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EMT Foundations

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EMT Foundations

This course is part of Become an EMT Specialization

Instructors: Angela Wright, MD

61,533 already enrolled

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,139 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

96%

Most learners liked this course

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,139 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

96%

Most learners liked this course

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

7 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Become an EMT Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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There are 5 modules in this course

In this course, you will get a thorough introduction to the emergency medical services system, and learn the foundation components to how it works as a whole. You will also learn the nuts and bolts of becoming a healthcare provider, and gain some basic knowledge about the human body. By the end of the course, you will be able to 1) understand the history and components of the EMS system, 2) speak the language of medicine with basic medical terminology, as well as have an understanding of basic human anatomy, 3) understand the different types of communications and how they are specific to EMS, 4) take vital signs and master the normal from the abnormal, and 5) master personal and scene safety, and begin the process of patient assessment.

In this module, you will learn about the nuts and bolts of the emergency medical services system. We will cover some brief history of EMS, as well as breakdown the different components of the system. There will be discussion about some of the medical and legal issues that are persistent in the practice of prehospital medicine. We will also address workplace safety and provider wellness, because you cannot take care of other people unless you are learning to take care of yourself!

What's included

8 videos8 readings2 assignments

8 videos Total 57 minutes

Become an EMT 6 minutes
EMT Foundation 3 minutes
History and Regulatory Bodies 8 minutes
What Does It Mean To Be An EMT? 10 minutes
This Can Be A Hard Job Emotionally 9 minutes
Medical and Legal Issues - Part 1 5 minutes
Medical and Legal Issues - Part 2 10 minutes
HIPAA/EMTALA and Job Errors 6 minutes

8 readings Total 130 minutes

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Current “Become an EMT” Specialization No Longer NREMT Eligible 10 minutes
About Us: Become an EMT Specialization Team at Denver Health Paramedics 5 minutes
Course Information 10 minutes
Get help and meet other learners. Join your Community! 5 minutes
History of EMS 20 minutes
What Does It Mean To Be An EMT? 40 minutes
This Can Be A Hard Job Emotionally 20 minutes
Medical and Legal Issues 20 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Course Disclaimer 30 minutes
Introduction to EMT Assessment 30 minutes

In this module, we will learn a new language. This module will cover basic medical terminology and some tips and tricks for “talking the talk.” This is also where we will cover the basics of anatomy of the human body! We will teach you the basics of human anatomy of the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, abdominal, neurologic and endocrine system.

What's included

11 videos2 readings1 assignment

11 videos Total 59 minutes

Medical Conversations 3 minutes
Medical Terminology - Part 1 7 minutes
Medical Terminology - Part 2 6 minutes
Head and Torso 6 minutes
Extremities 6 minutes
Muscular Systems 6 minutes
Nervous and Endocrine Systems 7 minutes
Respiratory Systems 5 minutes
Cardiovascular Systems 6 minutes
Gastrointestinal and Renal Systems 6 minutes
Reproductive Systems and Skin 1 minute

2 readings Total 90 minutes

Reproductive Systems and Skin 60 minutes
Anatomy Terms 30 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Basic Human Anatomy Assessment 30 minutes

Essential to emergency medical services is communication. This module will discuss the various parts of the job that require communication and the different strategies to employ clear and concise communication. You will learn about the SBAR method of hand off reports, learn how to successfully communicate with patients, and we will cover some pearls and pitfalls to communicating within the EMS system.

What's included

10 videos3 readings1 assignment

10 videos Total 35 minutes

EMT Communication 1 minute
EMS System 2 minutes
Guidelines for Communication 3 minutes
Communicating With Other Health Care Professionals 5 minutes
Communicating With Your Patient 5 minutes
Pearls and Pitfalls of Communication 3 minutes
Biophone Call - Part 1 4 minutes
Biophone Call - Part 2 4 minutes
Biophone Call - Part 3 2 minutes
Patient Handoff Report 6 minutes

3 readings Total 70 minutes

Pearls and Pitfalls of Communication 20 minutes
Biophone Call 40 minutes
Patient Hand off Report 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Communication With A Healthcare Provider Assessment 30 minutes

Here we will cover vital signs, and learn about why they are vital! We will be teaching you how to take a blood pressure, respiratory rate, pulse, and assess a patient’s skin. We will also learn about taking a history during a patient encounter, and learn some standard approaches to this including the OPQRST and AMPLE templates of history taking.

