EMT Experience Program

About our EMT Experience Program

In 2022, the Center for Pre-Health Advising (CPHA) and the Fire Department of Mount Horeb (FDMH) partnered to launch a pilot UW-Mt. Horeb Fire Department EMT Experience Program (EMTEP). The EMT Experience Program is a two-year long program (approx.) that seeks to help increase access and equity in healthcare through providing hands-on, mentored professional development experiences to undergraduates committed to serving within local rural communities.

EMT experience is one pathway for students to gain direct patient care experience and enhanced professional networks, both of which are crucial to reaching their health career goals.

Through campus-community partnerships and investment, EMTEP continues to strategically evolve and grow. As of 2024, the full program now includes:

  • Two years of structured volunteer service, professional development, and mentorship from FDMH and additional healthcare providers.
  • Dedicated career development support from the Center for Pre-Health Advising.
  • Provided transportation to and from Mount Horeb.

Search for: Funding Pathways | Program Structure | How to Apply | Eligibility | Frequently Asked Questions | Contact Us

CPHA FDMH EMT Program 2024 Pinning Ceremony

Funding Pathways

The program offers two funding pathways: a full summer scholarship or a tuition reimbursement. 

Funding Path 1: Scholarship

Each year, two new students are selected to receive a full scholarship from CPHA to complete EMT certification through Madison College in summer.

Funding Path 2: Reimbursement

Additional students are selected to receive reimbursement from FDMH for self-funded EMT certification following the completion of EMTEP.

Program Structure

Year One

  • EMT Certification Courses (at Madison College, for scholarship recipients) and Exams
    • The Madison College Course generally runs from May – August, depending on which class recipients choose to take.
  • EMT Shifts at FDMH Every 8 Weeks
    • Provide patient care under the direct supervision of a mentor
    • EMT Shifts Start: September
  • Weekly & Monthly EMT Training 
    • Weekly training will be in-person every Monday at 6:00pm
    • There will be once a month EMT training with FDMH
    • Trainings will start in September
  • Skills assessment at end of first year

Year Two

  • EMT Shifts at FDMH Every 8 Weeks 
    • Provide patient care as an “attendant” EMT
    • Provide mentorship to incoming first-year cohort
  • Weekly & Monthly EMT Training 
    • Weekly training will be in-person every Monday at 6:00pm
    • There will be once a month EMT training with FDMH
    • Trainings will start in September
  • Personalized mentorship and planning to match future goals
  • Opportunity to continue volunteering as an EMT at FDMH

Eligibility

  • Good faith commitment to completing the EMT Certification Class and the 368 hours of EMT shifts over a two-year span.
  • Interest in pursuing professional health care programs post-graduation. 
  • Commitment to working towards greater equity in health care, including within rural communities.
  • Understanding and appreciation of the importance of a diversity of perspectives in healthcare teams (via lived experiences, identities, educational backgrounds). 
  • Applicants must be currently enrolled UW-Madison students in good academic and non-academic standing at time of application and at least the first semester of participation.
  • Applicants must have completed at least one semester of coursework on the UW-Madison campus and have at least two semesters of coursework left by the program’s start. (Must be enrolled in Fall 2024 and enrolled for Spring 2025.) Incoming first-year students will not be selected.  

How to Apply

The EMTEP applications open every November and are due during the second week in January. When applications open, the opportunity will be shared on this webpage and on our social media (@uwprehealthcenter). The application process includes a Qualtrics application.  

Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the Emergency Medical Technician Experience Program (EMTEP)?

In 2022, the Center for Pre-Health Advising (CPHA) and the Fire Department of Mount Horeb (FDMD) partnered to launch EMTEP. EMTEP is a two-year program that seeks to improve access and equity in healthcare by supporting staffing in rural emergency services and providing professional development experiences to diverse groups of 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.

Is prior healthcare experience needed to join EMTEP?

No, prior healthcare experience is not needed.

Can I take classes at UW while attending the Summer EMT-Basic course?

Yes, you can take other summer classes in addition to the EMT-Basic course. Current EMTEP members successfully completed the UW-Madison courses while attending the EMT class at Madison Technical Area College.

Can I join EMTEP if I am already EMT-certified?

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

How do the two funding paths differ?

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.

Is a two-year commitment required?

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.

I would be a senior during Year 1 of EMTEP and will have graduated by Year 2. Can I still join?

Yes, you can join EMTEP as a Senior if you plan to continue in the program for one year after graduating from UW. Two current EMTs joined EMTEP as Seniors in Summer 2022 and graduated from UW in Spring 2023. They continue to be part of EMTEP and are employed as in-hospital technicians while working to strengthen their applications for medical school.

Can I join FDMH directly if I am not accepted to EMTEP?

Yes, you can join FDMH 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 to FDMH 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.

Can I pursue additional emergency certifications during EMTEP?

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.

What are Monday trainings like?

We meet 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 (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 partner.

EMTEP training is scheduled in accordance with UW-Madison’s academic calendar. Training is not scheduled during holidays, winter break, spring break, or final exam weeks. Training during the summer between Year 1 and Year 2 is only offered on the fourth Monday of the month. Training duration typically varies from ~1-3 hours per session.

What are weekend shifts like?

Teams of two EMTEP students are typically assigned to one weekend ambulance shift every eight weeks of the entire duration of the two-year program. Weekend shifts begin at 6pm on Friday and end on Sunday at 6pm. Please plan to arrive by ~5:30-5:45pm on Friday to help prepare the ambulance for your shift and 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.

Contact Us

Dua Ci Khang
Lead for Professional Development Programming
Center for Pre-Health Advising
dkhang@wisc.edu