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Emergency Medical Technician Program Details

Questions? Contact Us!

Joel Otte, BA, NRP
Program Chair
jhotte@dmacc.edu
515-964-6699

Why you should choose DMACC

DMACC instructors come to the classroom with over 60 years of combined EMT field and education experience and currently work for some of the largest fire department EMT agencies and trauma hospital based in the state. DMACC instructors have held ranks ranging from Captain to Deputy Chief in metro fire/EMT agencies and in many cases hold the highest level of pre hospital care certification that are available to EMT providers.

Upon successful completion of the EMT education program, DMACC graduates have one of the highest pass rates on the NREMT national certification exam in the State of Iowa. ​

EMT Course Offerings

Ankeny Campus
The EMT course is offered every semester on the DMACC Ankeny Campus. This course is offered in the evenings from 6-10 PM and will meet either M/W nights or T/Th nights. Depending on the class you select, you may have some mandatory Saturday classes that you are required to attend throughout the semester.​

Select High Schools
The EMT course is offered to high school students only every fall and spring semester on the DMACC Ankeny Campus (07:45-09:45) and the WILC in Waukee (in the afternoon). We also have high school section meeting either or the fall and spring semester at Johnston High School, Boone High School and Central Campus. ​​

Please see our course catalog for the most recent listings.​

Course Length

The EMT course runs for approximately 165 hours over the course of a semester. Courses starting in August will run until December. Courses starting in January will run until May. Courses starting in May will run until August.

Course Costs

Tuition (6 credit hours) $178 per credit hour + $30 online support fee
ViewPoint Screening (immunization tracking and background check) $69
Textbooks Textbook $292, Workbook $75
License Practical Exam Fee $200 through DMACC, other testing site fees will vary
Iowa Bureau of Emergency Medical & Trauma Services licensure application fee $80 ($30 for licensure, $50 for background processing. Due at the conclusion of licensure examination and paid directly to the State of Iowa.
NREMT Written/Computer Testing Fee $104 (Due upon application to test at the end of the course.)
Uniform/Safety Equipment Approximately $350 depending on student selections. (Safety glasses, polo shirt, uniform pants, shoes/boots, stethoscope.)
Total: $2,359

Course Prerequisites

Missing your CPR certification or cannot obtain it by the start of EMT class?

DMACC does offer the CPR certification course through the American Heart Association twice a month on the Ankeny campus. View the upcoming class schedule for CPR.

You also have the option to take the course online at www.onlineAHA.org.

Course Difficulty

The EMT class at DMACC is designed to challenge students. Instructors will typically cover two to eight chapters a week. The examinations are designed to mimic the types of questions that will be seen on the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) cognitive exam in an attempt to prepare students for the rigors of this licensure process. Students should be comfortable reading and writing at the 12th grade level as well as performing some basic mathematical calculations. A successful student will be able to commit to a minimum of 10-15 hours of studying outside of class.  Reasonable accommodations will be provided after a review of student needs through the appropriate offices at DMACC.  Potential students should be aware of NREMT examination accommodations and the possible limitations therein.  If you require accommodations, and would like to know what options are available for you when you take your licensure examination, please see this w​ebsite. 

Students must be prepared to spend 10-15 hours a week studying outside of class to be prepared for the pace of this course.  Aside from studying, students will be required to sign up for clinical and field internship hours during the course of the semester.  These hours are not part of the weekly class times/dates and count toward the overall 165 hours of course length. 

Students will be required to do 24 hours (three 8 hour rotations) in one of the emergency departments listed below:​

  • Methodist Hospital
  • Iowa Lutheran Hospital
  • Methodist West Hospital

If your course meets in Carroll, Newton or Boone, your ER selections will vary to avoid long travel distances when possible​.

Students will be assigned to a clinical or field preceptor at their internship site with the expectation that a total of 25 patient contacts be obtained between their clinical and field internship hours.

Students will also be required to complete a minimum of 36 hours of field internship time with a fire-based EMS agency or stand-alone EMS agency of the program's choosing.  Station/agency assignment to field internship shifts is solely based on availability of preceptors and, as such, rema​ins at the discretion of the program. 

Enrollment

For current DMACC college credit students - In order to enroll in this course you will simply need to sign up when the registration period opens each semester. ​This course does fill up very quickly so it is very important that you sign up as soon as possible.

For those who have never attended any credit college courses at DMACC. - In order to sign up for the EMT course, you must first be admitted to DMACC as a student. You will need to complete an application and submit that to DMACC Admissions along with a copy of your CPR certification. Once this information has been received and processed you will be contacted by Admissions and informed of when you can register for the class. This course does fill up very quickly so it is very important that you sign up as soon as possible.

What if my employer or fire department is paying for my EMT class?

If the cost of a course is being sponsored by someone other than the student, employers can request direct billing​. Please obtain the information​ ​at the link below and submit to the DMACC Business Office.

Refunds & Withdrawals

Any student wishing to leave the course is strongly encouraged to formally withdraw from the course to prevent receiving an "F" on their DMACC college transcript.

 Since this class operates on a "Z" term schedule the date of refunds must be hand calculated for every class. Please note that a 100% refund will be issued for any student that withdraws from the course so long as 15% or less of the course has run. If more than 15% of the course has completed students are not entitled to any refund.

Criminal Record

A student's criminal history is examined on a case-by-case basis by the Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Emergency Medical and Traum​a Services. The Bureau, in consultation with the Iowa Attorney General's Office, has the final say over whether a student is allowed to obtain certification at the end of the course based on the findings from their investigation. DMACC has no control or influence over this process or outcome and is subsequently not liable for any student that cannot certify due to criminal history.

Please note that if you have a founded case of child or dependent adult abuse in your background you will be unable to be placed into a clinical or ride time setting and thus you will not be able to test for certification at the end of the course with the state of Iowa or the NREMT.  All students must have an active account as an EMS Student within 14 calendar days of the term start or they will be administratively dropped from the course​.  Information on creating this account is covered on the first day of class. ​