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Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Do you work well under pressure and in stressful situations? Are you looking for a fast-paced career caring for others?

An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is the first responder on the scene of an accident or illness. They assess injuries, administer emergency medical care, extricate trapped individuals, and transport injured or sick people to medical facilities. The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program is a short-term training program that will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide emergency patient care and ambulance transportation to sick and injured patients en route to the hospital.

This program covers topics including patient assessment, cardiac arrest management, airway management, patient immobilization, diabetic emergencies, strokes and seizures as well as information about the emergency response system. This course is offered in cooperation with the Office of Emergency Medical Services and the Connecticut Department of Public Health and prepares students to take the exams to become nationally registered and state-certified Emergency Medical Technicians.

In This Course You'll Learn To:

  • identify and assess the patient's condition, providing appropriate emergency medical care based on findings
  • safely lift, move, position, and handle patients to minimize discomfort and prevent further injury
  • perform effectively, meeting job description expectations, and demonstrate the necessary knowledge and skills for an entry-level emergency medical technician
  • demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills, including the use of medical terminology
  • understand roles and responsibilities, apply ethical decision-making processes, and ensure compliance with NIMS, OSHA requirements and readiness to sit for the emergency medical technician certification exam

Additional Course Information

Ambulance Ride-Along Observation Hours: In addition to the classroom sessions, you will complete a maximum of 40 ride-along hours in an ambulance and/or in an emergency room setting. You must provide your own transportation to the observation assignments and should bring a packed lunch. A waiver signed by a parent or guardian is required for students under 18 years of age. These hours will be arranged by the instructor.  

Course Completion: To successfully pass this course, you must attend a minimum of 150 classroom hours, achieve a course grade of 70% or above, complete a minimum of 10 patient contacts with ambulance/ emergency room department hours and be recommended by the instructor to sit for the state exam.

Certification Exam: Upon successful completion of the program, you will be eligible to sit for the initial State of CT certified EMT examination and national board certification. This course includes one $130 voucher for the exam fee. The voucher does not cover any retesting fees/costs. At the end of the course, the course instructor will explain how to register for the exam.

Admission Requirements:

  • Must be at least 16 years of age (parental form required if under 18)
  • Must be 18 years old to enroll in the national registry

Please Note:

  • Additional requirements and vaccinations may be needed based on the clinical site. 
  • If you have a criminal record, access to the internship site may be denied.
EMT talks to patient in ambulance

Employment Outlook

According to the Connecticut Department of Labor, the 2023 average hourly wage for EMT/Paramedic was $23.34 per hour.

Upcoming Courses

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