To enroll in EMS or Fire Science, please contact the Health and Public Service Secretary at 815-280-2356 or cdeboer@jjc.edu for a faculty advisor appointment prior to enrollment or registration. With current demand for cross-trained firefigher/paramedics and firefighter/EMT's at local fire departments, entry-level students should choose Emergency Medical Services as their major in most cases. The Fire Science Technician and Fire and Emergency Services degrees are for specific circumstances only.
Until further notice, clinical sites utilized by the JJC EMS program require all EMT-B and paramedic students be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, without exceptions or exemptions. Proof of other immunities and/or vaccinations, and a drug screen and criminal background check, are also required and will be communicated to applicants when provisionally accepted into the program. If a student is accepted into the program and fails the criminal background check or drug screen and/or does not have mandatory vaccinations, the student will be removed from the program due to failure to complete required clinical rotations.
Fact: 85 percent of calls run by modern firefighters are medical.
The Emergency Medical Services program at JJC prepares students for a variety of careers in emergency medical care and the fire service. This course prepares students for the Illinois Department of Public Health State EMT-licensing examination (given at the college) and an entry-level job in EMS.
Once a student is licensed as an EMT, he or she is eligible for the JJC Paramedic program, a 12-month course given in partnership with Morris Hospital EMS System.
An EMS degree gives graduates many advantages in their field. For example, many fire departments require that students be both a licensed paramedic and a certified firefighter for an entry level position. Although a degree is not required for an entry level job, most fire departments give preference points in the hiring process for a degree and many require a degree for promotions.
The EMS program at JJC is designed to prepare individuals for a wide spectrum of careers including fire service, hospital emergency department technicians, physicians’ offices, or clinics. For program advising and registration information, contact the program secretary at 815.280.2356 or cdeboer@jjc.edu
The Kim Crawford Memorial Scholarship is available exclusively for JJC Fire Science/EMS students. Students in their second year who have a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale and demonstrate financial need can apply. For more information, visit JJC Scholarships page.
Degrees
Certificate
Joliet Junior College in partnership with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers administers the paramedic education program. The paramedic 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). The program is 11 months in duration and will run from August 2022 to July 2023.
The application for the 2022-23 program is now closed. Please check back in March for the 2023-2024 application.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a vital link in our community for providing emergency ambulance care. Joliet Junior College is your vital link to obtain everything you need for a career.
The entry level EMS career program is EMT-Basic (EMT-B).
EMT-B is a 4.5 month program offered in both the spring and fall semesters. JJC offers three EMT courses at Main Campus, all of which meet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays:
This course prepares the student for:
Prerequisites for the E.M.S. program are:
Course numbers to register for the EMT-B program are EMS 201 and EMS 209. Registration must be completed in person (by email with cdeboer@jjc.edu during pandemic) during open registration dates (details shown below). Forms for health physicals will be given to you when you register. The physical will be due on the day of mandatory orientation. Final acceptance will be dependent upon successful completion of EMS 101.
Once the student is licensed as an EMT-B, they are eligible for the JJC EMT Paramedic (EMT-P) program. JJC is proud to provide a 12-month paramedic program that begins in August of each year. Applications and further information are available in May of each year from the JJC EMS Department and the Morris Hospital EMS website.
Note: Large ear piercings (Ear gauges -large holes in ears where plugs have been worn) will preclude a student from being accepted into the course due to ambulance ride along restrictions. Tattoos that are visible and cannot be covered will also preclude a student from being accepted into the course.
Employment opportunities for EMS graduates are diverse, ranging from:
