Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

• Individuals who want to become Emergency Medical Technicians or paramedics
• Individuals who are considering careers in law enforcement or public health
• Individuals who are considering careers as lab technicians, dental assistants, medical assistants, and surgical technologists
• Emergency medical services personnel
• Military personnel
• Emergency managers
• Public health practitioners

• Earn an 80% average in the class
• Score at least 80% on the final examination
• Meet attendance requirements
• Successfully pass all skills examinations
• Complete 12 hours of hospital clinical experience and 12 hours of ambulance ride-along experience with at least 10 documented patient contacts

Students who receive a CSULB EMT Course Completion Record are eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam. Once students successfully pass the NREMT exam, they become eligible for California State Emergency Medical Services EMT certification. 

California State University programs for professions that require licensure or certification are intended to prepare the student for California licensure and certification requirements. Admission into programs for professions that require licensure and certification does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or certificate. Click here for more information about Accreditation and State Authorization.

• A valid certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers offered through The American Heart Association (AHA) is required prior to the first day of class.
• This course also has a minimum required age of 18 years old.

Topics Include:

• EMS systems research
• Workforce safety documentation
• EMS systems communication
• Therapeutic communication
• Medical legal and ethics

Topics Include:

• Anatomical planes
• Directional terms
• Movement terms
• Anatomical positions
• Standard anatomical terms
• Body systems
• Fundamental elements and issues

Topics Include:

• Anatomical terms
• Medical terms
• Standard medical abbreviations and acronyms

Topics Include:

• Composition of ambient air
• Patency of the airway
• Respiratory compromise
• Alteration in regulation of respiration due to medical or trauma conditions
• Ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) ratio and mismatch
• Perfusion and shock
• Microcirculation
• Blood pressure
• Alterations of cell metabolism

Topics Include:

• Newborn
• Infant
• Toddler
• Preschool
• Teen
• Adult

Topics Include:

• Local public health
• Role of EMS personnel

Topics Include:

• Principles of pharmacology
• Medication administration
• Emergency medications administration
• Intravenous medication
• Medications for Los Angeles County EMT scope of practice

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Topics Include:

• Airway management
• Respiration
• Artificial ventilation
• Supportive oxygen therapy
• Ventilating advanced airway adjuncts
• Suctioning

Topics Include:

• Scene size-up
• Primary assessment
• History taking
• Secondary assessment
• Detailed focused exam
• Reassessment (on-going assessment)
• Monitoring devices

Topics Include:

• Medical Overview
• Neurology
• Abdominal and gastrointestinal disorders
• Infectious (communicable) diseases
• Immunology
• Oncology
• Endocrine disorders
• Psychiatric
• Cardiovascular
• Toxicology
• Respiratory
• Hematology
• Genitourinary/renal
• Gynecology
• Non-traumatic musculoskeletal disorders
• Disorders of the eyes, ears, nose, and throat

Topics Include:

• Trauma overview
• Bleeding
• Chest trauma
• Abdominal and genitourinary trauma
• Orthopedic trauma
• Soft tissue trauma
• Head, facial, neck, and spine trauma
• Nervous system trauma
• Special considerations in trauma
• Environmental emergencies
• Multi-system trauma
• Inhaled injuries

Topics Include:

• Obstetrics
• Childbirth
• Neonatal care
• Birth defects
• Pediatrics
• Geriatrics

There will be an exam review during the last two class sessions.

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and paramedics care for the sick or injured in emergency medical settings. People’s lives often depend on their quick reaction and competent care. EMTs and paramedics respond to emergency calls, perform medical services, and transport patients to medical facilities.

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and paramedics work both indoors and outdoors, in all types of weather. Their work is physically strenuous and can be stressful, sometimes involving life-or-death situations and patients who are suffering.

All EMTs and paramedics must complete a formal training program. All states require EMTs and paramedics to be licensed; requirements vary by state. The first step in becoming an EMT is to enroll in an approved EMT training program.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the median annual wage of EMTs and paramedics was $32,670 in May 2016.

Employment of EMTs and paramedics is expected to grow by 33 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations.

