Education & Training
EMSA Academy Explainer
The EMSA Academy was designed to prepare new team members for the day-to-day responsibilities that field providers face in the EMSA system. Academy curriculum was created with newly credentialed and experienced providers in mind. There is always something to learn regardless of experience level: this is a fundamental concept that has been integrated into all training at EMSA.
There are two types of instruction provided to new team members: training in the classroom during academy and field training with a credentialed Field Training Officer. The EMSA academy is a 4-week course where new team members are exposed to the mission, vision, and values of the EMSA organization.
Team members in the academy classroom will have the opportunity to learn treatment protocols, geography, equipment, emergency vehicle operations, traffic incident management, system design, customer service, and company policy. After demonstrating competency in the concepts taught in the academy, team members begin their field training. Field training consists of up to 24 12-hour field shifts under the supervision and instruction of a Field Training Officer. Field training is where the concepts taught in academy solidify into practices that facilitate excellent patient care.
The success of new team members is the main goal of the EMSA Academy. In addition to learning the EMSA system, team members will also receive AHA certification renewals (CPR, ACLS, PALS) and all of the continuing education hours necessary to renew NREMT certifications. Once initial training is completed, team members will be equipped with all of the tools needed to take excellent care of patients and our community.
Paramedic School
Anyone can go to paramedic school, but not everyone can go to paramedic school where they work as an EMT. At EMSA, you can.
There are many benefits to going through EMSA’s in-house paramedic program. Scheduling is the hardest part of working full-time and going to school. You have to balance classroom, clinical, and work times, not to mention your family and personal time. In our profession, most people going through paramedic school are EMTs who work full-time for another ambulance service.
In the EMSA in-house paramedic program, your work schedule, clinical schedule, classroom schedule, and days off are all built into your full-time requirements. This means you are paid to go to class, study, attend clinicals, all while continuing to work as an EMT at EMSA. You have the full resources of EMSA supporting you including fellow team members, supervisors, managers, and clinical staff.
What truly sets us apart from other programs is the mentorship and development that you will receive as a student and a leader. Students that have completed EMSA’s in-house program go on to be some of our strongest paramedics and providers. It’s a competitive program and not everyone that applies will make it in, but every applicant will have the opportunity to better themselves. There have been several students that didn’t make it the first time and improved in the areas they needed to for the next class. They are excelling.
You are our most valuable asset. If you think you have what it takes, come and be developed into the paramedic and leader you want to be.
In-House CEU
For EMS providers, education does not end on graduation day. EMS providers must continue their education to maintain sharp skills and to keep up with the latest advancements in prehospital care.
At EMSA, we recognize that continuing education can be expensive and is sometimes scarce making it difficult for EMS providers to renew their NREMT certification and state licenses.
EMSA team members have access to monthly continuing education, and these classes will meet all education requirements for NREMT and state license renewal. Continuing education is provided at no cost to EMSA providers; in fact, EMSA team members are paid to attend these classes.