The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course is designed to prepare individuals to render pre hospital Basic Life Support (BLS) care at the scene of an emergency and during transport of the sick and injured. Instruction will cover the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (attitude) aspects of pre-hospital EMS, with the goal of developing proficient and compassionate emergency healthcare professionals who conduct themselves with integrity and humility.
EMT students will be required to obtain the following titers/immunizations/vaccines in order to complete program clinical requirements. It is highly encouraged to get started as soon as you are registered for EMT 207 and EMT 207C.
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
Varicella
TDAP
Hepatitis B
TB skin test
COVID-19 vaccine/booster
Seasonal flu shot (when available)
EMT students are required to complete the following items. Failure to do so within the deadlines listed will result in you not moving forward in the program.
Immunizations/Titers/Physical
Spring 2025 Due Date: 1/21/25
Summer 2025 Due Date: TBD
All EMT students are required to obtain a “Program Clearance” through the Student Health & Wellness Center, to do so you must make a telehealth appointment at https://studenthealth.saddleback.edu. This appointment will provide you with the information and necessary immunizations and titers required for your individual needs. Once you have completed your Telehealth appointment, the RN will discuss your options and needs for your Program Clearance. If you are not registered in any courses at Saddleback this semester, the link above will not let you proceed to making an appointment, please contact the Student Health & Wellness Center at (949) 582-4606 to make the telehealth appointment by phone. Click here to view the Student Health & Wellness Center office hours.
Required immunizations, titers, physical are listed on the packet. You may choose to use your own health care provider or get this done through the health center. If you use your own healthcare provider, they must fill out the “Evaluation & Recommendation” page included in your “Mandatory Health Assessments” packet. Once signed by your physician, you will submit this to the health center via fax.
All immunizations and lab results must be faxed to (949) 582-4227; cannot be emailed, as it is not HIPAA compliant for health care records. If you do not have access to a fax, you can download a fax app through your phone. You may also mail it (but fax is preferred):
Student Health Center-SSC 177 28000 Marguerite Parkway Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Program Clearances can take up to 3 months for necessary immunizations and or titers to be completed. Please do not delay in making your appointments. If you have any questions, please call the Student Health & Wellness Center at (949) 582-4606. YOU DO NOT NEED TO SUBMIT PROGRAM CLEARANCE TO US. THE HEALTH CENTER WILL EMAIL YOU A COPY AND CC US.
Health Insurance
Due Date: Must be valid for the semester in which the EMT program is taken.
Proof of health insurance is required. Students who do not have health insurance will need to find a basic plan that covers them through the semester. Individual plans can be found on the web at Covered California, Kaiser, Anthem, Blue Shield, Medi-cal, etc.
COVID Vaccine
At this time, the EMT clinical sites that provide clinical hours and patient contacts require all vaccinations including Covid-19 (primary series and one booster)
CastleBranch Background/Drug Test and Compliance Tracker
Spring 2025 Due Date: 1/21/25
Summer 2025 Due Date: TBD
All students will be required to complete a background/drug test and purchase the compliance tracker. To place an order visit: https://discover.castlebranch.com/.
Instructions
Select "Place order" at the top right of page. Enter package code: SJ40bgdtim. Within 24 hours of your order being placed, CastleBranch will register you to take your test with a lab in your area. Allow 5-7 days for results. The results will be sent to Saddleback automatically. YOU DO NOT NEED TO SUBMIT ANYTHING FOR THIS. We have access to see the results upon completion and will be tracking this.
Once completed, you may view the report by accessing your account on the Castle Branch website. Your order will show "In Process" until it has been completed. The EMT Program Director has secure access to your account and will confirm that it has cleared via the website. If there are any problems, the EMT Program Director will contact you to discuss them with you confidentially. Similarly, if you have any concerns, you may contact the EMT Program Director to discuss them confidentially.
Instructions on which documents need to be uploaded to the compliance tracker will be given in class.
Basic Life Support/CPR Card
Due Date: Prior to the first day of class every semester
Prior to the first day of class, you are required to have a valid BLS CPR card, must be through the American Heart Association (no other providers accepted) throughout the entire length of the program.
