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Emergency Medical Technology

Cosumnes River College’s Emergency Medical Technology courses are designed to provide the student with the skills and knowledge to apply for certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in the State of California. EMT certification is the first step to starting a career working on an ambulance. EMT certification is also a pre-employment requirement for most professional fire departments.

Admission to a health services professional program is open to all students regardless of immigration status. For more information, please contact our Dream Center.

Certificates Offered

Emergency Medical Technician Certificate

Dean Kris Hubbard
Department Chair Samantha Juner
Phone (916) 691-7906
Email hubbark@crc.losrios.edu

Certificate of Achievement

Emergency Medical Technician Certificate

EMTs (previously called EMT-I or Basic) are the backbone of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system throughout the nation, helping to reduce injury severity and death at the scene of an accident or sudden illness and during transportation to a medical facility.

Students seeking to become a state-certified EMT should take the EMT 115, EMT 115 and EMT 116 courses. The EMT 115, 116 and EMT 117 courses fulfill the requirements for State EMT certification (NREMT) testing. These courses must be taken in the same semester to fulfill the state of Califonia objectives.

Cosumnes River College's Emergency Medical Technology courses are designed to provide the student with the skills and knowledge to apply for certification as an Emergency Medical Technician and are approved by the Sacramento County Health Department, Division of Emergency Medical Services, and the certifying agency for Sacramento County. EMT 100 course completion is mandatory for all personnel who wish to pursue State certification as an EMT. EMT certification from Sacramento County Health Department, Division of Emergency Medical Services is the first step to starting a career working on an ambulance. EMT certification is also a pre-employment requirement for most professional fire departments. Together with varying levels of actual on-the-job experience, it is often required for admission to Paramedic training programs throughout the state and country.

EMT State certification has also become an important first step in the career path of students pursuing professions as physicians, registered nurses, physician assistants, and other allied health professions, by offering a distinct advantage in patient assessment and critical interventions skills, as well as the ability to obtain valuable work experience. Cosumnes River College's EMT 100 students will gain actual experience by spending hours off-campus in operating ambulance units and in hospital emergency departments.

Highlights include:
* Hands-on experience administering proper emergency medical care
* Preparation for the EMT state certification test
* Recertification for EMT state certification
* First step in pursuing a paramedic license
* Hospital emergency room observation time and opportunities to “ride-along” in ambulances

Catalog Date: August 1, 2026

Certificate Requirements

Course Code	Course Title	Units
EMT 115	Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Didactic Introduction	1.5
EMT 116	Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Didactic Conclusion	5
EMT 117	Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practicum	1.5
Total Units:		8

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

SLO #1: Demonstrate and confirm knowledge of current information to work in the field of emergency medicine as an EMT.
The students will be able to analyze fluid complex medical problems with patients and then apply appropriate patient care based on a standardized decision making process.
Perform the skills and tasks of patient care and demonstrate proficiency on the basic equipment that EMTs use in the field.
Demonstrate critical thinking techniques and how to apply them to sick and injured patients in the pre-hospital arena.
SLO #2: Demonstrate and incorporate professional values and standards for medical personnel that the industry requires in pre-hospital emergency medicine.
Implement and maintain professional appearance and conduct in all aspects of program activities.
Perform patient assessment and care utilizing a team approach.
SLO#3: Achieve the basic educational requirements for most paramedic programs in the state. Most paramedic programs will require at least 1 year work experience as an EMT on an ambulance as an application requirement for Paramedic school.
Students will work in field clinical settings alongside experienced medical professionals and will apply skills and knowledge learned in the program.
Students will complete and pass the State’s EMT Certification Written Exam to achieve EMT certification.
Students will utilize recently learned skills and knowledge and comprehend the need for EMTs to stay current on the most up to date emergency medical information and training.

Career Information

EMT; Emergency Room Technician; Fire Service With additional training: Firefighter; Rescue Worker; Paramedic; Emergency Medical Dispatcher

