Are You Interested in Learning to Become an EMT?
July 12, 2022 - One of the most frequent questions I hear as an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Instructor is: What are the reasons to become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)?
Many persons that sign up to take an EMT course do so after they have taken a First Aid course or experience some form of public emergency response - whether as a community volunteer or a bystander with that “I want to help but I don’t know how” feeling. Others sign up for a course because they want to begin or enhance a career in the medical field.
An EMT offers several different opportunities for medical field entry levels including working in an ambulance field setting, emergency departments, hospitals, and Physician offices. Other reasons include promotion or increased marketability in the fire service, law enforcement and wilderness medicine.
Becoming an EMT is often a life changing experience. Understanding more about the human body, the basic functions of life, disease, trauma, and emergency management (to name a few) opens a wider view of the world and the people we share air space with on a daily basis. It is very common for persons to become “hooked” after experiencing their first emergency response - and begins a lifelong journey to help others in need and to understand more about human health and disease.
Even if an individual is not interested in employment as an EMT, many communities need volunteers that are medically trained to help respond to medical calls. The ability to give back to the community as an EMT is just one of many ways we grow together toward a healthier and safer future.
The next question after sharing the most common reasons for becoming an EMT is often “How do I become an EMT?”
There are many courses available to meet the requirements to certify as an EMT. The most important component to assure is the EMT Course you choose is an approved California course. Also, EMT Programs often have a cost - the more convenient the course, the higher the cost. Also, it is very common for programs to require textbook and workbook purchases for each class. Regardless of the costs, ALL California courses are required to teach a minimum of 180 hours equivalent of nationally accepted and standardized material in order to be approved.
In Mariposa County, we have a course beginning Monday, August 1, 2022. The classes are Monday and Wednesday evenings August thru December 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Mariposa County High School.
Basic Course Schedule
Monday and Wednesday Evenings - 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Clinical Experience - 24+ hours scheduled
Self-Study/homework requirements - 50+ hours
Mariposa County Unified School District Adult Education oversees and sponsors the California approved program which is a great minimal cost opportunity. There is no tuition cost and the textbooks are loaned to students. After the student passes the completed course, they are qualified to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians to become certified if they choose to do so.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming an EMT and/or the Mariposa County Adult Education EMT Program or would like to enroll - please reach out to me - Dana Tafoya at dtafoya@mcusd.org. You can also explore more information and fill out an online application at the following website: https://sites.google.com/mcusd.org/mcusdemtprogram/home.
Source: Dana Tafoya, MCUSD Program Director
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