The single most important goal of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) is to offer assurance that EMS personnel providing treatment to patients—at their highest moment of need—are competent. The NREMT accomplishes this goal with a staff that includes highly qualified EMS experts who understand what is involved in treating patients in the out-of-hospital setting. They are responsible for implementing a process that involves meeting specific requirements. This is necessary due to the sensitive nature of the EMS profession and the level of trust placed on EMS personnel.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 241,200 people were employed as EMTs in 2014.

Most EMTs and paramedics work full-time and receive benefits. About one-third worked more than full-time in 2010. Because EMTs and paramedics must be available to work in emergencies, they may work overnight and on weekends. Some EMTs and paramedics are volunteers and have varied work schedules.

Currently, no CSULB academic credit is awarded for enrolling in the CSULB EMT program.

• Individuals who want to become Emergency Medical Technicians or paramedics
• Individuals who are considering careers in law enforcement or public health
• Individuals who are considering careers as lab technicians, dental assistants, medical assistants, and surgical technologists
• Emergency medical services personnel
• Military personnel
• Emergency managers
• Public health practitioners

CSULB EMT faculty work as practitioners in hospital settings. EMT skills instructors work as practicing Emergency Medical Technicians.

There is no enrollment deadline but you should enroll as soon as you know you want to join the program. Class size is limited, so enroll early. If the program fills up, you can ask to be placed on a waiting list or enroll in a subsequent semester.

Classes are small and students receive individualized attention. Currently, we are enrolling only about 20 students in the program each semester. Small classes help faculty adapt to the needs and interests of students more easily, making students more interested in learning. If a student has difficulty with a particular concept, they are much less likely to fall through the cracks. In addition, smaller classes promote better faculty/student relations, which encourage students to seek help when they need it.

Yes. You will need to complete 12 hours of hospital clinical experience plus 12 hours of ambulance ride-along experience during the course, with a total of 10 documented patient contacts. Before you will be permitted to participate in these hospital and ambulance clinical activities, you will need to meet the following requirements.

 1.     Students are required to have a current completion card for an American Heart Association (AHA) BLS Healthcare Provide course or American Red Cross (ARC) Professional Rescuer course. Include a copy of both the front and back of the card.

2.     Students must submit proof of the following by the 8th week of class:

a.     Background check – Live Scan fingerprinting

b.     Health clearance - A signed and dated form from a physician within six months before the start of class specifying that you can participate in the clinical portion of the EMT program without physical limitation. Print and use the form called Physical Clearance Form provided in Section #8 of this booklet.

c.      Hepatitis B Vaccine, titer or declination

d.     Influenza vaccine or declination

e.     Current measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) immunization or titer

f.       Tuberculosis (TB) screening – annual

g.     Current combined  Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis vaccine – Td/Tdap

h.     Current varicella (chicken pox or VZV) immunization

i.       Proof of health insurance (copy of front and back of card)

j.       Completion of HIPAA privacy and security rules module (this is a homework assignment)

You can meet most of these requirements on campus through University Student Health Services (medical requirements) and the Police Station (fingerprinting requirement).

Yes. See above. For proof of medical/physical requirements, students may use their own physician or they may use the services of the University Student Health Services (SHS). As of fall 2012, non-credit students pay $15 per visit plus the cost of services, such as immunization shots. If using Student Health Services, you must bring a government issued photo ID or College ID to all appointments. More information is available on the SHS website.

Yes. The University Policy Department can assist you in meeting your Live Scan Fingerprinting requirement. The Live Scan hours are 1 to 4 pm, Monday through Thursday, at the main station located at the south end of lot 11C. The cost is $20 plus DOJ fees. Cash, check or money order accepted. Reservations cannot be made. More information is available on the University website. Or, for other locations see the comprehensive list of Live Scan providers on the California DOJ website.

Yes. Students need to provide evidence of having current health insurance.

Yes. EMT students can receive discounted rates for professional liability insurance. You can search for providers on your own. However, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) has endorsed the Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO) for liability insurance (about $20) per year for EMS Basic students. More information can be found on the HPSO website.