Location and Sponsorship:

EMT Courses are co-sponsored by The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and El Centro College and approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Our classrooms are located on UT Southwestern's Exchange Park Campus located at 6300 Harry Hines Boulevard in the basement of the Chase Bank Building. Some exams and classes will be held on UT Southwestern's Main campus located at 5223 Harry Hines Boulevard and hospital rotations are held at Parkland Health & Hospital Systems located at 5201 Harry Hines Boulevard.

Employer Recommended Guidelines:

The following are recommended guidelines for employer's selection of EMT and Paramedic students. The student should:

a. Have the desire and willingness to provide emergency medical care in a wide variety of situations.                       

b. Have the ability to relate and communicate well with people.

c. Have a solid background in reading skills, math skills, and study habits.

d. Have the ability to use deductive thinking skills and act quickly and independently in stressful emergency   situations.

Emergency Medical Technician Classes:

Full time : EMT classes consist of 21 days of classroom (7:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday) followed by hospital/ambulance rotations and the NREMT skills tests. Hospital/ambulance rotations consist of 1 24–hour shift on a Dallas Fire Department Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and 5 8–hour shifts in Parkland Emergency Department , Labor & Delivery, and Children's Medical Center Emergency Department. The NREMT written exam will be administered following the last day of class. This class does not offer semester hour credit.

The Latest EMT Course Schedule.

EMT Requirements:

The student must satisfy the following requirements for admission into EMT class:

a. Minimum Age of 18 by Course Completion Date           

b. High School Graduate or GED Equivalency                   

c. Submit completed "Admission Information Form"           

d. Meet minimum reading and math Assessment scores (see Reading and Math Assessment Testing for alternatives).

No appointment is necessary for Reading and Math Assessment Testing (See El Centro Assessment Test_Instructions).

e. Completed Hepatitis B series vaccination (all 3 shots need to be completed before hospital rotations begin - 4 weeks into the course)

EMT Refresher Course:

EMS provider personnel may attend the EMT class to review information and receive CE credit as space is available. Cost of up to 80 hours in an EMT class is $200. These hours can be counted toward EMT re-certification. Fees for less hours and skill testing are available upon request.

Textbooks:

Textbooks may be purchased from our office at a discount. Required textbooks for EMT is subject to change from class to class. Check with the course coordinator for each class. The cost of the EMT text is typically no more than $70 and may vary. If you wish to buy the textbook from us, make a separate check payable to "UT Southwestern." We must have this money when you pick up the book.

Clinical Scheduling Fee (FISDAP)

We are currently utilizing a Field Internship Student Data Application that enables students to schedule their own clinical and field days, as well as share and track their experiences.  This allows the staff to monitor and track the students' progress in the field more efficiently.  The fee is $15 and payable to "UT Southwestern".

Texas Department of State Health Services Certification Fee:

A fee is required to register as an EMT in Texas.  The fee is $64 for EMT and the check should be made out to the "Texas Department of State Health Services" (TDSHS).  Prospective students will be required to indicate if they have any previous criminal activity on their records when submitting a TDSHS application.  All instances must be reported regardless of the state in which the offense occurred and/or time period since the incident.  All convictions, arrests, and deferred adjudications higher than a Class C misdemeanor (Class A, B, and felonies) must be reported.  It is imperative that applicants begin gathering information and documentation regarding the arrest and/or offense before class, as TDSHS may request copies which can cause a delay in your certification.

Effective January 1, 2007, NREMT has change to Computer Adaptive Testing and the fee for that exam is $70.   Payment may not be necessary until closer to the end of class.  The application procedure will be discussed with enrolled students.

Parking:

Parking is available at Exchange Park in the UT Southwestern lot. Students may purchase a parking card for on-campus parking and also for hospital rotations. This fee is $20 for EMT classes.

Malpractice Liability Insurance:

EMT, Paramedic students and Paramedic Transfer students are required to have medical malpractice liability insurance, either through their city or an individual policy. Certificates can be duplicated and attached to the "Admission Information" form. The course coordinator will assist the student in this process.

EMT SUMMARY OF FEES

• $600 Payable to:  El Centro College For: Registration
• $70   Payable to:  UT Southwestern For: Book(approx)
• $20   Payable to:  UT Southwestern For: Parking
• $15   Payable to:  UT Southwestern For: Clinical FISDAP Fee
• $70   Payable to:  Texas Department of State Health Services  For: State Exam Fee
• $70   Payable to:  NREMT  For:  National Registry Exam Fee
• $75   Payable to:  El Centro College For: Malpractice Insurance(approx)
• $90    Payable to:    Sur-Scan/Group One For: Drug screening/background check (approx)
• Total: Approx: $1005**

**Costs may vary, please contact the office for exact amount.  (NOTE: Payment should be made by check or money order, and you will need to bring a copy of the driver’s license of the person who has written the check.  El Centro will not take an out of state check; however, you may use a major credit card. )

Enrollment:

Please complete the attached "EMT Admission Form" for enrollment.  Your enrollment will be confirmed as space becomes available. We can confirm space when available or 45 days prior to class start date. We will confirm space in writing.

NOTE: Students who have failed or been dismissed from one of our courses are not automatically eligible to re-enter. Such requests must go through the UT Southwestern Admission/Readmission Committee and can be directed to Debra Cason. Priority for readmission of students is not the same as first-time admissions. Call Debra Cason for information on this process.

Admission Information Form:  

An "Admission Information" form will be enclosed with confirmation letters. The form and all stated enrollment requirements will need to be completed and submitted on confirmed students one week prior to the beginning of class. This form must be completed for all EMT and Paramedic students.

Included with the confirmation letter will be a handout entitled "Immunization Information Requirement." Students should verify that they have had immunizations and/or diseases through their own records, school records or parents prior to class. The Health Department or local physicians are sources for necessary immunizations.  The form documents a medical history, physical examination, and current record of the following immunizations:

• tuberculin skin test within the last six months (if positive, chest x-ray required within last 2 years)
• tetanus/diphtheria current within 10 years  
• measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)  - two doses of measles are required either separately or in combination with MMR.
• varicella disclaimer
• hepatitis B series - Students must have completed the Hep B series prior to the start of direct patient care or show serologic confirmation of immunity to the hepatitis virus.  Therefore, students must have completed the first 2 injections prior to registration for the program and are responsible for submitting documentation verifying completion of all 3 injections to the Health Occupations Admissions Office before class begins.  The 3rd dose must be 4-6 months after the first dose.  Health situations (i.e., pregnancy, allergies, and nursing mothers) which may prohibit the use of the hepatitis vaccine must be documented by a physician, and a waiver signed by the student.

Once accepted to the program, criminal background check and drug screening are required.  The results are forwarded to the El Centro College Health Occupations Division administration before the student is allowed to attend a clinical rotation.  This initial procedure will be honored by all hospitals for the duration of the student's enrollment provided the student has not had a break in enrollment (one fall or spring semester) in the program.  Previous documentation from fire department personnel records may be accepted.  Civilian applicants must initiate this process prior to the first day of class.  Guidelines are distributed through the El Centro College Health Occupations Admissions Office.  The cost for the criminal background check and drug screening for civilians is approximately $84.00.  Civilians will not be allowed to attend hospital or field rotations until the results of the background check and drug screening are received by the El Centro College Health/Legal/Distance and Workforce/Continuing Education Division.  For more information, contact Suriya Edwards, Division Coordinator at 214-860-2269. 

Questions:

Please contact the EMS office at (214)648- 5246.