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Criminal Background Checks—In order to comply with certain state statutes and/or clinical affiliation agreements, students may be asked to complete a criminal background check. Application forms for criminal background checks may be obtained through the Career Programs Subdivision Office, B-150, and fees paid to the Bursar’s Office. For information on criminal background application procedures, please contact the Career Programs Subdivision Office at (708) 974-5708. Deadline dates for completion of criminal background checks will be announced by Program Coordinators. Emergency Medical Technician Course (EMT-B)—Before entering the Paramedic Certificate Program (EMT-P), students must complete the Emergency Medical Technician (EMS-101) course. This course develops skills to the level of Emergency Medical Technician-Basic. This program emphasizes all skills necessary to provide emergency medical care at a basic life support level with an ambulance service or other specialized service. EMS-101 is a six-credit-hour course, scheduled for six contact hours per week plus a 60-hour clinical experience including: 24 hours in the emergency room, 24 hours of ambulance ‘ride time’, 8 hours in obstetrics, and 4 hours in dispatch. The course fee is $27. To enroll in the EMS-101 course, new students must apply for admission to Moraine Valley, then register for the class. Students are required to bring a current CPR for Health Care Providers card on the first day of class. (MVCC noncredit class: AH8-039 For more information on CPR for Healthcare Providers, please contact Enza Piech, Workforce Development, at (708) 974-5536.) Students who do not have a card will not be allowed to take the class. The following documentation must be submitted before students may participate in the clinical training component of the course:
Successful completion of the course prepares the student to take the Illinois Department of Public Health examination for EMT-B licensure. After passing the examination, the student is licensed as an Emergency Medical Technician-B to provide basic life-support. Contact EMT-B Program Coordinator Andy Hufnagl with specific EMT-B questions. His contact information is: Office location-T712; phone: (708) 608-4404 or Career Programs Office B150, (708) 974-5708 or e-mail: hufnagl@morainevalley.edu. This 35-credit-hour program prepares an emergency medical technician (EMT-B) to meet licensure standards to function as an advanced life support provider (EMT-P) in accordance with the Illinois Department of Public Health Emergency Medical Services Act. Upon successful completion of the EMS courses and final exam, students are eligible to take the State of Illinois Paramedic Examination. This exam must be passed in order to receive paramedic state licensure. The program is offered through Moraine Valley in cooperation with Christ Hospital and Medical Center. All EMS courses are taught at Christ Hospital. The paramedic training program is approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Emergency Medical Services. Employment Outlook—Employment of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012. Population growth and urbanization will increase the demand for full-time paid EMTs and paramedics rather than for volunteers. In addition, a large segment of the population—the aging baby boomers—will further spur demand for EMT services as they become more likely to have medical emergencies. There will still be demand for part-time, volunteer EMTs and paramedics in rural areas and smaller metropolitan areas. In addition to those arising from job growth, openings will occur because of replacement needs; some workers leave the occupation because of stressful working conditions, limited potential for advancement, and the modest pay and benefits in private-sector jobs. Earnings of EMTs and paramedics depend on the employment setting and geographic location as well as the individual’s training and experience. Median annual earnings of EMTs and paramedics were $24,030 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $19,040 and $31,600. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,530, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $41,980. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of EMTs and paramedics in 2002 were:
• Local government $27,440 Resource: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those in emergency medical services who are part of fire or police departments receive the same benefits as firefighters or police officers. For example, many are covered by pension plans that provide retirement at half pay after 20 or 25 years of service or if the worker is disabled in the line of duty. For job and internship listings and job search assistance, contact the Job Placement Center in the Center for Contemporary Technology, T904, (708) 974-5737, www.morainevalley.edu/jpc. |
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