-I training programs and refresher courses for meeting re-certification requirements:
Los Angeles County ROP
Education Center West
12830 Clark Avenue
Downey, CA 90242
www.lacorop.org
Contact: Karin Lyon-Reynoso
The ROP center offers a 188-hour course/four month program, approved by the California Department of Health Services, prepares students to render pre-hospital care and basic life support under emergency conditions.

Units of instruction include cardiopulmonary resuscitation, advanced first aid, and limited use of equipment as applied to the ill or injured at the scene and during transport to an acute care hospital. Each student is required to have at least one 8-hour ambulance ride-along experience and one 8-hour supervised clinical experience in an emergency room. Upon successful completion of the program, the student is eligible to take the mandatory Los Angeles County EMS exam.

The training program prerequisites are current CPR certification for adult, child, and infant the first day of class. Be at least 18 years of age. Speak, read, write, and understand English at the 8th grade level. Present evidence of a current chest x-ray or TB skin test. (Some training sites require evidence of a hepatitis vaccine.) Submit to a criminal check, and have evidence of an excellent driving record.
El Camino College
16007 Crenshaw Blvd
Torrance, CA 90506
(310) 660-33600
Fax (310) 660-3106
www.elcaminocc.ca.us
Contact: Steve Nothern
Los Angeles Harbor College
1111 Figueroa Place
Wilmington, CA 90744-2397
(310) 522-8200
Fax (310) 834-1882
www.lahc.cc.ca.us
Contact: Wendy Hollis
Cerritos Community College
11110 Alondra Blvd
Norwalk, CA 90650
(562) 860-2451 x2563
Fax (562) 467-5005
www.cerritos.edu
Contact: Russell LoBlue
Pasadena City College
1570 East Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91106
(626) 585-7323
Fax (626) 585-7912
www.paccd.cc.ca.us
Contact: Mary Wynn
The following is a local EMS agency that issues the required written and practical skills examinations and also provides certification:
Los Angeles County EMS agency
5555 Ferguson Drive, Suite 220
Commerce, CA 90022
(323) 890-7500
Email: vhastings@dhs.co.la.ca.us
Registration is also provided by the National Registry of EMT's, P.O. Box 29233, Columbus, Ohio 43229.

For further information on County certification, contact:
The California State Dept of Health
Emergency Medical Services Authority
1930 9th Street, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 322-2300
Contact: Michael J. Krisman
— • —  
Susan W. Miller, M.A., is a National Certified Career Counselor, a Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist and holds diplomate status on the American Board of Vocational Experts. She heads California Career Services, a private practice career counseling firm in Los Angeles.

You may e-mail questions to swmcareer@aol.com.

  • Related
  • Emergency medical technician
  • Firefighter