California EMT and Paramedic Schools - CA

All EMT candidates must be at least 18 years old. To become an EMT-basic (EMT-I) in California requires at least 120 hours of training, 10 of which is clinical. EMT-intermediates (EMT-II) can offer limited advanced life support (ALS) and must have a high school diploma or GED plus an EMT-I certificate and a year’s worth of experience as an EMT-I. The EMT-II schooling includes 96 hours of hospital/clinical and field internship training (with at least 20 hours spent in ALS activity with patients) and another 210 hours in class and labs. EMT-IIs are only used in certain counties of California.

Paramedics must spend at least 450 hours in class and labs, 160 hours in hospitals undergoing clinical training and at least 480 hours in a field internship, including 40 hours of ALS contact with patients. That is a total of 1,090 hours of training, in addition to EMT-I training. Paramedic must also have a high school diploma or GED as well as an EMT-I certificate. Paramedics do not have to train to be an EMT-II before becoming a paramedic.

EMT-Is must take a 24-hour refresher course every two years or else earn continuing education credits in other classes. There are a number of California paramedic schools and EMT schools in California.

Through campus based and online programs, aspiring EMTs and Paramedics in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco, California may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including Laguna Honda Hospital, Community Regional Medical Center, L.A. County & USC Medical Center, and Huntington Hospital.