EMT Experience Program

In 2022, the Center for Pre-Health Advising (CPHA) and the Fire Department of Mount Horeb (FDMD) partnered to launch EMTEP. Today, CPHA, FDMD, and the Cross Plains EMS (CPEMS) service partner to lead the EMT Experience Program. EMTEP is an approximately two-year long program that seeks to improve access and equity in healthcare by supporting staffing in rural emergency services and providing professional development experiences to students interested in healthcare careers.

EMTEP is a pathway for undergraduate students at UW-Madison to become EMT-Basic-certified and gain clinical experience and enhanced professional networks in preparation for future careers in healthcare, such as medicine, nursing, and others.

No, prior healthcare experience is not needed.

Yes, current EMTs are encouraged to apply. You may be eligible for EMT tuition reimbursement.

If accepted to EMTEP, you will be offered admission through one of two paths. Path 1 includes a CPHA scholarship to cover all EMT-Basic certification costs, such as EMT class tuition. Students accepted through Path 2 pay for these expenses up front and receive a full refund after completing the program. Prices may vary slightly from year to year. In 2023, the total cost of EMT-Basic tuition and books at Madison Area Technical College was ~$1,400/student.

Yes, a good faith two-year commitment is integral to your success in EMTEP. After obtaining your EMT license, Year 1 will focus on familiarizing you to medical equipment, patient care protocols, and standard operating procedures specific to FDMH. During Year 2, you will be able to participate in patient care decision making in the prehospital setting, shadow physicians at UW Hospital to expand your understanding of prehospital-to-inpatient continuity of care, and gain leadership experience as an EMTEP instructor, peer-mentor, transportation coordinator, or outreach/social media liaison.

Yes, you can join EMTEP as a Senior if you plan to continue in the program for one year after graduating from UW. We have had multiple students join EMTEP as Seniors in Year 1 of the program and continue on as alumni during Year 2.

Yes, you can join FDMH or CPEMS without being accepted to EMTEP. Due to funding limitations, EMTEP may not be able to accept all qualified applicants. In this case, you may re-apply directly for volunteer positions as ambulance driver, EMT, or firefighter. Please note that these volunteer pathways are independent from CPHA, have different funding/reimbursement mechanisms and hourly requirements, and do not include transportation and shadowing.

Yes, you may pursue additional certifications during EMTEP, such as Advanced EMT (AEMT), ambulance driver, or firefighter, provided you continue fulfilling all EMTEP requirements, including weekly Monday night trainings and bi-monthly weekend shifts. Please note that additional FDMH requirements may apply.

In 2024-2025, EMTEP meets every Monday at ~5:30pm for in-person or virtual training. For in-person training, we meet at UW and either train on campus or travel to FDMH together (transportation to FDMH is provided). In-person training focuses on hands-on simulation-based scenarios. For virtual training, we meet on Zoom and discuss operational and medical concepts, including pathophysiology lectures and case reviews with our physician partners.

Starting in fall 2025, EMTEP will continue to meet for required in-person training at FDMH on the first Monday of every month. The structure of additional supplemental trainings and cohort community building is undergoing a re-design in collaboration with EMTEP members and campus partners.

EMTEP supplemental trainings are scheduled in accordance with UW-Madison’s academic calendar. Supplemental trainings are not scheduled during holidays, winter break, spring break, or final exam weeks.

FDMH required trainings during the summer between Year 1 and Year 2 are still offered on the fourth Monday of the month at FDMH.

Training duration typically varies from ~1-3 hours per session.

Teams of two EMTEP students are typically assigned to one weekend ambulance shift every four to eight weeks of the entire duration of the two-year program. 48-hour weekend shifts begin at 6pm on Friday and end on Sunday at 6pm. 24-hour weekend shifts also fit within that time range.

*After feedback from EMTEP participants and considering departmental needs, EMTEP and FDMH are likely to require 24-hour shifts every 4 weeks (~once/month) starting in fall 2025.*

Students arrive by ~5:30-5:45pm on the night of their shift to help prepare the ambulance and need to be prepared to stay a few hours past 6pm on Sunday in case there is a 911 call right before shift change. Transportation to and from FDMH will be provided.

Each EMTEP student works with a driver and crew chief, who may be certified at the AEMT or Paramedic levels. Together, you will respond to 911 calls in a large, mostly rural region of southwest Dane County. Depending on the type of call, you will work with other emergency professionals, such as firefighters and law enforcement officers.

There are two ambulances at FDMH: a primary ambulance that responds to most calls and a secondary ambulance that responds when the primary is already on another call. EMTs may alternate between the primary and secondary ambulances throughout the weekend. During down time, you can rest, cook, workout, watch TV, play games, or study. Bedrooms and bathrooms are private and clean sheets, towels, and body wash/shampoo are provided.