Emergency Medical Technician
Selective Admissions
All our health career pathway programs are selective admissions with qualification and selection criteria for program entry. Students must meet eligibility requirements and complete a program application by the posted deadline. Program admissions are on a best-qualified basis, and students must be in good academic standing (overall GPA of 2.0 or higher) at Kapiʻolani CC. Priority selection is given to Hawaiʻi state residents. Non-residents can apply and will be considered after all qualified residents have been accommodated per Board of Regents Policy 5.211.
Admissions Procedures
- Apply and complete the steps to become a Kapi‘olani CC student if you are currently not a student of the UH system. For assistance with getting started at the College as a first-time, transfer, or returning student, contact kapstart@hawaii.edu.
- Meet the program faculty and counselors to learn more about the program. Register for the mandatory Health Careers Info Session to join an upcoming session. Connect with the Health Careers Counseling Center for advising support as needed.
- Complete program requirements and apply to the program. For more information, download the following links:
- EMT Admissions and Advising (pdf)
- EMT Application (pdf)
Program Overview
Kapi‘olani CC EMT courses provide students with the didactic, lab, and clinical components needed for National Registry certification as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) and licensure by the State of Hawai‘i as an EMT. This includes both cognitive and psychomotor activities as required in the National Education Standards for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). These courses meet or exceed the curriculum standards set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Per the National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards at the NHTSA Office of EMS: An EMT is a health professional whose primary focus is to respond to, assess, and triage emergent, urgent, and non-urgent requests for medical care, apply basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and medical transportation to/from an emergency or health care facility. Depending on patients’ needs and/or system resources, EMTs are sometimes the highest level of care patients will receive during ambulance transport. An EMT is often paired with higher levels of personnel as part of an ambulance crew or other responding group. With proper supervision, an EMT may serve as a patient care team member in a hospital or health care setting to the full extent of the EMT’s education, certification, licensure, and credentialing. In a community setting, an EMT might visit patients at home and make observations reported to a higher-level authority to help manage a patient’s care. When practicing in less populated areas, EMTs may have low call volume coupled with being the only care personnel during prolonged transports. EMTs may provide minimal supervision of lower-level personnel. EMTs can be the first to arrive on scene; they are expected to quickly assess patient conditions, provide stabilizing measures, and request additional resources, as needed.
Contact Information
- O’ahu, Kauai, Maui, Hawai’i program applicants: (808) 734-9288; (808) 734-9330 Fax: (808) 734-9126
- Maui County program applicants may also visit the Maui EMS Training website and may contact Maui EMS Training at (808) 984-3452
- Hawai‘i County program applicants may also contact Hawai‘i EMS Training at (808) 935-8002
- Counselors/Advisors: Health Careers Counseling Center
Degree & Certificates
Certificate of Competence – Emergency Medical Technician (15.6 credits)
The purpose of the Emergency Medical Technician Certificate of Competence program is to prepare students to provide basic life support (BLS) and limited advance life support – assist (ALS-assist) assessment and care to patients in the prehospital environment, including ambulance transport.
Program Information
Potential Careers & Employers
Employers: Positions for EMTs are readily available in Hawai‘i. Potential employers include but are not limited to:
- American Medical Response (operating in all counties, including 9-1-1 contracts in Kaua‘i and Maui)
- City & County of Honolulu EMS
- Hawai‘i County Fire Department
“I was able to assist various levels of emergency medical personnel and immediately apply what I learned in class with their guidance in real life situations. The opportunity to quickly be involved in emergent situations vividly reinforced what I studied in books.”
Arlene Koh, EMT
Health Careers Info Session
Program Information sessions are held monthly and provide potential applicants with program details and requirements, application procedures, and career outlook. Attending an information session is recommended before you start your academic journey. Attendance of a program information session within one year of the application submission is mandatory when applying to a Health Science and EMS program.
Health Careers Counseling Center
Support for Health Career Pathways
Learn about admission requirements and criteria, program curriculum, program cost, financial aid, application for licensure/certificates, and transfer to baccalaureate programs.
Health Career Counselors/Advisors
hlthsci@hawaii.edu | (808) 734-9224, Kauila 106
STAR Balance Virtual Kiosk Hours
Mondays through Thursdays, excluding holidays
9:00-11:30am & 1:00-3:00pm
STAR Balance Kiosk is available for UH system students. For information about our health programs, attend a program information session. Email kapstart@hawaii.edu for assistance with getting started at Kapiʻolani CC.