What's included

10 videos5 readings1 assignment

10 videos Total 52 minutes

Introduction to Vital Signs and History Taking 1 minute
Vital Signs 5 minutes
Blood Pressure 6 minutes
Pulse 5 minutes
Respiratory Rate 7 minutes
Skin and Pupils 5 minutes
History Taking - Part 1 5 minutes
History Taking - Part 2 7 minutes
Pulse 3 minutes
Blood Pressure 7 minutes

5 readings Total 55 minutes

Adult Normal Vital Signs 10 minutes
Vital Signs 15 minutes
Respiratory Rate 15 minutes
Skin and Pupils 5 minutes
History Taking 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Vital Signs and History Taking Assessment 30 minutes

In this last module, we will be discussing some bread and butter components of EMS. The first is scene safety and assessment of a scene. Then we will cover the complete assessment of a medical patient, and a trauma patient, using the national registry as our guideline. By the end of this, you will know how to communicate with patients and how to perform a thorough assessment of any patient you may encounter.

What's included

14 videos3 readings2 assignments

14 videos Total 49 minutes

Your First Encounter With a Patient 1 minute
Scene Size Up or Safety 6 minutes
Body Substance Isolation 4 minutes
Scene Assessment 5 minutes
Patient Assessment - Part 1 7 minutes
Patient Assessment - Part 2 5 minutes
Secondary Assessment and Reassessment 5 minutes
Lifting and Moving Patients 5 minutes
Head Tilt - Chin Lift - Jaw Thrust 2 minutes
Stretcher Operation 3 minutes
Load and Unload Stretcher From The Ambulance 2 minutes
Long Spine Board and Scoop Stretcher 2 minutes
Lifting and Moving Stair Chair - Part 1 1 minute
Lifting and Moving Stair Chair - Part 2 1 minute

3 readings Total 55 minutes

Scene Size Up or Safety 10 minutes
Patient Assessment 30 minutes
Secondary Assessment and Reassessment 15 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Patient Assessment Practice Quiz 30 minutes
Immediately Upon Arrival To The Scene Assessment 30 minutes

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Instructors

Instructor ratings

(386 ratings)

Angela Wright, MD

University of Colorado System

9 Courses 126,665 learners

Whitney Barrett, MD

University of Colorado System

6 Courses 120,657 learners

Offered by

University of Colorado System

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Learner reviews

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Reviewed on Dec 7, 2022

Great course! Could be challenging to new EMTs, but the content is excellent. The Bootcamp portion with Denver Health was top notch! Highly recomend!

Reviewed on Apr 2, 2021

The presenters were very informed and the information was delivered in a very structured and easy-to-follow manner. The reference materials followed this pattern as well.

Reviewed on Dec 27, 2019

Very thorough debrief of basic skills needed before indulging into the course further. While also providing the necessary tools and vocabulary to help the learner become successful.

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Frequently asked questions

IMPORTANT UPDATE: "Become an EMT" Specialization & NREMT Certification

Current Course Status

The existing version of the "Become an EMT" specialization no longer meets the updated certification standards implemented by the NREMT in 2024. The current version cannot be used to qualify for NREMT examination. It remains a valuable resource for anyone exploring emergency medical services, continuing education, or general EMS knowledge. The current version is not a pathway to NREMT certification at this time.

New Version Coming Summer 2026

A fully redesigned NREMT‑aligned specialization is scheduled to launch in Summer 2026. NREMT‑aligned specialization is scheduled to launch in Summer 2026. This update ensures the course meets all current certification requirements and supports your long‑term success.

Path to NREMT Certification with the New Course

Two components must be successfully completed to sit for the NREMT exam:

If You Are Currently Enrolled

If you are enrolled and working toward NREMT certification, we recommend pausing your participation and waiting for the Summer 2026 specialization. The knowledge you've already gained will still hold value as you start the new course, however, the current course will not carry over to the new version.

If You Are Considering Enrollment

We recommend waiting for the new NREMT-eligible specialization when it launches in Summer 2026. Until then, the current specialization remains a solid foundation for:

Questions? Reach out to us anytime at uchmedic@uchealth.org — we're happy to help you plan your path forward.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.