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.

Prerequisites

Emergency Medical Responder (EMS 1059C) is a prerequisite course for entrance into the EMT Certificate Program. Students may also choose the First Responder Credit-by-Exam option for which they must earn a score of 70% 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 Salaries

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

Certification Examination

Successful completion of EMS 1158 and EMS 1158L 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.