EMT Online

[mikie333]

For the winter/spring semester at a local community college, they are offering an EMT-B course, a mix of online and lecture style. You are supposed to go over hte topics in the book and online, take online quizes (to submit to the teacher) and such. Every Saturday, you actually go to the school for the lecture/hands-on work (and there is a 48 hour cinical requirement, both Ambulances and ER's).

Since the the conceptual concepts of the EMT-B course are online, how effective will the course turn out to be?

In other words, is this a good way to learn/complete the EMT-B (both NR and Missouri State certification)?

Thanks

[RyanEMVFD]

Only past classes can tell you that. If this is the first then you're a guinea pig for the class. I couldn't tell you about others since I never took anything like that. It has worked well in the past for other courses so who knows. I'm glad they have some hands on stuff so you can learn some stuff that way.

Good luck and let us know how it is.

[mikie333]

thanks, i've really been wanting to take an EMT-B course and that is the only place i can do it. Since i'm still in school, i don't think i would be able to manage 2 nights a week, 6-10pm (for the regular on-campus class) ontop of the rest of my school work.

[hornedfrog2000]

I woudn't do it knowing what I know now.... Doing this class online is not going to save you ANY time. Trust me.

[TurkII]

I think that an online component of an EMT class can very effectively help someone through an EMT class without actually being in class..... as long as the student is disciplined enough to actually do the work.

For those that disagree... remember what your EMT class was like. You read the book, go to lecture, and the instructor spits back exactly what you already read. Then you take a test. So if you understand what the book says and can understand the test why spend the extra 3 hours in lecture?

Obviously some things can't be taught online. Airway adjuncts, splinting, lifting and moving, etc. But there are plenty of cognitive-only topics such as ethics & legal, A&P, pharmacology, medical emergencies, operations, etc.

This class is also requiring 48 hours of ED & EMS clinical - that about 40 hours more than any other class I've ever seen.

You should have no problem with this class.

[mikie333]

I woudn't do it knowing what I know now.... Doing this class online is not going to save you ANY time. Trust me.

i'm not trying to save time, just trying to take the EMT course while still in school and not being over loaded with work (take 2 night classes a week, 6-10pm), hence the online course, less time in class except for saturdays

[mikie333]

has anyone else had any experiance with an online/seminar emt-b course?

[mikie333]

I didn't realize the tuition untill now, it is roughly 700+ $ ...how much are EMT-B courses usually? I know some districts offer the course 'free,' and another course in the area is about $1,400

What has been your past experiance with pricing?

Thanks!

[fire78n88]

I think your success in the class will depend greatly on your learning style. With myself, I couldn't imagine taking EMT online. There's alot of knowledge to possess, as well as alot of questions to ask. I'm perfectly fine with the classroom setting, this may not be your style.

[mikie333]

in other words...is ~ $700 a lot for an EMT-B course?

[medic27205]

I didn't realize the tuition untill now, it is roughly 700+ $ ...how much are EMT-B courses usually? I know some districts offer the course 'free,' and another course in the area is about $1,400

What has been your past experiance with pricing?

Thanks!

All fire, rescue and EMS classes offered through the community college around here are "Fee Exempt" (ie free-- subsidized by the state) if you are already a member of a department, even as a junior member

[medic27205]

addition to the above... even if not affiliated with a department, the EMT-B course is $65.00 + approx 100.00 for your textbooks and materials

[mikie333]

addition to the above... even if not affiliated with a department, the EMT-B course is $65.00 + approx 100.00 for your textbooks and materials

dang! i wish mine would be that cheap

[emt161]

EMS education is bad enough as it is. Why are we dumbing it down even more?

[emsforlife69]

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[mikie333]

i see what you all are saying about it being online and whatnot (now, i havn't taken the course yet, but this is just like what it will seem to be)...there is STILL class time (the saturdays) and 48 (FOURTY EIGHT) hours of clincal (its 'only' emt-B).

[emsforlife69]

I supose if it consists of class room lecture, along with indept a pratical componant. I would say its a safe bet.

