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To Become an EMT
Jobs in the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) field are currently in high demand. There is a
shortage of qualified workers and many available positions to fill. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics,
EMT employment is expected to grow faster than average in upcoming years. This is due to a number of factors, including
the need for 24-hour care, and the aging of a large percentage of the population. Aside from job security, a career as an EMT also offers
you the chance to become an important part of your community, and to truly help people in their most dire time of need. The
following information includes resources available for EMT training within Whatcom County.
EMT-Basic Training Course
The EMT-B Course through Bellingham Technical College is one of the first and most
important steps towards becoming a certified EMT. Applications for the course are accepted year round at the EMS Council Office.
EMT-B Course Schedule
The EMT-Basic Course runs for approximately four months, Tuesday
and Thursday evenings and all day Saturday. The
program is offered twice a year. Students may not
miss any mandatory classes, attendance is
weighted heavily, and no more than 6 hours per
course missed is allowed. Students are responsible
for making up any course work.
Download the EMT-B Course Schedule for Fall 2011.
EMT-B Course Cost
EMT-B Course Entrance Requirements
- Must be 17 years of age prior to the first day of the course.
Students must be 18 by the end of the program.
- High school diploma or GED certificate.
- Current American Heart Association BLS CPR
for Healthcare Providers or American Red
Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer Card, or
comparable.
We require infant, child, and adult CPR and AED
training. If your card does not list
these four things, it is the incorrect card.
- 4-hour Infectious Disease Prevention for EMS
Provider’s class, or 7 hours HIV/AIDS
education.
- Physical strength adequate to perform the
normal functions of an EMT, including
the ability to lift and move objects weighing up to 125 lbs.
- 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.
- Successfully pass a Washington State Patrol
criminal background check.
- Current Drivers License.
- Verification of health insurance, either personal or
through an employer.
- Basic Urine Drug Test.
- Tuberculin PPD test within last 12 months.
- 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 requirements
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.
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