emt & paramedic COURSES

• EMT Program Overview
• EMT Prerequisites
• EMT Program Schedules
• EMT Costs

• Paramedic Overview
• Paramedic Prerequisites
• Paramedic Course Requirements
• Paramedic Licensing
• Paramedic Costs

EMT PROGRAM OVERVIEW

West has partnered with the UCLA Center for Prehospital Care to offer students educational opportunities in emergency health care. Through this partnership, we are able to offer college credit for both EMT and paramedic classes taken through UCLA. Please visit https://ww.cpc.mednet.ucla.edu for class schedule, application, registration, and payment information.

In Los Angeles County, the EMT and Paramedic profession ranks as one of the fastest growing occupations. EMT's and paramedics work in a variety of settings including fire departments, ambulance companies, emergency departments, ski patrol and lifeguarding. The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course is an important first step in a career as an EMT, paramedic, doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional.

To learn more about the EMT, Paramedic and other related courses attend a free Student Information Session. The information sessions are available on a monthly basis and are a great opportunity to learn about: career opportunities in Emergency Medical Services, what the programs offer, program prerequisites, how to enroll into the programs, how to succeed as a student, earn college credit, obtain financial resources, and much more.  The information is presented in an easy and friendly format. Program staff and faculty are present to answer all questions. To register for a FREE session, simply visit http://uclacpc.eventbrite.com for a list of available dates.

EMT Course at UCLA

EMTs are the entry level patient are provider in emergency healthcare organizations.  An EMT is a trained basic life support professional who responds to emergency medical situations, such as car accidents and heart attacks. EMTs assess a patient's condition and provide life-saving care until advanced life support can be provided by a paramedic or a physician in an emergency department. EMT patient care interventions include airway management, CPR, defibrillation, bleeding control and shock management, and spinal immobilization. EMTs are the entry level patient care provider in emergency healthcare organizations.

EMT Course Prerequisites

Students need to be 18 years of age to obtain EMT certification. Students need to complete the requirements listed below.  A complete list of requirements is available at https://www.cpc.mednet.ucla.edu/course/emt/details:

1. Physical examination and Respirator Testing Clearance
2. Vaccinations verification
   • Hepatitis B vaccination
   • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)  Titer, or proof of vaccination.
   • TB (Tuberculosis) Screening (negative screening within 3 months of the start of the course)
   • Varicella (Chicken pox)  Titer, or proof of vaccination.
3. Proof of personal health insurance while attending the course.
4. American Heart Association Healthcare Provider or American Red Cross Professional Rescuer CPR card.  You can satisfy this requirement by enrolling in Allied Health 21 or enrolling at a UCLA CPR course.  Dates are available at http://www.cpc.mednet.ucla.edu/course/bls
5. Students must have reliable and consistent internet access while enrolled in the course. 

EMT Course Schedules

We offer the EMT class (Allied Health 52) in 3 different optional schedules:

• 3-WEEK ACCELERATED (FULL-TIME)
• 8-WEEK WEEKEND
• 11-WEEK WEEKNIGHTS

Check the UCLA Center for Prehospital Care website for available dates and times to enroll:

https://www.cpc.mednet.ucla.edu/course/emt

Additional Costs

• $1,195 Instruction and facilities fee paid directly to UCLA
• $35 Administrative fee paid to West LA College
• Textbooks (approx. $100)

• Certifying Examination Fee ($75)
• Certification Fees (approx. $200)

Because these courses are short-term and are not offered over the traditional 16-week semester, Financial Aid may only be secured by WLAC Students if the student:

1. Qualifies for Federal Financial Aid and,
2. Is enrolled in the EMT course plus an additional 5 units at WLAC

Contact the West Los Angeles College Office of Financial Aid by email at wlacfa@wlac.edu or by telephone at (310) 287-4532 for more information.

PARAMEDIC PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Paramedics work as advanced life support providers in fire departments and ambulance companies. They are the highest level of prehospital medical provider. Paramedics provide life saving treatment such as IV access and fluid resuscitation, medication administration, cardiac monitoring including 12-lead EKGs, and other advanced procedures and assessment.

The Program is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs and approved locally by the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency.

Graduates of our Program have over a 90% first-time pass rate on the licensing examination and over 95% of our graduates are employed within 6 months of becoming licensed. 

The Paramedic program is full-time and takes approximately seven months to complete. Classes generally meet Monday through Friday for the classroom phase for approximately three and a half months. This is followed by the clinical internship which is scheduled at local area hospital emergency department for about 4-6 weeks. The program culminates with a minimum two-month field internship on an emergency ambulance with a busy fire department in Los Angeles.

To learn more about the program attend a free Paramedic Program Student Information Session. The information session is a great opportunity to learn about: career opportunities in Emergency Medical Services, what the program offers, program prerequisites, how to apply and be a successful candidate, how to succeed as student, earning college credit, financial resources, and much more.  The information is presented in an easy and friendly format. Program staff and faculty are present to answer all questions. To register for a FREE session, simply visit http://uclacpc.eventbrite.com for a list of available dates.

Admissions/Prerequisites

Interested students must complete a UCLA Paramedic Program Application to be considered for the Program. For an application visit https://www.cpc.mednet.ucla.edu/paramedic-application or contact UCLA at (310) 267-5959. Minimum requirements include:

• 18 years of age
• High school diploma or GED
• Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider CPR card
• State of California EMT certification with 6 months minimum work experience as an EMT at the time you submit your application. Those working as life guards and emergency room technicians qualify if you use your EMT certification and provide care to patients.
• Receive a qualifying score on the Program's entrance exam including a written EMT test and the online Wonderlic Examination.  The Wonderlic is a written examination that tests a students' ability in math and reading comprehension.  Test scores are valid for two years from the date you complete the exam.  You can sign up for the exam at: https://www.cpc.mednet.ucla.edu/course/paramedic-entrance-exam
• Receive a qualifying score on the application review that may include an in-person meeting with program faculty.

The paramedic program is offered 3 times each year starting in January, May and September. Applications are due 4-5 months prior to the start of the program.  You can find the online application and deadlines at http://www.cpc.mednet.ucla.edu/paramedic-application  

Again, to learn more about program prerequisites and how to be a successful candidate attend a free Student Information Session. To obtain additional information about the session and to register for FREE, visit http://uclacpc.eventbrite.com.

Course Requirements

All Paramedic courses are offered through UCLA. Enrollment is limited to students that have been accepted to the UCLA Paramedic Education Program. WLAC enrollment for these classes will take place at the start of the paramedic program. Your professor will guide you through the process to concurrently enroll in these courses at UCLA.

• ALD HTH 43CO Anatomy & Physiology for Emergency Healthcare Personnel (4 units)
• ALD HTH 44CO Introduction to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems (2 units)
• ALD HTH 45CO Patient Assessment & Airway Management (2 units)
• ALD HTH 46CO Cardiac and Medical Emergencies (6 units)
• ALD HTH 47CO Emergency Response to Crisis/Trauma (4 units)
• ALD HTH 48CO Medical Emergencies and Pharmacology (5 units)
• ALD HTH 49CO Hospital Clinical Internship (4 units)
• ALD HTH 50CO Field Internship (9 units)

Licensing

Students completing the paramedic program will be eligible to sit for the licensing examination offered by the National Registry of EMTs on-site at UCLA. The Paramedic Program's students have an over 90% first-time pass rate on the national certifying examination. Your professors will walk you through the licensing process. For more information on the certifying examination visit http://www.nremt.org.

Costs

• $9,500 Instruction and facilities fee paid directly to UCLA
• Application/Test Registration Fee ($50/$50)
• Textbooks (approx. $480)
• Laboratory materials (approx. $35)
• Clinical uniform (approx. $75)
• Certification/Licensure Fees (approx. $612)

Because these courses are short-term and are not offered over the traditional 16-week semester, Financial Aid may only be secured by WLAC Students if the student qualifies for Federal Financial Aid.  Financial Aid application and enrollment instructions are given to students when they are accepted into the Paramedic program.