San Diego County

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Schools

In order to become an EMT you must first pass a CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) course, then the semester-long EMT class. Earning the CPR card is considered your prerequisite coursework before you can enroll for an EMT class.

In your CPR course, you’ll learn basic human anatomy, one and two person CPR, infant CPR, how to use airway adjuncts and airway delivery methods, along with learning how to use the AED (Automated External Defibrillator). This is, in it’s most basic form, an 8-10 hour course. Some institutions have decided to absorb the CPR training into a larger First Aid/First Responder type of class that lasts one semester. Either route you decide to take will be fine, given you are meeting the prerequisite requirements of the EMT class you hope to attend when you’re done.

CPR / First Responder Courses

EMSTA

* 1 day course – AHA for Healthcare Providers

IVC

* CPR card earned as part of EMT class

Palomar

* 1 day course: EME 55 – CPR for Healthcare Providers

* 17 week course: EME 100 – Advanced First Aid

Southwestern

* 8 or 18 week course: EMT 100 – AHA for Healthcare Provider

* 18 week course: HLTH 110 – AHA for Healthcare Provider

Private Provider

* American Heart Association (AHA)

* American Red Cross

EMT prerequisite requirements

CPR card only:

* EMSTA

* Miramar

* Palomar

CPR card & valid First Aid/First Responder Course:

* Southwestern

In EMT class you’ll build on your existing knowledge, learning more about human anatomy and physiology, bleeding control, airway management, patient assessment and more. This is a hands-on class; you can expect to interact with your fellow students and professionals in the field on a regular basis. In addition to attending class and passing written exams, you’ll perform skills in front of proctors on a few days during the semester. Finally, you’ll be expected to go on one 8-12 hour ride-along with an ambulance crew, and complete one 8-12 hour shift at a local emergency room.

When the semester is complete, you’ll take one test to pass the class, and another to gain your National Registry certification. This National Registry cert is important because you’ll need it to get a San Diego County EMT registration card, which will be a requirement of each job that you apply to in San Diego County.

Jobs

As an EMT there are many jobs available to you in San Diego County and the surrounding region. The list below includes the most common jobs for an EMT:

• Ambulance company
• Hospital Emergency Room Technician (aka E.R. Tech)
• Event staffing
• Fire Departments (Volunteer, Reserve, Seasonal, Full-Time)

Are these all the options that are available to you once you’ve earned your EMT card? No, in fact some people go on to become lifeguards, nurses or doctors after their EMT class, but these 4 options are the most common. Learn more about the EMT job opportunities in the County at “EMT Jobs“.

If your goal is to become a Paramedic or FirefighterMedic then you’ll want to get a job on an ambulance, as you’ll need to show proof of working 6-12 months on one before gaining admission into most paramedic schools. Getting some experience behind the wheel of an ambulance will likely help you in a fire department job you may get in the future too, as most departments have an ambulance you’ll be expected to operate at some point.

Prehospital EMT work experience required for Paramedic school:

• EMSTA – One year, full time equivalent, EMT experience
• IVC – One year experience as EMT-I (aka EMT-B) or EMT-II
• Palomar – One year full-time experience (2080 hours)
• Southwestern – One year full-time, pre-hospital experience (minimum 2100 hrs)

If you seek employment in an emergency room, a position in one of San Diego County’s trauma centers could potentially give you the best exposure to critical patients, as there is a full trauma team and surgeon on staff 24/7 to address any emergency that may present. If your goal is to one day work in the field (responding to 911 calls), this hospital time can also be valuable to you as you’ll build an understanding of the entire emergency medical response framework within the County, from responding to the call all the way to the hospital bed.

Event staffing can not only be a fun way to meet people and attend such things as concerts, games or festivals, but it also may provide you the opportunity to respond to a true emergency as the first responder at that facility. Gaining patient assessment experience, as well as having an opportunity to give a turnover to the responding transport Paramedics can be a valuable experience for you at the beginning of your career.

If you aspire to work as a Firefighter, most agencies within San Diego County require you to have an EMT certificate at a minimum. The volunteer fire agencies in the County are the exception to this rule – most do not currently require EMT as a prerequisite to apply. You may refer to the following list of county fire agencies and their corresponding medical training requirements.

Note: To apply for a position within a Volunteer fire agency, you must now submit an application to the San Diego County Fire Authority. Applications can be mailed, or submitted in person at CAL FIRE San Diego Headquarters. The exception to this rule is Elfin Forest/Harmony Grove – you must apply in person at this fire agency.

No medical training required in order to apply:

• Borrego Springs – Volunteer
• Boulevard – Volunteer
• Campo – Volunteer
• Cuyamaca – Volunteer
• De Luz – Volunteer
• Dehesa – Volunteer
• Intermountain – Volunteer
• Julian/Cuyamaca – Volunteer
• Mount Laguna – Volunteer

• Ocotillo Wells – Volunteer
• Palomar Mountain – Volunteer
• Pine Valley – Volunteer
• Rainbow – Volunteer
• Ranchita – Volunteer
• San Pasqual – Volunteer
• Santa Ysabel – Volunteer
• Shelter Valley – Volunteer
• Sunshine Summit/Warner Springs – Volunteer

EMT certificate required:

• Barona
• Borrego Springs
• Boulevard
• CAL FIRE
• Camp Pendleton
• Campo – Indian Res
• Chula Vista
• Elfin Forest – Volunteer
• Federal Fire
• Julian/Cuyamaca
• Mesa Grande – Indian Res
• Miramar
• Nascco Shipyard
• National City
• North County – Indian Res
• Pala

• Pala – Indian Res
• Pechanga – Indian Res
• Ramona
• Rincon – Indian Res
• Salton City
• San Diego City
• San Onofre
• San Pasqual – Indian Res
• Sycuan – Indian Res
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife
• U.S. Forest Service
• Valley Center
• Viejas
• Viejas – Indian Res

PM certificate required:

• Alpine
• Bonita/Sunnyside
• Carlsbad
• Coronado
• Del Mar
• East County
• El Cajon
• Encinitas
• Escondido
• Imperial Beach

• La Mesa
• Lakeside
• Lemon Grove
• North County
• Oceanside
• Poway
• Rancho Sante Fe
• San Marcos
• San Miguel
• Solana Beach
• Santee
• Vista