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Emergency Medical Services
EMT Portal

Joining BYU EMS

Thanks for your interest in joining BYU EMS! Our team is made up of volunteers who are dedicated to serving the BYU campus community.

We respond to over 500 medical emergencies annually that occur anywhere on campus and at the Missionary Training Center. All participants hold at least an EMT certification. Besides 911 response, we provide EMS coverage at football games, basketball games, Stadium of Fire, Women's Conference, Education Week, and many other special events.

Volunteering is a great way to gain medical experience, learn to deal with medical emergencies, and make new friends. Our volunteers who apply to nursing, medical, dental, or physician assistant schools tend to have a very high acceptance rate to post-secondary schools.

Interested in volunteering?

If you are interested in volunteering, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Be at least a part-time BYU student
  • Have a current Utah EMT certification (EMT or higher)
  • Available for Wednesday night (5:30-7:00 PM) staff meetings (fall & winter semesters only)
  • Able to work two shifts each week
  • Commit to staying with BYU EMS for at least 2 semesters
  • If you do not currently have your certification you may still apply! BYU EMS requires applicants without an EMT license to:
    • Have taken the NREMT written exam by the end of the first week of the semester they start volunteering with BYU EMS.
    • If you do not pass the first attempt you must have taken the written exam again and passed by the end of the fourth week.
    • If you do not pass the second attempt we ask that you reapply the following semester, contingent on obtaining your certification before the next semester begins.

*Applicants for spring term must be available to volunteer during both spring and summer terms to complete first semester training requirements

Q: How do I apply?

Applications for Spring/Summer term have recently closed. Applications for Fall semester will be open shortly.

Online applications are accepted prior to each fall, winter, and spring semesters.

Admission to the EMS internship is competitive. We look for EMTs who are confident in their skills and willing to dedicate their time to serving their fellow students. We interview all applicants to determine if there is a fit with our program. Once you submit an application, you will be contacted with details regarding your interview schedule.

Q: How much are EMTs paid?

All of our EMTs are volunteers. Each semester they cumulatively volunteer over 8000 hours. We are constantly amazed by the level of dedication of our EMTs to serve without compensation. EMTs are eligible to receive up to 3 credits worth of BYU academic credit each semester as a medical internship.

Q: How much of my time will BYU EMS require?

Your EMS schedule includes scheduled shift times and weekly staff meeting. EMTs work at least 130 hours per semester. Staff meetings are on Wednesday nights from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Shifts are run in 3-hour blocks and everyone works two shifts per week, with rotating weekend coverage. During Fall and Winter semesters, shifts are run from 8:00-11:00, 11:00-14:00, 1:00-17:00, 17:00-20:00, and 20:00-23:00.

First-semester EMTs also attend approximately 10 hours of orientation activities and classes.

Q: Can I come shadow the EMTs?

Absolutely! Call the EMS office number at 801-422-7274 and ask to speak with the on-duty supervisor. The supervisor can give you more information about our shift schedule and add you to the shadowing schedule. If you would like to sign up for shadowing, you may do so on this spreadsheet. You can come in anytime during our weekday hours of operation (typically 8 am-11 pm during Fall/Winter and 8 am-5 pm during Spring/Summer). See the Shadowing Expectations document for more information.

Q: How do I make myself a better candidate for BYU EMS?

Shadowing is an amazing way to get to know members and supervisors of the agency while also practicing your EMS skills. Our office is always open as a place to learn to both shadowers and non-shadowers. We get many applications each semester, so getting to know members of the agency and being involved with the on-duty crew is a great way to get yourself out there.

Q: What do you look for in an EMT candidate?

You need to be motivated to study and train hard. Being able to take previously learned information and apply it to new situations is a major part of our job. We spend a lot of time preparing and practicing for situations that don't have textbook answers.

You need to be a team player. Everyone on a call contributes to giving the patient the best care they can. You need to have good communication skills, be able to recognize your strengths and weaknesses and work with your partners to become a better EMT.

You need to take the initiative. EMT school gives you some great foundational knowledge but you need to take your skills to the next level. You must learn BYU protocols, operating procedures, and how to treat real patients. You can't sit around and wait for someone to give you something to do. Be driven by a desire to give your patients the best care you can.

Be an analytical thinker. Each EMT applies their knowledge and experience to new situations that don't fit textbook cases. Rarely do our patients present with classic symptoms of a single problem. You need to do a thorough assessment and come up with appropriate treatment plans.

You must be able to multi-task. EMS calls can be stressful with many tasks that need to be prioritized and done at once.

We need committed EMTs willing to serve the BYU campus community. It takes one semester to get comfortable with procedures, protocols, and how things run. It takes another semester to be comfortable as a lead EMT. That's why we expect that candidates can commit to staying with EMS for at least two semesters.

Q: What happens after I turn in my application?

All candidates are invited for an interview consisting of two parts: an oral interview and a stressful skills interview.

The oral interview is held with a panel of current EMTs. We discuss the expectations for volunteer EMTs and you have a chance to ask questions. We want to make sure you will be successful and have found that the oral interview helps determine if there is a good fit between you and BYU EMS.

The practical skills interview consists of a scenario. We evaluate your ability to correctly assess and treat a patient with multiple problems.

We then run background checks and determine which candidates are the best fit. Invitations are extended once we have completed the interviews and background checks.

Q: What if I have my National Registry card, but am not Utah certified?

Utah does not recognize the National Registry as a form of EMT certification. If you wish to work at our agency, you must obtain Utah certification through reciprocity first. More information is available at the Utah Bureau of EMS website.

Q: What gear will I need to get to participate in BYU EMS?

EMTs provide their own blue EMT pants, black boots, and a wristwatch. We provide a uniform shirt for you and all the medical equipment and personal protective equipment.

If you have any other questions, feel free to call (801-422-7274) or stop by the EMS office in room 3234 of the Wilkinson Center on campus to talk with the EMS duty crew. If they're not out on a call or performing practice calls, they'd be happy to talk to you about their experience with BYU EMS and answer any of your questions!