EMT courses southern california?

U.S.A. California

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Specializes in EMT.

I'm attending a city college currently doing nursing pre req's and applying to nursing schools next year. Ideally I would like to earn my EMT license this summer in the mean time. I live in southern california, does anybody know colleges offering summer sessions around that area ? I'm willing to commute. Or can anyone contribute a summer experience story ?

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Hey there -

I'm a paramedic living in San Diego. There are a few good school down this way, but one of the best is EMSTA College in Santee. Palomar College also has a great program.

Hope this helps.

Erich

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I actually went to Riverside Community College's EMT program over the summer. (Now it is Riverside CITY college, though it is no different course-wise :p)

I loved my time there. They run it like an academy, and they actually have police/fire academy training going on at the same place. One of the main instructors for the programs is married to my clinical instructor, and I can say they are both awesome!

It is a short and intense program, but I liked it better that way. There wasn't really a need to study because you are completely immersed in the program... I learned so much by just coming to class, paying attention, and doing the homework.

The "clinical" experience was very fun too. We got to go with each of the major ambulance companies, the fire department, and also went to Loma Linda to watch babies being born.

I also think this was VERY helpful before I went to nursing school. They teach you how to do an assessment, and do it well. I felt ahead of the game in nursing school because I was more comfortable with it.

Sorry to be so wordy, but that is how much I liked the program, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in EMS/healthcare.

Good luck getting into nursing school and with the EMT program should you decide to take it!

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There's a private EMT school in long beach, when I went it was called school of EMT or something like that (sorry its been 9 years). Took me 6 weeks to get my cert. Might be a good place if you don't have priority at the community colleges it just cost a LOT more than a CC. I don't know if they still offer it but Daniel Freeman you can get your EMT in like 3 weeks which is another really expensive EMT program. Mt. SAC has a program that's really intense a couple of friends of mine just finished that one. They had taken their nursing pre-reqs already and found it helped them succeed in that program. And yeah EMT has really helped me through nursing school so far. I would definitely recommend getting it before starting a nursing program.

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Hi Ranaynay, my only advice would be to research your market well before spending the money and time to do this course (you'll need plenty of both). I took an EMT basic course because I wanted a cool job while I finished off nursing school. The course was not hard (but time consuming). I felt strongly that if I was going to be an EMT I didn't want to merely get a good grade I wanted to know exactly what I was doing (and why) so i studied very hard. However, I didn't research my market. Not only do EMT basics (in my market) make between Federal Minimum wage and $9.00/hr but oh, by the way none of the 4 ems companies nearby would hire me! Here they don't just want someone who is a basic they want someone who is going to go all the way through paramedic school. There's so many people who have their NREMT-B certification in northern Alabama (where I live) that trying to get a job as a basic is kind of like being Forrest Gump trying to get a seat on the bus. And if by some stretch of the imagination one does get lucky and get hired you're making less money than you would at a McDonald's drive through. Granted, it's not all about the money but it still stinks. Also, the national registry of emergency medical technicians were kind enough to change the way they do things recently. If you can't find a job by the time your certification expires (or you can't find a place to volunteer/don't have extra time to volunteer) they will not allow you to sit and take the test for recertification. They now require that you currently hold a job as an EMT-B or you are volunteering in a EMT capacity in order to recert.

The course was very interesting and you will learn a lot if you apply yourself. But be aware it is time consuming and summer classes are usually very condensed and this will make it even harder. I'm not trying to talk you out of doing it, but I would suggest that you research your market before committing to the course. I hope this helps.

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Where in Socal are you? I took my EMT Course at Saddleback Community College in Orange County, its an awesome program, highly recommend it. the only problem is they only have the course during spring and fall semesters. If you do end up taking your EMT during the summer session beware that it is condensed and will require lots of commitment. albeit i didnt find the class way to hard, it was fun really. and beware that community college programs are significantly cheaper than private programs. youll be shelling out a bunch to get your cert faster at the private program. and also be aware that it will cost you at least $200-300 to get certified

The job market in socal for EMT's isn't great but isn't horrible.. There quite a few openings out there but also a bunch trying to compete.. as long as your a good interviewer you should be fine. Its a great way to get patient contact time. and yes youll be making poverty level income but as long as you plan on bigger better things like Nursing or Paramedicine you should be fine. also your National registry cert lasts 2 years, so you have plenty of time before it expires. CA state also lasts 2 years. Since CA went to a state certification from county they raised their certification fee from $35 to $72 (GRRRRR!!!)

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Specializes in EMT.

Thanks you guys. I'm aware that the summer course will be no walk in the park. The minimum wage thing does not bother me, I want to do this for experience. Unfortunately traveling 3 hours is a bit out of my preference considering I live in Santa Barbara. I appreciate the feedback !

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Thanks you guys. I'm aware that the summer course will be no walk in the park. The minimum wage thing does not bother me, I want to do this for experience. Unfortunately traveling 3 hours is a bit out of my preference considering I live in Santa Barbara. I appreciate the feedback !

Yeah... after I posted all of that I found out you can click on names to find out their location. My thoughts: "Ohhh.... THAT Southern California!" lol! Yeah so coming down to Moreno Valley wouldn't exactly be realistic. All of what I said about the program holds true though. It will help you out a lot for nursing school and you will meet people and have fun :D

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Specializes in EMT.

Haha no worries not many people automatically think Santa Barbara when you say So-cal ! I believe you, it seems like most types of experience around the medical field will help in the long run. Thanks again for the detailed advice :)

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.

Moved to California forums

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Moreno Valley College (used to be a satellite of Riverside Community College) offers EMT classes, not Riverside City. Just a heads up because you won't find any of the classes in RCC's course schedule. The EMT classes are offered at MVC's satellite campus, Ben Clark Training Center in Riverside, CA. Ben Clark specializes in public safety and allied health vocation progams. MVC is the official Allied Health campus for the district, with the exception of RCC having the Nursing programs. HTH

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Sigh, the whole split campus thing is so confusing still. The campuses are still Riverside Community College in my mind lol.

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