[emt161]

i see what you all are saying about it being online and whatnot (now, i havn't taken the course yet, but this is just like what it will seem to be)...there is STILL class time (the saturdays) and 48 (FOURTY EIGHT) hours of clincal (its 'only' emt-B).

.......so?

[mikie333]

.......so?

...so what??

[pkfd7505]

Mikie333 I recently completed a EMTB course not too far from St Louis. Most EMTB courses I know of around the area cost in the neighborhood of $700-$800. Mine ended up costing me around $1000 after paying for testing and books. As of January, MO only does computer based testing for the written exam, so the praticals are $70 and the "written" is $70. Add those plus the cost of your books, stethascope and any uniform costs associated with your clinicals to the tuition costs. Good luck and let us know how the online thing goes, I personally have mixed feelings about it.

P.S. feel lucky to only have 48 hours of clinicals, my program required 72.

[CaptainMikey]

I also just had a friend complete some EMT-B 2 week course. I still dont get how they cram all that in in 2 weeks.

[pkfd7505]

I also just had a friend complete some EMT-B 2 week course. I still dont get how they cram all that in in 2 weeks.

2 Weeks??? What did they do, go 12 hours a day 5 days a week? The course I took was 16 weeks.

[Riversong]

is this a good way to learn/complete the EMT-B?


Sounds ideal, other than the cost (which seems unreasonable unless you're a paid responder - won't your department cover the cost?).

Since the course includes a weekly lecture for interaction with the instructor (asking questions, for example) and a healthy clinical requirement, may as well get the rote learning out of the way on-line.

In all the EMT courses I've taken, it felt more like doing time than having an engaging and interesting educational experience. Much of it is simply memorizing and regurgitating. The important part is the hands-on practice and actual clinical (and on street) experience.

Good luck.

- Robert

[CaptainMikey]

I think the 2 week was from phoenix univ or some college somewhere. I cant find anything on it anymore, but there is a thread floating around somewhere that has info in it.

[700fireems]

I've known some folks who did the 3 week (5 days a week 8 hours a day not including rotations) course at UCLA. I don't know if they still offer it.

www.techproservices.net in Texas has an online course. They are popping up now all over.

I never heard of a 2 week course but that don't mean it don't exist.

[FTLAUD]

I know of someone who was in the military, and they took EMT-B in two weeks. I took it in 20 days of classroom (160 hours), plus 84 hours of clinical. It was part of a trial accelerated program for fire explorers, with the guess that since they already had basic EMS experience they would be able to handle the subject matter in twenty days, which met the minimum requirements of the state of FL, instead of over 15 weeks which most schools do. Most EMT schools here charge around 700 for tuition, with private schools (shorter) charging usually over 1000.

By the way, half my class failed their State/National Registry test....as a result, no more cramming EMT into 20 days. I will tell you this, without having the prior education I did in anatomy, biology, and being a first responder....the 20 day EMT class would have been a lot harder for me.

[IowaFFandEMT]

I just completed an EMT-B course here in Iowa this past november, and i just got my state license a few weeks ago (took the state test December 12th and got certification Jan 10th).

All classroom hours and 20 hrs ED clinical and 16 hrs of EMS ride time. I think the online thing sounds pretty good. Read the material at home and then do the quiz online, go to class on saturday and have hands on with the stuff that you read about the week before at home. I think the cost of the class was like $660 plus books and testing fees, so your $700 doesn't sound too expensive. Talk to your dept if you are on one, they should cover the cost of the classes for you. My dept covered everyting but the testing fee and as soon as i knew i passed the test they repaid me.

[700fireems]

My online program does work out well. I'm finished with all of my EMT-Intermediate assignments and am in skills practice mode and studying for final class final and NREMT exam.

It was great not to have to rush through a subject. Another one of the best parts is we use Paramedic textbooks/Materials and Intermediate Curriculum, so you are ahead of the game if you continue to Paramedic. Intead of learning what an Intermediate has to learn about Cardiac as an example, we learn up to the Paramedic level......A&P, Pharmacology and Pathophysiology included.

[TalkEMS]

in other words...is ~ $700 a lot for an EMT-B course?

No - fairly average.

Matt - TalkEMS.com (http://www.talkems.com/forum)