Mar 29, 2024  
Catalog/Handbook 2014-2015 
    
Catalog/Handbook 2014-2015 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Emergency Medical Technology, ATD


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ATD Program: B8130

The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is a member of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team delivering out-of-hospital emergency care under the direction of an emergency physician. EMTs are a mainstay with public health and community service agencies, operating emergency vehicles that respond to emergency rescue calls and other life-threatening situations. The EMT’s primary responsibilities are to safely care for victims of accidents or sudden illnesses by stabilizing the patients and then safely transporting them to the hospital emergency department.

The goal of the Emergency Medical Technology Certificate Program is to provide graduates with the information, technical skills, professional attitude, and demeanor necessary to implement safe, effective, appropriate care as entry-level Emergency Medical Technicians.

The program is designed to prepare individuals for initial employment as EMTs. Instruction includes a study of the current techniques and professional requirements of EMTs providing out-of-hospital emergency medical care. This is an intensive 276 contact-hour course that requires careful planning of school, work, and home schedules in order to succeed. Students are advised to contact the Program Director or Coordinator of Clinical Education for additional information and scheduling details. This program consists of lecture, lab, and clinical components.

Prerequisite

Emergency Medical Responder (EMS 1059C) is a prerequisite course for entrance into the EMT Certificate Program. Students may also choose the Emergency Medical Responder Credit-by-Exam option for which they must earn a score of 70 percent or higher. Successful completion of this exam provides students with Polk State College credit for the Emergency Medical Responder course.

Accreditation

The State of Florida, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, accredits the EMS instructional program.

Program Hours

The EMT course is offered in the evenings on Tuesday and Thursday, or Monday and Wednesday. Substantial out-of-class work is required to complete the program. Students must plan carefully.

Working Sites

The EMT performs in various settings, in conjunction with other emergency service providers including law enforcement and fire department personnel.

Potential Earnings

Salaries for EMTs vary from $28,000-$32,000 depending upon the agency of employment.

Certification Examination

Successful completion of EMS 1158 Emergency Medical Technology and EMS 1158L Emergency Medical Technology Lab/Clinical qualifies students to take the Florida State Examination for EMTs and the National Registry of EMTs. Prospective students should be aware that a Social Security Number (SSN) is required to be issued a certificate or license by the Florida Department of Health, which is the licensing authority for healthcare licenses in Florida.

Total Program Hours: 11


Note: If a student is unsuccessful in either EMS 1158 Emergency Medical Technology or EMS 1158L Emergency Medical Technology Lab/Clinical, the student must reenroll in the failed course during the next course offering and successfully complete the course requirements to qualify for the state examination. Students who fail to reenroll in the next course offering of the failed course must repeat both EMS 1158 and EMS 1158L to qualify to retake the state examination.

Receiving below an 80 percent on three exams in EMS 1158 Emergency Medical Technology results in a failing grade and dismissal from the EMT Program.
 

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