EMTs work in a pre-hospital environment for public-safety agencies (fire, police, lifeguard), ambulance companies, hospital emergency departments, clinics and allied health organizations.

The EMT provides the care necessary to preserve life and to prevent disability among the acutely ill and the seriously injured and assist and communicate with other healthcare providers with a higher scope of practice. Emergency Medical Technicians often respond to call where people have been involved with:

• Automobile accidents,
  
• Heart attacks,
  
• Gunshot wound​​​ings,
  
• Unscheduled childbirth,
  
• Drowning, and

• Other serious medical emergenci​es.
  

Course content covers cognitive, psychomotor and affective instruction.  Topics include: medical terminology; anatomy and physiology; pathophysiology of disease; assessment, stabilization, treatment and transportation techniques for medical and traumatic injury patients; EMS operations, Incident Command System; hazardous materials and terrorism response.

Successful completion of the EMT course qualifies the student to sit for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians' certifying exam. Once certified as an EMT Basic, the EMT can work in any County in California.

Graduates of the Emergency Medical Technology program are prepared for entry-level employment as a professional and very skilled Emergency Medical Technician to meet the needs of the local health care community. ​