Emergency Medical Care

Overview

Emergency medical care programs teach people to rescue others and save lives.

Emergency medical care programs prepare people to respond to emergency calls. Students learn to give medical care at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels under the remote supervision of physicians. Students at the basic level can help emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Students at advanced levels can work as EMTs or paramedics.

Emergency medical care programs include topics such as:

First aid and emergency medicine field techniques
Patient stabilization and care
Medical field communications
Equipment operation and maintenance
Emergency vehicle operation
Emergency surgical procedures
Basic anatomy, physiology, pathology, and toxicology
Crisis scene management and personnel supervision
Applicable standards and regulations

Internship

During your training, you complete an internship in the field. During this period, you work under the supervision of a licensed paramedic.

Concentrations

In emergency medical care programs, students may be able to specialize in:

Emergency care attendant (EMT Ambulance)
Emergency medical technology/technician (EMT Paramedic)

Schools

Many community colleges and technical schools offer certificate and associate degree programs in emergency medical care. A certificate program usually takes a year of full-time study. An associate degree program at a community college usually takes two years of full-time study to complete.

Several colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees in emergency medical care. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.

Very few universities offer graduate degrees in emergency medical care. A master’s degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor’s degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master’s degree.

See schools that offer this program.

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Program Admission

Proprietary schools, colleges, and universities all offer this program. If you want to study at a proprietary school, you can prepare for this program of study by completing your high school diploma or getting a GED. If you want to study at a college or university, you can prepare for this program by taking the following courses: four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

All programs also require CPR certification, in addition to basic first aid training.

Before continuing to the next level of certification, you must have field experience either working as an EMT or assisting an EMT. The specific length and nature of the required experience varies.

If you want to get a bachelor's degree in emergency medical care, you usually need to take college-level science and general education courses before applying. These courses include:

Algebra/Advanced Mathematics
Anatomy and Physiology with Lab
Biology
Computer Science
English Composition
General Chemistry with Lab
Microbiology
Organic Chemistry
Physics
Psychology
Public Speaking
Social Sciences
Statistics

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Anatomy and Physiology
Community Health
Drivers' Education
Emergency Medical Technology
Health and Fitness
Health Education
Healthcare Sciences Work Experience
Physical Education
Psychology
Safety and First Aid

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

This program typically includes courses in the following subjects:

Ambulance Operation
Bandaging and Splinting
Cardiac Life Support
Crash Victim Auto Extrication
Electrocardiography
Geriatric Life Support
Human Anatomy
Human Systems for Assessment
Introduction to Pharmacology
Medical Emergency Care
Medical Terminology
Oxygen Usage
Patient Assessment
Pediatric Life Support
Pre-hospital Life Support
Pre-hospital Management of Behavioral Emergencies
Pre-hospital Management of OB/GYN Emergencies
Respiratory Care
Trauma Care

In addition, all programs include clinical training and fieldwork. Clinical training involves hands-on learning in a hospital or clinic under the direct supervision of a nurse or physician. Fieldwork involves riding with an experienced EMT or paramedic and applying the skills you have learned in the classroom.

Things to Know

This program of study is divided into several levels of training: first response, basic emergency medical technician, intermediate emergency medical technician, and paramedic. Every county in every state has different certification requirements for each level and the amount of time it takes to complete each level also varies from program to program.

Emergency medical care is a local service. You should contact your local emergency medical care provider to learn more about getting involved in your particular community.

You need a license from the state where you live to practice. Every state has an emergency medical care office that issues licenses to EMTs. Most states require that their EMTs first be certified by the National Registry of EMTs.

You must take continuing education courses to expand your skills and renew your certification.