Med/Fire Rescue
No Ordinary Job
In crisis situations, people’s lives often depend on the quick and highly skilled reaction of emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and firefighters. The fast pace and intense situations in this field require emergency personnel to be emotionally steady, focused, compassionate, and physically strong.
You never know what the day will bring with a career in Med/Fire Rescue! You might:
- Control and/or extinguish fires
- Protect lives and property
- Administer emergency/lifesaving services
- Assist in disaster recovery
- Provide aircraft fire rescue
- Control and clean-up hazardous chemical spills
What are my options?
Earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Med/Fire Rescue and receive a solid foundation in the medical and fire-fighting aspects of this career. Or, after completing the first 15 months of the program, students have the option earn a Paramedic Diploma. The Med/Fire Rescue AAS program is now Build Dakota scholarship-eligible! If you’re interested in a job where life-saving decisions are made every day, this fast-paced field might be for you!
There are two online options available in the Med/Fire Rescue program. The first option is the Online Emergency Medical Technician – Certification Only This option can be completed online in one semester. Students in this option will complete most of the coursework online, but will visit campus for testing, skill practice, and hands-on learning. Click to view the EMT application form. This is a separate application process.
The second online option is the Online Hybrid Paramedic Diploma. If attending class every day isn’t an option for you due to work or family obligations, consider this online option! In only 20 months, you could obtain your diploma and begin work in this exciting field. This option (and the on-campus paramedic option) is Build Dakota scholarship-eligible. To apply, complete the Lake Area Tech application form and select the (MFRO – or the actual program menu drop down name on the application). This program starts in the spring semester each year (January). PLEASE NOTE: To be considered for this program, students MUST have successfully completed an EMT Basic certification course and have up-to-date certification (prior to applying). If needed, certification can be obtained at Lake Area Tech. All students in the MFR program are also required to have a valid driver’s license.
Careers
Our Med/Fire Rescue grads are earning great wages just six months after graduation – averaging $28.52 an hour according to our latest placement report!
Accreditation
The Lake Area Technical College Med/Fire Rescue program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 727-210-2350 www.caahep.org. To contact CoAEMSP: 214-703-8445 www.coaemsp.org.
Our Med/Fire Rescue program has been approved for accreditation by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board) – Committee on Accreditation for the following levels and standards:
NFPA 1001: Firefighter I and II
NFPA 1002: Driver/Operator
NFPA 1003: Airport Firefighter
NFPA 1021: Fire Officer I and II
NFPA 1041: Fire Instructor I
NFPA 1072: Hazardous Materials, Responder
• Awareness Level
• Operations Level
• Technician Level
Lake Area Tech’s Med/Fire Rescue program is the only program in the region to have both the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board) accreditation and Paramedic Program accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions contact information is: 8301 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 111-312, Rowlett TX 75088. The phone/fax numbers are (214) 703-8445 and FAX (214) 703-8992. Find them on the web at www.coaemsp.org.
CoAEMSP 2022 Annual Report Statistics
CAAHEP Accredited Paramedic Programs and CoAEMSP Letter of Review (LoR) Programs track and report outcome measures annually to the Committee on Accreditation for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). The most current CoAEMSP Annual Report was for the calendar year 2022.
The most recent success rate for the National Registry of EMT Paramedic/State Cognitive exam was:
– 46% passed within 3 attempts
The most recent positive placement rate for graduates was 92%.
Positive placement is defined by the CoAEMSP as ‘Employed full or part-time in a related field and/or continuing his/her education and/or serving in the military’. Positive placement is measured at completion of the program.
The most recent retention rate was 100%.
Med/Fire Rescue Program Goal
The MFR program’s goal is “to prepare competent entry-level Paramedics and Firefighters in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician, and/or Emergency Medical Responder levels.”
Professional Licensure Disclosure
Lake Area Technical College’s curriculum for Med/Fire Rescue meets the educational requirements for professional licensure in South Dakota. Professional licensure and certification requirements often vary from state to state. Prospective or current students considering an academic program that leads to a professional license or certification are strongly encouraged to seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency in the state you plan to work before beginning an affiliated academic program. Read more here regarding Professional Licensure Disclosures.
Uncrewed Aerial Systems (Drones) Certification
There is a fast-growing demand for workers who can operate and maintain uncrewed aircraft systems in our region. The Uncrewed Aerial Systems (Drones) Certificate coursework will equip students with the necessary skills to be employed as uncrewed aerial system operators/pilots and technicians. Graduates will learn the laws and ethical procedures for operating Uncrewed Aerial Systems and will have the knowledge and skills to become a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certificated Remote Pilot (Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate). Beginning fall 2025, Uncrewed Aerial Systems is an 18-credit, one or two-semester certificate delivered in a hybrid format with both online and on-campus components.
