Schools in Orange County, California, with EMT Programs
Several schools in and near Orange County, California, offer emergency medical technology (EMT) and comparable programs of study that meet state and national certification standards. This article presents information on three schools and the EMT training programs they offer at the certificate and associate's degree levels. Information about the schools, such as size, graduation rate and campus setting, is available in a table that makes it easy to compare the schools. A listing of other area schools with EMT programs is at the end of this article.
- Orange Coast College (OCC) offers a basic emergency medical services (EMS) training certificate program.
- Mt. San Antonio College (Mt SAC) offers an EMT - Basic Certificate and an EMT - Paramedic Certificate as well as an associate's degree in EMS.
- El Camino College has a paramedical technician certificate and associate's degree programs.
Comparison of Schools
The following statistics about each school can help aspiring EMT students decide which institution might be their best option.
| Orange Coast College | Mt. San Antonio College | El Camino College | |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | Public, 2-year | Public, 2-year | Public, 2-year |
| Total Enrollment (2017)* | 22,156 | 29,960 | 24,349 |
| Campus Setting | Mid-sized city | Large suburb | Large suburb |
| Tuition & Fees (2017-2018)* | $1,186 in-state, $7,690 out-of-state | $1,349 in-state, $8,741 out-of-state | $1,142 in-state, $5,846 out-of-state |
| % of Students Receiving Grants and Scholarships (2016-2017)* | 54% | 69% | 64% |
| Acceptance Rate (2017)* | N/A - open admissions policy | N/A - open admissions policy | N/A - open admissions policy |
| Retention Rate (2017)* | 74% full-time, 54% part-time | 79% full-time, 59% part-time | 78% full-time, 53% part-time |
| Graduation Rate (Students began Fall 2014)* | 39% overall (12% transfer-out rate) | 32% overall (4% transfer-out rate) | 32% overall (10% transfer-out rate) |
Source: *National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) College Navigator
Orange Coast College
The college's Division of Allied Health includes programs that guide students towards careers relating to the medical industry, ranging from emergency medical services, and medical assisting to cardiovascular technology, radiologic technology, and speech-language pathology. All program curricula include not only classroom and lecture-based coursework but practicum requirements as well.
EMS - Basic, Certificate of Specialization
OCC's EMS-1/Basic certificate program prepares graduates to become emergency medical technicians after gaining the proper certification. Consisting of a single course, a lab, and a clinical internship that is completed in as little as one semester, the program is estimated to cost California residents $1,400 in 2018, according to the school's website. Pre-requisites include a physical examination, a criminal background check, and student liability insurance. All students must have been certified as an American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR in the previous 14 months or have passed the emergency medical responder course. The program trains individuals to care for traumatized persons in a wide range of emergency circumstances, with emphasis placed on transportation techniques for patients during pre-hospital care. All graduates are eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians' certifying examination.
Mt. San Antonio College
Students desiring to train at Mt. SAC as emergency medical technicians have a few options to choose from, all offered by the school's Technology and Health Division. The division offers programs of study in a range of fields including aviation, public service, technical design, and health occupations.
EMT - 90 Certificate Program
The EMT - 90 certificate program requires 8.5 credit units taken in two classes. Graduates are eligible to take the National Registry Exam and work in pre-hospital medical care. The program requires a background check and a physical.
EMT - Paramedic Certificate and Associate of Science, Emergency Medical Services
Students who have completed the EMT - 90 program can go on to earn the EMT - Paramedic certificate; those who additionally satisfy all general education requirements can also be awarded an Associate of Science in Emergency Medical Services.
Earning the paramedic certificate requires the completion of 36 credit hours, including 12 credit hours of skills training and practice through a clinical internship and a field externship. Course topics include anatomy and physiology, emergency cardiac care, and EMS theory. Students must pass a background check before registering for practicum courses. Graduates of either program are prepared to work in pre-hospital medical care, and are qualified to take the National Registry Exam and Count Paramedic exam.
El Camino College
Two program options offered by El Camino College prepare students for careers as an EMT - Paramedic. Both are offered by the school's Industry and Technology Division, which also offers options in fire and emergency technology and fire academy.
Emergency Medical Technician Certificate
With 170 hours dedicated to the course, students can earn a certificate as an EMT. Those that complete the program will be able to sit for the National EMT certification exam. Prior to entering the program, students must have basic life support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.
Paramedical Technician, Certificate of Achievement
Students wishing to earn the Certificate of Achievement take 33 units of classes directly pertaining to the major. Such coursework includes pre-hospital care, life support, medical emergencies, and traumatic emergencies. This program is a cooperative program with various organizations, and clinicals will be set up with area fire departments and hospitals.
Prerequisites for both the certificate and associate's degree programs include current EMT - 1 certification obtained in the last year and at least 12 months of experience in the position. The paramedic programs are available through a co-operative joint program between El Camino College and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Emergency Medical Services Agency, Paramedic Training Institute (PTI). In addition to classroom-based instruction, provided by and at PTI, both options require 11.5 units of clinical and field internship practicum completed at local hospitals and fire departments. The associate degree conferred is in fire science-paramedical technician.
Other School Options
Other schools in and around Orange County to offer EMT training programs include Saddleback College, Citrus College, and Loma Linda University. All schools are located somewhere roughly between 15 and 40 miles from Santa Ana, California.
