Golden State Career Videos

Education and Training
The State Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Authority and county EMS offices certify EMT-Is, EMT-IIs and EMT-Ps based on the following requirements:

EMT-I: (certified by county EMS offices)
-- Minimum age: 18
-- Approved EMT training - 100 hours
-- Supervised clinical experience - 10 hours
-- Valid California driver's license
-- 24 Hours of Refresher training or continuing education every two years
-- Length of certification -- two years
-- Tested for recertification every four years
EMT-II: (certified by county EMS offices)
-- Minimum age: 18
-- High school diploma or equivalent
-- EMT-I certification and one year field experience
-- Minimum of 210 hours of approved classroom and skills laboratory
training
-- 96 hours clinical training & field internship
-- Minimum of 20 emergency advance life support patient contacts
-- Recertification examination every two years
-- 48 hours of continuing education every two years
-- Six field care audits of patient care records yearly
EMT-P: (licensed by State EMS Authority)
-- Age 18 with high school diploma or equivalent
-- Valid EMT-l/II certificate
-- 320 hours-Approved classroom and skills laboratory
-- Approved hospital clinical training -- 160 hours
-- Approved field internship - 460 hours with a minimum of 40 patient contacts who required emergency advanced life support assistance
-- Continuing education every two years - 48 hours including 12 hours of field care audits
-- Licensed by state Paramedics with military experience who are on the national registry are eligible to challenge the skills exam to meet registration requirements set by the State EMS Authority. Additional training may be required.

Skills & Other Requirements
EMTs and paramedics should be emotionally stable, have good dexterity, agility, and physical coordination, and be able to lift and carry heavy loads. They also need good eyesight (corrective lenses may be used) with accurate color vision. EMTs must be able to determine the nature and extent of the patient's condition while trying to ascertain whether the patient has preexisting medical problems. They must be able to follow strict procedures, and give appropriate emergency care and transport the patient. Some conditions can be handled following general rules and guidelines, while more complicated problems are carried out under the direction of medical doctors by radio.
EMTs and paramedics may need to be able to use special equipment such as backboards to immobilize patients before placing them on stretchers and securing them in the ambulance for transport to a medical facility, monitor a patient's vital signs, and gives additional care as needed. Some who work for hospital trauma centers, which use helicopters to transport critically ill or injured patients, are part of the flight crew.