Emergency Medical Technician

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Overview

This intensive 3-course program includes lectures, hands-on practice and techniques for: introduction to emergency care, bleeding and shock, soft tissue injuries, environmental emergencies, lifting and moving patients, emergency childbirth, and much, much more. At the end of the training, successful participants are qualified for the National Registry of EMT’s examination.

Program Outcomes

Apply knowledge of the EMS system, safety/well-being of the EMT, and medical/legal and ethical issues to the provision of emergency care, apply fundamental knowledge of the anatomy and function of all human systems to the practice of EMS.

Use foundational anatomical and medical terms and abbreviations in written and oral communication with colleagues and other health care professionals.

Apply knowledge of the pathophysiology of respiration and life span development to patient assessment and management.

Apply knowledge of the medications that the EMT may administer.

Apply knowledge (fundamental depth, foundational breadth) of anatomy and physiology to patient assessment and management in order to assure a patent airway, adequate mechanical ventilation, and respiration for patients of all ages, and apply scene information and patient assessment findings (scene size-up, primary and secondary assessment, patient history, reassessment) to guide emergency management.

Apply knowledge to provide basic emergency care and transportation based on assessment findings for an acutely ill patient.

Program Requirements

Emergency Medical Technician Application.

A Bellingham Technical College Admission Application is required before a student can register for the Emergency Medical Technician Certificate (after approval by EMS council).

High school diploma or GED certificate.

Must have a current Driver’s License.

After acceptance into the EMT Program but prior to registration, students must complete the clinical placement process and be at least 18 years of age. 

NOTE: Students will be charged a fee of approximately $119.00 for the background check, drug screen, and tracking of required health documents.

Proof of immunization or positive titer for the following: (SJH Contractual Requirement for all students) Rubeola (two immunizations or positive titer), Mumps (two immunizations or positive titer), Rubella (one immunization or positive titer), Varicella (two immunizations or positive titer), One TDAP immunization, Annual Influenza immunization – (to include location and date immunization was done). Record of Hepatitis B vaccine series (or declination form available at BTC).

Current American Heart Association BLS CPR for Healthcare Providers or American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer Card. (We require infant, child, adult CPR and training on an AED)

Current First Aid card.

4-hour Infectious Disease Prevention for EMS Provider’s class, or 7 hours HIV/AIDS education.

Successfully pass a national criminal background check.

Verification of health insurance, either personal or through an employer.

10-Panel Urine Drug Test.

Two-part Tuberculin PPD test within last 12 months.

Physical strength adequate to perform the normal functions of an EMT, including the ability to lift and move objects weighing up to 125 lbs.

If affiliated/sponsored: Application with attachments and signature from affiliated organization.

If non-affiliated/sponsored: Application with attachments and signature for non-affiliated applicants. NOTE: Non-affiliated students have one year from the completion of the course to meet the affiliation requirement to be certified by the State of Washington. Affiliated status with a fire department or ambulance service must be attained before participants are eligible for State EMT Certification. Students must also submit BTC placement test results.

Students must have access to a computer with high speed internet as many program components and testing are done online.

Students, either prior to entering the program, or before course three (EMS 123), are encouraged to have taken a Hazardous Materials Awareness course. It is also recommended only that students complete the IS 100.a and IS 700.a courses, available from the FEMA website (http://training.fema.gov/IS/) as the NREMT exam will address these areas in more depth than is covered in the EMT Program.

Additional Requirements

The EMT Program has a separate admission process from admission to BTC. Students must be admitted into a cohort before beginning EMT coursework. See the EMT Program Website for more information about current admission requirements and process.

Applications for program entry are typically due 6 weeks prior to the start of the quarter. Candidates from sponsored agencies are given priority consideration for program admission.

• Students are typically admitted for fall and winter/spring quarters.
• Students must possess the aptitude and ability to perform critical thinking in the field. Students with poor reading comprehension may need to improve their abilities before taking the EMT Program.

Applications may be mailed or hand delivered to:

Bellingham Technical College Attn: Billie Baker, HC206 3028 Lindbergh Avenue Bellingham, WA 98225

Degree and Certificate Requirements

Emergency Medical Technician certificate completion requires a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher and minimum grade of C/2.0 for required courses.

Programs

• Emergency Medical Technician Certificate

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