Emergency Medical Technology (EMT) Courses

EMT 100 Emergency Medical Technician

Units:7.5
Hours:81 hours LEC; 162 hours LAB
Prerequisite:All EMT 100 students must have an American Heart Association BLS for the Health Care Provider CPR card (required under NHTSA and California Regulations) prior to the first day of class. We will ONLY ACCEPT American Heart Association CPR cards (or eCards) – BLS for the Healthcare Provider from the American Heart Association. Online CPR courses without hands on skills component are NOT accepted. The college will NOT accept Life Guard Training Certificates or EMR (First Responder) Certificates as CPR cards. The student must have a BLS for the Healthcare Provider Cards from the American Heart Association and we no longer accept Red Cross Cards.
Enrollment Limitation:Not open to students with a current California EMT - certification (license). California licensed Physicians, RNs, Paramedics, or military trained medics may be allowed to challenge the course under State law. Please check with the Program Director for more information.
Advisory:AH 311 and BIOL 102; Students should take an Anatomy and Physiology course or an EMT Prep course prior to taking EMT 100. Two subject areas many students struggle with in an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program are Medical Terminology and the Human Body topics, especially Cardiology and Neurology. UCLA EMS Education Program offers an Online EMT Prep course: https://www.cpc.mednet.ucla.edu/course/emt-preparation
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides instruction to the level of Emergency Medical Technician (Previously called EMT Basic or EMT-I). This course has additional financial costs that are required for clinical components. Topics include: skills necessary to provide emergency medical care at a basic life-support level with a fire, ambulance, or other specialized
service. Cosumnes River College’s Emergency Medical Technology 100 course is the primary step to provide the student with the skills and knowledge to apply for certification as an Emergency Medical Technician and is approved by the Sacramento County Health Department, Division of Emergency Medical Services, which is the
certifying agency for Sacramento County by the State of California. This certification is mandatory for all personnel who wish to pursue a career working on an ambulance. EMT certification is also a pre-employment
requirement for most paid fire departments. Together with varying levels of actual on-the-job experience, it is required for admission to paramedic training programs throughout the state and country. EMT students will gain actual clinical experience by spending time off-campus in operating ambulance units and in emergency departments of hospitals. Students will be required to complete background checks and drug screens, purchase uniforms and liability insurance, verify immunizations and have Tb clearance. Other requirements may be necessary for the clinical component of this course. The course requires students to work on an ambulance in the clinical component. Students may not have a beard or any facial hair below the lip to be compliant with OSHA
regulations. This course is conducted in compliance with the California Code of Regulations. A final grade “B” or better is required for a course completion certification in this course. This is an intensive medical class that students should possess a strong background in anatomy
and physiology as well as medical terminology. Students that do not possess both generally do not succeed in the course. It is STRONGLY recommended that students take a basic anatomy and physiology class as well as a medical terminology class prior to attempting this class. See Advisory. The EMT class has additional non-mandatory
hours for quiz reviews and skills practice that students are strongly encouraged to attend.
To become Certified (Licensed) as an EMT in California all applicants must be legal citizens, posses a high school diploma (GED), be at least 18 years old, pass background check, and have valid social security number. For more information please go to State EMS office website - www.emsa.ca.gov

EMT 102 Emergency Medical Care Refresher

Units:1.5
Hours:18 hours LEC; 27 hours LAB
Prerequisite:Current certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (1) or Basic.
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides continuing education and skills verification modules for current Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) certified at the Basic Life Support (BLS) level. It satisfies most of the refresher requirements of local, state and national Emergency Medical Services (EMS) certifying organizations. EMS related topics include airway management and ventilation, cardiac care and resuscitation, patient assessment, injury management, legal and ethical issues, vital signs monitoring and assisting with medication administration. This course is designed for currently California State certified EMT - Basic(I) and meets all state requirements for EMT (I) recertification by Sacramento Emergency Medical Services Agency. BLS (CPR) cards are not issued in the completion of this course. Students that have expired EMT certification should contact the instructor prior to signing up for EMT 102. This course does not provide preparation for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) entry or recertification exam.

EMT 109 Emergency Medical Responder

Units:3
Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
Prerequisite:None.
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is an introduction to the principles and practices of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS). It provides the knowledge and skills needed to integrate the care provided through the EMS system.

EMT 115 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Didactic Introduction

