Academy
So you're already a certified EMT-Basic or higher and have accepted employment with our department, now what? All newly hired Cadets begin their career with Austin-Travis County EMS with a 10-week paid training Academy. The Academy is a state of the art facility located in southeast Austin, which houses multiple classrooms, a gymnasium and a driving track. This facility trains all public safety cadets of the Austin Police Department, Austin Fire Department, and ATCEMS. It is a very busy campus with lots of public safety activity. EMS cadets will train at this location, Monday – Friday from 6:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. (times and days may vary depending on scheduled activities) but cadets will not live on site.
THE CADET EXPERIENCE
Follow Cadets Winters and Rocha as they navigate our new-hire Cadet Academy, from Day 1 to graduation! Each episode will give you an inside view of the training, physical requirements, and knowledge taught in the Academy. Links to all 3 episodes are below.
Episode 1: We Are Here to Serve
Episode 2: Invested in Everyone
CADET-COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING
Communications Cadets will attend a 10-week Academy where they are prepared to work in our state of the art Combined Transportation & Emergency Communications Center (CTECC). Communications Cadets are trained to use our latest dispatching technology like our Computer Aided Dispatch system, auto vehicle locating system, Solacom 9-1-1 phone system, and more.
CADET-FIELD TRAINING
ACADEMIC/SKILLS TRAINING
Field and Communications Cadets in the Academy
Each Field Cadet will attend a 10-week Academy at the City of Austin Public Safety Training Campus in East Austin. Cadets can expect Academy days that are filled with educational and practical experiences to help Cadets become successful Medics with ATCEMS. Medical knowledge will be challenged daily to encourage more competent and confident providers. Assessment skills will be honed in our scenario testing lab and through continuous evolutions of scenarios. The academy consists of ongoing quizzes and tests and each cadet must attain an overall average of 80% to graduate from the Academy.
Each Communications Cadet will also attend a 10-week Academy at the City of Austin Public Safety Training Campus. Communications Cadets experience a varied curriculum that develops understanding of the Austin and Travis County areas, our local Computer Aided Dispatch system, Medical Priority Dispatch System protocols, Rescue and Special Call triages, SolaComm 911 system, and Aero-Medical responses. In addition to extensive job-specific training, Communications Cadets have the option of participating in Academy physical training. Successful completion of the Academy will prepare Communications Cadets to work in the state of the art Combined Transportation and Emergency Communications Center (CTECC) as a Medic-Communications.
PHYSICAL TRAINING
Physical training (PT) in the Academy is challenging for any fitness level. Cadets should expect PT every day (optional for Communications Cadets). The purpose of PT is to improve health and fitness, strengthen personal accountability, and encourage team building. We aim to inspire cadets to continue physical fitness throughout their career here at Austin-Travis County EMS.
At the beginning of each day, you will work on your health and well being in our functional fitness program. We have a state of the art gym and exercise physiologist instructors that will prepare you for the rigors of working in the emergency medical environment.
PT consists of a balance of aerobic conditioning as well as weight training. In the first week of the academy a VO2 aerobic fitness assessment is performed on each Cadet. Results are recorded, and the assessment is repeated at the end of the academy to evaluate improvement. Many Cadets show a significant increase in their aerobic capacity, and overall fitness.
Each week, PT will consist of intense aerobic exercise, which includes long distance runs, sprint runs, interval runs, and tower stair climbing. Weight training is integrated with aerobics for 3 of the 5 training days. Weight training is comprised of weight bearing dynamic squats, core strength exercises, and muscular endurance routines. Calisthenics exercises are also a large part of the everyday PT routine including plank variations. Dynamic lifting focuses on physical conditioning and building functional muscle groups that are essential in EMS.
RIDE WITH A MEDIC
The EMS Rider/Observer Program provides an opportunity for eligible citizens and prospective applicants to experience how components of the EMS department operates, and how medical care is managed in the system.
Eligible citizens and prospective applicants may request to participate in the Rider/Observer program for Field or Communications. Any citizen or applicant wishing to participate in the program must first complete a Rider/Observer Application. All applications will undergo a review/eligibility process which may include a criminal background search conducted by ATCEMS. You will be contacted by an EMS representative informing you that you are eligible or have been denied. If you are approved, you will be given instruction for the next steps to schedule your Rider/Observer appointment date and time. Applications are processed in the order they are received. Please allow up to 2 weeks for processing.