ABOUT THE CLASS

The Durham Tech Emergency Medical Technician-Basic class is a semester-long course that provides the skills and training to attain certification as an EMT-B. This class will provide instruction in lifesaving skills at the Basic Life Support level, including critical information on CPR and AED usage, respiratory emergencies, bleeding control, environmental emergencies, obstetric emergencies, mass casualty incidents, basic anatomy and physiology, basic medication administration and pharmacology, and much more through a combination of classroom instruction, laboratory exercises, field time with an EMS agency, and hospital clinical experience.

Durham Tech’s EMT-B course is not a Duke University class and will not provide Duke class credit; it is operated and instructed by Durham Tech staff. Upon completion of the course, the student may take the North Carolina State Certification Exam, which is offered at several locations throughout the state at several times during the year. Once certified, the new EMT is eligible to work with DUEMS or any other EMS provider in the State of North Carolina.

Please refer to the Durham Tech website for the most recent updates on their EMT-B courses amid COVID-19, including updated information about vaccination requirements, textbooks, and more.

DEADLINES AND REGISTRATION

In order to be eligible to register for any of the EMT-B classes, you must first attend a mandatory evening information session, which you can email ems@durhamtech.edu to register for. Upcoming dates will be added to the website once available.

If you are a Duke University undergraduate interested in taking the EMT-B class, please email duemspersonnel@duke.edu.

If you are NOT a Duke University undergraduate, please email ems@durhamtech.edu for more information.

In addition to attendance at the information session, you must also provide the following information (dated 2020) to Durham Tech to be eligible for registration:

  • Proof of Vaccinations: Documentation must be submitted to CastleBranch for EMT initial provider students and approved to secure a permanent seat in the course

    • Varicella (Chicken Pox)

      • Two vaccinations or a positive antibody titer

    • Hepatitis B

      • Three vaccinations or a positive antibody titer

    • Tuberculosis (TB)

      • Submit documentation of one of the following:

        • Two-step TB skin test or

        • Two consecutive annual TB skin tests (10-12 months between tests) or

        • A negative quantiFERON Gold blood test (lab report required). If the results are positive, submit a copy of your clear chest X-Ray with physician report.

    • Tetanus, Diptheria, and Pertussis (Tdap)

      • Submit documentation of a Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis (Tdap) vaccination, administered within the past 10 Years.

    • Polio

      • Submit documentation of a Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis (Tdap) vaccination, administered within the past 10 Years.

    • Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)

      • Proof of two vaccines or a positive antibody titer

    • Influenza

    • Submit documentation of a flu vaccination administered during the current flu season (September - March)

  • Basic Education Requirement

    High School Diploma or GED PLUS one of the following:

      • NCDAP Reading/English Score of at least 136 or

      • ACCUPLACER reading and sentence skills score of at least 129 or

      • COMPASS reading and writing scores of at least 112 or

      • ASSET reading and writing scores of at least 72 or

      • Successful completion of DRE 098 or

      • College transcript showing successful completion of a college-level English Course (ENG 111) or higher

CLASS COSTS

  • Tuition: $285

  • EMS pants: ~$40

  • EMS boots: $50-$100+

  • Stethoscope: $25+

  • Durham Tech T-shirt: ~$20

  • Class Textbook: $100

Fee waivers and financial aid may be granted under specific circumstances as indicated on the Durham Tech Website. For Duke University undergraduates, DUEMS hosts the Empowerment Scholarship, an annual application funding the EMT-B education of an underrepresented student.

CARPOOLS

If you require transportation to and from the EMT-B class or can help drive other students, you may contact duemspersonnel@duke.edu to assist in arranging a carpool.

DUEMS APPLICATION PROCESS

In order to apply to Duke University EMS, you must first complete an EMT-B class. Additional information on the Duke EMS Application Process can be accessed here.

CONTACT

All further inquiries about the Durham Tech EMT-B class should be directed to the Personnel Officer at duemspersonnel@duke.edu (for Duke undergraduates) or ems@durhamtech.edu (for all others).