Imagine the opportunity to be part of the emergency medical services (EMS) industry in less than four months.
It’s possible at Laredo Community College, which offers several certificate and degree options to get trained for an EMS career and earn as much as $30/hour depending on the level of training and experience.
LCC is accepting applications now for spring 2007 admission to its Emergency Medical Services program. The deadline to apply is Thursday, Nov. 30.
EMS is a branch of medicine known as pre-hospital care responders who are trained to administer medical care to the sick and injured in pre-hospital situations.
In January, LCC is offering various avenues to get trained for an EMS career.
The ECA course is one option that allows students to get trained for a job as an emergency care attendant. The course focuses on training to be an ambulance driver or attendant.
LCC also offers an EMS-Basic Certificate, which students can complete in less than four months, a two-semester EMS-Intermediate Certificate, a two-year EMS-Paramedic Certificate and an Associate of Applied Science Degree for the Paramedic.
Students get to master the theory and skills of pre-hospital care through lecture, laboratory and clinical rotations at local emergency rooms and ambulance services.
Upon completing each certificate or degree program, students are eligible to take the appropriate national registry exam to obtain certification.
LCC’s EMS programs allow students to progress or exit through the curriculum, provided they have successfully completed the requirements for each level.
Graduates of the AAS paramedic degree can pursue a career as a registered nurse by getting trained through LCC’s Associate Degree Nursing Transition Track or they can transfer to University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio to complete a Bachelor of Science Degree in EMS either at the San Antonio campus or in Laredo through online classes.
Salaries for individuals with an EMS basic or intermediate certificate can earn anywhere from $6 to $12/hour, while an EMS paramedic with an AAS degree can earn from $10 to $30/hour.
Prospective applicants must have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher and be enrolled in their final developmental courses in reading, English and math. They also must have a negative criminal background. Interested persons are encouraged to apply early to ensure that they meet all of their immunization requirements.
For more information or to download an online application, log on to www.laredo.edu/healthsciences.
Interested persons also may call the LCC Allied Health Department at 721-5261. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Persons seeking training to be part of the emergency medical services industry have many training options to pursue at Laredo Community College. An application drive for spring 2007 admission to the EMS program at LCC is under way now through Nov. 30. Interested adults are encouraged to apply early to meet all admission requirements.
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