Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (Certificate)

8 credit hours. View Course Requirements for Certificate in Emergency Medical Technician-Basic.

The EMT-Basic is designed to prepare students to enter into the pre-hospital care field by participating in classroom lectures, performing skills in lab settings, and continuing the learning process in a field experience in the hospital emergency room and riding with ambulance services/fire department EMTs.

Enrollment Requirements

To register for the EMT-Basic course (EMT 101), students must meet the following requirements:

• Age 17 or older*
• High school diploma or equivalent**

*Per Illinois law, students who complete the program prior to turning 18 years of age will be eligible to test but will not be eligible for licensure until their 18th birthday.

**Students must possess a high school diploma or equivalent at the time of licensure application.

Registration for EMT 101 will close at midnight on the Sunday before classes begin.

Enrollment Considerations

Time Commitment

EMT 101 is an 8 credit hour/9 contact hour course with 7 hours of lecture time and 2 hours of lab time each week. This course can be completed in 16 weeks. In addition, students will complete 28 hours of clinical time outside of class, with the time split between a hospital emergency department and an ambulance in order to complete the course requirements and to be eligible to challenge the state or national exam.

Review the Essential Functions of the Job

Students enrolled in the EMT program must be able to perform the EMT essential functions (PDF) with or without reasonable accommodations. Any applicant or enrolled students are encouraged to contact Student Access and Accommodation Services to discuss any concerns associated with the program.

Clinical Requirements

Criminal Background Check

Criminal background checks are required to participate in the field experience portion of the course. Students will be required to complete an Authorization to Conduct Background Check form during the first week of class. Students with questions regarding background checks or questions on eligibility for EMT licensure may contact the McLean County Area EMS Office at 309-827-4348. View the list of potentially disqualifying convictions and information on a waiver process.

Students with results triggering disqualification will be referred to the waiver process. Students will not be allowed into the clinical environment until their waiver has been approved.

Health Requirements & Immunizations

Proof of the following current immunizations are required prior to being allowed into the clinical environment:

• TDaP (Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis) within the last 10 years
• MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)
• Varicella (Chicken Pox)
• TB skin test or negative chest x-ray (within the last 12 months)
• Hepatitis B series
• Influenza (current year)
• All students must provide a COVID vaccination card documenting completion of the vaccine within two weeks of the first day of clinical.  No exemptions are allowed per Illinois Department of Public Health regulations.

Insurance

All enrolled students are required to submit proof of current health insurance coverage or sign a statement acknowledging personal responsibility for medical bills that may arise from participation in the course or its clinical component.