Units:1.5
Hours:81 hours LAB
Prerequisite:All EMT 115 students must have an American Heart Association BLS for the Health Care Provider CPR card or BLS Provider Card or eCard (required under NHTSA and California Regulations) prior to the first day of class. We will ONLY ACCEPT American Heart Association CPR cards (or eCards) – BLS for the Healthcare Provider BLS Provider from the American Heart Association. Online CPR courses without hands on skills component are NOT accepted. The college will NOT accept Life Guard Training Certificates or EMR (First Responder) Certificates as CPR cards. The student must have a BLS for the Healthcare Provider Cards from the American Heart Association. Red Cross Cards are no longer accepted to meet this requirement.
Advisory:AH 311 and BIOL 102; These advisories are not required but are only a suggestion for students that do not possess a strong background in Anatomy and Physiology or Medical terminology. Students are advised to take an Anatomy and Physiology course or an EMT Prep course prior to taking EMT 115. Two subject areas many students struggle with in an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program are Medical Terminology and the Human Body topics, especially Cardiology and Neurology. Other Justification: EMT is an intense Medical class with low student success for students that are not proficient in Human Anatomy and Medical terminology.
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This 8-week course provides the first step of instruction to the level of Emergency Medical Technician (Previously called EMT Basic or EMT-I). This course has additional financial costs that are required for clinical components. Topics include skills necessary to provide emergency medical care at a basic life-support level with a fire, ambulance, or other specialized services. Cosumnes River College’s Emergency Medical Technology EMT 115 course is the first step to provide the student with the skills and knowledge to apply for certification as an Emergency Medical Technician. Students must successfully complete EMT 115, EMT 116 and EMT 117 (taken in the same semester) to take the National testing to become a Certified (Licensed) EMT in the State of California. This course is approved by the Sacramento County Health Department, Division of Emergency Medical Services, which is the certifying agency for Sacramento County by the State of California’s EMS Agency. This EMT state certification is mandatory for all personnel who wish to pursue a career working on an ambulance. EMT certification is also a pre-employment requirement for most paid fire departments. Together with varying levels of actual on-the-job experience, it is required for admission to paramedic training programs throughout the state and country. EMT 115 prepares the EMT students to gain the required medical and operational EMS knowledge to work in the field. EMT 116 and EMT 117 (second 8-week courses - taken concurrently in same semester) cover the EMS skills and Experience by spending time off-campus in operating ambulance units and in emergency departments of hospitals. For classes, EMT 116 and EMT 117 students will be required to complete background checks and drug screenings, purchase uniforms, and liability insurance verify immunizations and have Tb clearance. Other requirements may be necessary for the clinical component of this course. These courses require students to work on an ambulance in the clinical component. Students may not have a beard or any facial hair below the lip to be compliant with OSHA regulations. This course is conducted in compliance with the California Code of Regulations. Students must Maintain 80% on all testing or better for a course completion certification in this course. This is an intensive medical class so students should possess a strong background in anatomy and physiology as well as medical terminology. Students that do not possess both generally do not succeed in the course. It is STRONGLY recommended that students take a basic anatomy and physiology class as well as a medical terminology class prior to attempting this class. See Advisory. The EMT class has additional non-mandatory hours for quiz reviews and skills practice that students are strongly encouraged to attend. For more information please go to State EMS office website - www.emsa.ca.gov. This course follows the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National EMS Education Standards (DOT HS 811 077A, January 2009). All requirements will be discussed on the first class day. Students need the required American Heart Association BLS Provider CPR course and should read as much of the EMT textbook as possible before the first class day. For questions please contact the EMS program coordinator: Matthew McHugh.

EMT 116 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Didactic Conclusion

Units:5
Hours:81 hours LEC; 36 hours LAB
Prerequisite:EMT 115 with a grade of "C" or better; All EMT 116 students must have met all the Class requirements listed in the EMT 115 syllabus to move on to EMT 116. The students must take EMT 115 and EMT 116 and EMT 117 in the same semester to meet the course and clinical requirements of the program to receive a State Approved Course Completion for EMT State of California Certification/License. Students must have and Maintain an American Heart Association BLS for the Healthcare Provider CPR card or BLS Provider Card or eCard (required under NHTSA and California Regulations) prior to the first day of class. We will ONLY ACCEPT American Heart Association CPR cards (or eCards) – BLS for the Healthcare Provider BLS Provider from the American Heart Association. Online CPR courses without hands on skills component are NOT accepted. The college will NOT accept Lifeguard Training Certificates or EMR (First Responder) Certificates as CPR cards. The student must have a BLS for the Healthcare Provider Cards from the American Heart Association and we no longer accept Red Cross Cards.
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This 8 week course provides instruction to the level of Emergency Medical Technician (Previously called EMT Basic or EMT-I). This course must be taken in sequence with EMT 115 (first 8 week course) in the same semester. This course has additional financial costs that are required for clinical components. Topics include skills necessary to provide emergency medical care at a basic life-support level with a fire, ambulance, or other specialized services. Cosumnes River College’s Emergency Medical Technology EMT 116 (along with EMT 115) courses are the primary step to provide the student with the skills and knowledge to apply for certification as an Emergency Medical Technician and is approved by the Sacramento County Health Department, Division of Emergency Medical Services, which is the certifying agency for Sacramento County by the State of California. This certification is mandatory for all personnel who wish to pursue a career working on an ambulance. EMT certification is also a pre-employment requirement for most paid fire departments. Together with varying levels of actual on-the-job experience, it is required for admission to paramedic training programs throughout the state and country. EMT students will gain actual clinical experience by spending time off-campus in operating ambulance units and in emergency departments of hospitals. Students will be required to complete background checks and drug screenings, purchase uniforms and liability insurance, verify immunizations and have Tb clearance. Other requirements may be necessary for the clinical component of this course. The course requires students to work on an ambulance in the clinical component. Students may not have a beard or any facial hair below the lip to be compliant with OSHA regulations. This course is conducted in compliance with the California Code of Regulations. A final grade 80% or better is required for a course completion certification in this course. This is an intensive medical class that students should possess a strong background in anatomy and physiology as well as medical terminology. It is STRONGLY recommended that students take a basic anatomy and physiology class as well as a medical terminology class prior to attempting this class. See Advisory. The EMT class has additional non-mandatory hours for quiz reviews and skills practice that students are strongly encouraged to attend. For more information please go to State EMS office website - www.emsa.ca.gov. This course follows the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National EMS Education Standards (DOT HS 811 077A, January 2009).