You can do the BLS Provider course at any authorized AHA Training Center, which you can find at https://cpr.heart.org, or check out the list below for some AHA Training Centers in the Orange County area. Please note that The CPR Lady will give a 10% discount to all Saddleback EMT students (when registering, use Promo Code “SADDLEBACK”)
To obtain your student ID card, you must be registered in a course at Saddleback. You may do so online or in person in the Admissions & Records office located in SSC 102 – see the Admissions & Records page for details. Once completed, the Admissions & Records office will print and distribute your card. You will carry your Student ID card on you in skill/clinical days.
Uniform
Due Date: Prior to the first skills day, every semester
We will address your attire for clinical on the first day of class during orientation. White cotton polo top, $20+; dark blue bottoms, $30+; dark athletic shoes, $25+ (prices are estimates).
COURSE TEXTBOOK & ONLINE ACCESS CODE – Our EMT course uses the Jones & Bartlett online “Navigate 2 PREMIER Access” system, which includes an electronic version of the course textbook. The textbook is “Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, 12th Edition.” You have 3 options depending on whether or not you want a hardcopy version of the textbook (all options include the Navigate 2 Premier Access Code that you will need for most of the course assignments):
Option 1
HARDCOPY TEXTBOOK Saddleback College Bookstore
Includes Navigate 2 Premier Access Code
Navigate 2 includes eTextbook
You should have the required course materials (textbook and access code) by the first day of class so that you do not fall behind. Also, chapters 5 and 6 are extremely important to your success in the course because they focus on the foundational topics of anatomy, physiology, and terminology. Therefore, we recommend reading these chapters multiple times, and studying them thoroughly, before the first day of class. Remember to purchase the PREMIER level package/access code (Not “Advantage,” Not “Essentials”).
NOTE: Students will have access to the Navigate 2 system and all of its learning resources for 1 year after the access code has been activated.
Certification and Employment Opportunities
Upon successful completion of EMT 207/207C and the NREMT examination, the student will be eligible for certification as an EMT. There are additional requirements and costs for certification that will be discussed in class, or you may call the Orange County Emergency Medical Services Agency (OCEMS) for more information. Employment opportunities are available with ambulance companies, in hospitals and with other organizations such as ski patrol and lifeguards.
Other EMT Education Opportunities
If you plan to become a Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic (MICP), you will need at least one year of full time work experience as an EMT, ideally on an ambulance that responds to 911 calls. Saddleback College offers a Paramedic Preparatory Course (EMT 219), which is highly recommended if you are planning to enroll in the Paramedic Program, and which can also be used to meet EMT Continuing Education requirements.
The estimated cost of attendance at Saddleback College includes an estimate for tuition and fees, books and supplies as well as basic living expenses like food and housing, and personal and miscellaneous expenses. Your actual expenses may be higher or lower than the amounts listed below.
Expenses
Living With Parents (2 Semesters)
Living Away from Parents (2 semesters)
Tuition & Fees
$1,432
$1,432
Books & Supplies
$1,062
$1,062
Living Expenses: Food & Housing
$14,480
$25,916
Personal & Misc.
$4,059
$4,968
Transportation
$1,791
$1,962
Total Resident
$22,824
$35,340
Total Non-Resident
$35,124
$47,640
Expenses
Living with Parents
Living Away from Parents
Tuition & Fees
$712
$712
Books & Supplies
$354
$354
Living Expenses: Food & Housing
$4,827
$9,276
Personal & Misc.
$1,353
$1,656
Transportation
$597
$654
Total Resident
$7,843
$12,652
Total Non-Resident
$13,993
$18,802
Expenses
Living With Parents
Living Away from Parents
Fall & Spring
Summer
Fall & Spring
Summer
Tuition & Fees
$1,432
$712
$1,432
$712
Books & Supplies
$1,062
$354
$1,062
$354
Transportation
$1,791
$597
$1,962
$654
Total Resident
$4,291
$1,666
$4,462
$1,723
Total Non-Resident
$16,591
$7,816
$16,762
$7,873
Enrollment Fee: $46 per unit
Based on 15-units for Fall, Spring and Summer
Health Fee $26 for Fall and Spring, $22 for Summer
Non-Resident Tuition (in addition to the $46 per unit enrollment fee): $446 per unit ($376 non-resident tuition fee + $70 capital outlay fee)
Estimated cost of attendance may be adjusted for documented circumstances such as dependent care expenses, purchase of a computer, and other special circumstances (except for students enrolled less than half-time)
