Emergency Medical Services Training
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN BASIC CERTIFICATE PROGRAM:
Program Overview
The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Program is a blended course consisting of an online component, face to face lectures, and clinical labs. Students are provided instruction, on theoretical knowledge and skills, in symptom recognition and emergency care techniques pursuant to state and national protocols.
An EMT’s ability to react prudently in an emergent situation is a critical factor leading to positive outcomes in medical emergencies; the program utilizes real world, live patient simulations. Students will also participate in scenario-based patient assessments, dynamic problem-based group exercises, and larger Inter-Professional Healthcare Collaborations working with other healthcare programs on campus.
Our instructors have more than 35 years of prehospital and teaching experience and designed the program to prepare students for the current, rapidly evolving healthcare system. In addition to providing a firm foundation of technical knowledge students are challenged to be patient-centered, team-based providers. They are also exposed to inter-professional communications and critical thinking exercises to optimize the continuum of care.
Program Highlights
- Radio communications
- Report writing
- Vehicle extrication exercise
- Mass casualty incident drill
- Live patient simulations
- Stop the Bleed certification
- Ambulance Operations
Admission Requirements
- Age: Students must be 18 years old at the completion of the program
- CPR: Students are required to become certified in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) within the first 30 days of class. The certification must be at the BLS / Healthcare Provider level or equivalent, meet the current ECC/ILCOR guidelines, and remain valid for a minimum of one year beyond the course completion date. Westfield State University offers this course through the American Heart Association; the cost of the course is $75.00. To register, click on the link for CPR Certification below to see available upcoming classes. Students who take the course outside of the University will be required to provide a copy of their certificate to the program’s teaching staff within the first 30 days of class. Students who fail to meet this deadline will be removed from the course/dismissed from the Program, as applicable.
- FEMA: Students are required to complete Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) courses ICS 100, an introduction to the Incident Command System, and NIMS 700, an overview of the National Incident Management System. Both classes are free and can be taken online at https://training.fema.gov. Students are required to provide copies of their ICS 100 and NIMS 700 certificates to the program’s teaching staff within the first 30 days of class. Students who fail to meet this deadline will be removed from the course/dismissed from the Program, as applicable.
- CORI: Westfield State University seeks to provide a safe environment for those it serves, both on and off campus. Massachusetts laws and regulations provide that individuals convicted of certain crimes pose an unacceptable risk to vulnerable populations; therefore, all students enrolled in the EMT Program will be subject to a CORI check. Any student whose CORI reflects conviction of certain offences may be ineligible to participate in the EMT Program. Any student who refuses to consent to a CORI check, within the first 30 days of class, will be removed from the course/dismissed from the Program, as applicable.
- Email/Computer: Students must have a valid email address and access to the internet via laptop, tablet or desktop computer; mobile devices alone are not sufficient. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they have adequate access to the internet to complete the online requirements. For students without internet access, computers are available on campus and at the local library.
- ID: A driver’s license is not a requirement of the program. However, some employers may require a license if operation of an ambulance is a condition of employment. Please note: a government photo ID is required to take the state practical examination.
Accreditation & Certification
Our EMT Program is accredited by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services. To practice as an EMT in Massachusetts, individuals must successfully complete an accredited training program, pass both a state practical and a national written exam, and obtain certifications from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) and OEMS. Graduates of the program are eligible for both certification exams; the University hosts the state practical exam twice a year.
Click the appropriate link below to find out more information about upcoming classes and to register online!