EMT 117 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practicum

Units:1.5
Hours:81 hours LAB
Prerequisite:EMT 115 with a grade of "C" or better; Students must meet all syllabus requirements in EMT 115 to advance to EMT 116 and EMT 117. The following requirements must be complete prior to the start of Clinical hours for EMT 116 and EMT 117: 1. The student must acquire the Student Access Card or an Official College Photo ID Card with ID holder stating EMT student. This ID must be worn as part of the uniform for clinical hours; 2. An approved Clinical uniform: all students going to clinical will be required to purchase an EMT 100 T-shirt and have dark blue work pants; 3. Criminal background checks with drug screen; 4. Blood borne pathogens training; 5. Immunization verification; 6. TB clearance: All students must have a verification of 2 step TB clearance no more than 2 months prior to the beginning of clinical; 7. A current American Health Association BLS Provider Card or eCard (required under the National Health Traffic Safety Association and California Regulations). Only the AHA BLS Provider Card or eCard is acceptable, as online CPR courses without hands-on skills component, or Lifeguard Training Certificates or EMR (First Responder) are NOT acceptable. Any other clinical requirement by the hospitals or EMS agencies; 8. A student must bring a watch with a seconds display each day to class; 9. A student must have the PPE, and other EMT equipment to participate in clinical hours. All of these requirements are a prerequisite for health and safety as mandated in Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 2 of the California Code of Regulations. Students must take EMT 115 in the same semester as EMT 116 and EMT 117 to meet clinical requirements to be successful in the program.
Corequisite:EMT 116
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This 8-week course provides instruction to the level of Emergency Medical Technician (Previously called EMT Basic or EMT-I). This course must be taken in sequence with EMT 115 (first 8-week course) and concurrent with EMT 116 (second 8-week course) in the same semester. This course requires students to complete ride along in ambulances and clinical hands on skills at Emergency Rooms of Hospitals. This course has additional financial costs that are required for clinical components. Topics include skills necessary to provide emergency medical care at a basic life-support level with a fire, ambulance, or other specialized services. Cosumnes River College’s Emergency Medical Technology EMT 116 and EMT 117 (along with EMT 115) courses are the primary step to provide the student with the skills and knowledge to apply for certification as an Emergency Medical Technician and is approved by the Sacramento County Health Department, Division of Emergency Medical Services, which is the certifying agency for Sacramento County by the State of California. This certification is mandatory for all personnel who wish to pursue a career working on an ambulance. EMT certification is also a pre-employment requirement for most paid fire departments. EMT students will gain actual clinical experience by spending time off-campus in operating ambulance units and in emergency departments of hospitals. Students will be required to complete background checks and drug screenings, purchase uniforms and liability insurance, verify immunizations and have Tb clearance. Other requirements may be necessary for the clinical component of this course. The course requires students to work on an ambulance in the clinical component. Students may not have a beard or any facial hair below the lip to be compliant with OSHA regulations. This course is conducted in compliance with the California Code of Regulations. A final grade 80% or better is required for a course completion certification in this course.

EMT 298 Work Experience in Emergency Medical Technology

Units:0.5 - 4
Hours:27 - 216 hours LAB
Prerequisite:None.
Enrollment Limitation:Before students can enroll or participate in the Work Experience program, Los Rios Community College District must have a signed Employer Agreement on file with the student’s worksite. If the employer already has an active agreement with the district (viewable at losrios.edu/wexpemployeragreement), no further action is required. In addition, students must have a paid or unpaid internship, volunteer position, or job that aligns with their career goals in the field of Emergency Medical Technology and a cooperating worksite supervisor who will sign all required course documents. High School students are not permitted to enroll in Work Experience courses.
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides students with opportunities to develop marketable skills in preparation for employment in their major field of study or advancement within their career. It is designed for students interested in work experience and/or internships in associate degree level or certificate occupational programs. Course content includes understanding the application of education to the workforce; completion of required forms which document the student's progress and hours spent at the work site; and developing workplace skills and competencies. Appropriate level learning objectives are established by the student and the employer. During the semester, the student is required to participate in a weekly orientation and complete 27 hours of related work experience for 0.5 unit. An additional 27 hours of related work experience is required for each additional 0.5 units. Students may take up to 16 units total across all Work Experience course offerings. This course may be taken up to four times when new or expanded learning objectives are introduced. Only one Work Experience course may be taken per semester.

EMT 299 Experimental Offering in Emergency Medical Technology

Units:0.5 - 4
Prerequisite:None.
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the experimental courses description.