Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On EMT And Paramedics
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at South Louisiana Community College, Delgado Community College, and Bossier Parish Community College.
Student Body
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Southern University at Shreveport, Louisiana Tech Alexandria, Nunez Community College, and NTC.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Southern University at Shreveport and Bossier Parish Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of NTC.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Southern University at Shreveport.
Excellence
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at South Central Louisiana Technical College, NTC, Louisiana Tech Alexandria, and Delgado Community College.
Working as an EMT / Paramedic in Louisiana
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics are first to respond in the event of a medical crisis. A person of any age, sex, race, region or faith may rely on paramedics to provide immediate medical care quickly and competently. Read a detailed EMT / Paramedic job description and schools overview.
The Louisiana Association of Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technicians is a local chapter of the National Association of EMTs, an association that can provide professional development resources.
State Requirements
Louisiana requires that emergency medical technicians and paramedics meet a set of standards related to age, physical health, education, certifications, and exams. For the complete and most current standards please refer to State of Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals regulations. The standards are summarized below:
Basic Emergency Medical Technician
- Complete a Louisiana Bureau of EMS-approved training program based on the Emergency Medical Technician-Basic curriculum established by the U.S. Department of Transportation
- Must be 17 years of age to enter a program
- Must have a high school diploma (or equivalent) or be state certified as a First Responder prior to starting the course
- High school students should be enrolled in good standing with their high school
- Take a Bureau of EMS-approved standardized proficiency exam and demonstrate an eighth grade reading level
- Provide a statement less than 6 months old from a physician attesting to the physical ability of student to perform EMT duties, freedom from communicable disease, and immunization status within guidelines set by the Office of Public Health
- Receive Louisiana State Certification and National Registry registration (must be 18 years old to take the National Registry exam)
- Take a practical and written exam
Intermediate Emergency Medical Technician
- Complete a Louisiana Bureau of EMS-approved training program based on the Emergency Medical Technician 1984 curriculum established by the U.S. Department of Transportation
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- Enrollment is not allowed after dismissal from any EMS training program for reasons other than academic failure within 2 years of the start of the current program
- Students must attend 90% of total training hours
- Be a National Registered EMT Basic and State Certified EMT-Basic unless the Bureau of EMS grants special exemption
- Must not have a record of criminal felony conviction, or may have their conviction reviewed by the Bureau of EMS, the National Registry and the EMS Certification Commission
- Read at 10th grade level as approved by the Bureau of EMS
- Provide a statement less than 6 months old from a physician attesting to the physical ability of the student to perform EMT duties, freedom from communicable disease, and immunization status within guidelines set by the Office of Public Health
- Receive National Registry Certification and LA State Certification
Paramedic Emergency Medical Technician
- Be a Nationally Registered and State Certified EMT-Basic EMT-Intermediate unless the Bureau of EMS grants special exemption
- Take a Bureau of EMS-approved standardized proficiency exam and demonstrate 12th grade reading level and 10th grade math level
- Provide a statement less than 6 months old from a physician attesting to the physical ability of the student to perform EMS duties, freedom from communicable disease, and immunization status within guidelines set by the Office of Public Health
- Must not have a record of criminal felony conviction, or may have their conviction reviewed by the Bureau of EMS, the National Registry and the EMS Certification Commission
Major Industries
Most EMTs / paramedics in Louisiana work for fire departments, hospitals and medical centers, and private ambulance services.
Major Employers
A few representative major employers of EMTs and paramedics in Louisiana include:
- Charity Hospital of Louisiana (Hospital)
- Louisiana State University (Hospital)
- Ochsner Medical Center (Hospital)
- University Hospital (Hospital)
- Acadian Ambulance Services Incorporated (Ambulance Service)
- American Medical Response (Ambulance Service)
- Balentine Ambulance Services (Ambulance Service)
- Lifeline-West Calcasieu (Ambulance Service)
- Med Life Ambulance (Ambulance Service)
- Alexandria Fire Department (Fire Department)
- Bossier City Fire Department (Fire Department)
- Eastbank Consolidated Fire Department (Fire Department)
- Fire Protection Dist 4 (Fire Department)
- Lake Charles Fire Department (Fire Department)
- Monroe Fire Department (Fire Department)
- Violet Fire Department (Fire Department)
- Wards 1 and 2 Fire Protection (Fire Department)
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