What are your
office hours and are you closed for lunch?
OCEMS is open to the public Monday-through Friday from
8am to 4:30pm and do not close for lunch.
What are the requirements
for a Provider’s License?
A current California EMT-I certificate, a photo
identification, a current Medical Examiner’s Card, a Department
of Justice (DOJ) criminal background history report (on file
with OCEMS), and a $25.00 licensing fee.
I did
live scan for the DMV, do I need to do a DOJ background
check again and why?
Yes, by California state law, the DOJ will not permit
agencies to share the information they obtain on the DOJ report
with another agency. Therefore, you must have the DOJ Live
Scan fingerprint process done again.
What is a
medical examiner’s card and where do I get one?
It is a medical examination required by the Department of
Transportation (DOT) for all drivers operating an emergency
vehicle. It is attesting that the operator is physically
fit to operate the ambulance. To obtain the medical
examination form, you must go to DMV and ask for the form, (the
green medical examination card will be attached) then take it to
your personal physician for completion.
How long does it take
for EMS to get the results of my DOJ
criminal background report?
It takes approximately 3-5 working days, if no criminal
record exists. If there is a criminal history then it can
take up to 30 working days or longer, depending on the
circumstances.
I have a
National Registry certificate, is that a valid certificate
for the State of California?
National Registry is only accepted as a valid EMT-I
certificate in 42 states. Currently, Orange County EMS is
using the National Registry exam as an approved state
examination. You will need to apply to a local EMS Agency
for a California EMT-I certificate.
My EMT certificate expires in less than a
week, how can I obtain Continuing
Education (CE’S) Units?
You have a couple of options, one is to go online to
EMS-CE.com or EMInet.com and follow the directions for obtaining 24
hours of continuing education units.
My EMT certificate
is expiring at the end of the month, do I need to take a
test again?
Your EMT-I
certificate, indicates a test date. The State of
California requires EMT’s to retest every 4 years and recertify
every 2 years.
Once I have turned in my
completed application packet
to OCEMS, how long does it take to get my card?
You should receive your EMT-I certificate in approximately 10-15
working days.
I have some CE’s I
received that are approved by the Board or Registered Nursing
(BRN), are they acceptable?
No, the BRN cannot
approve Continuing Education for prehospital care.
I have an
out of state EMT-I certificate, what do I need to do to get
certified in California?
You will
need to request an application packet from OCEMS at
714-834-3500. You will need to complete all of the
requirements for certification.
What are some of
the job opportunities/employers
in Orange County for EMT’s?
Hospital
ER’s, private ambulance providers, lifeguard agencies and fire
departments.
Where is the Paramedic Program in Orange County?
There are only two
paramedic programs in Orange County: Saddleback College in
Mission Viejo, 949-582-4581 and
California Paramedic Institute in Lake Forest, 866-274-6334.
