Kern County's newest Paramedics and EMTs graduate in joint ceremony

The Harvey L. Hall EMS Academy hosted its first joint commencement on June 25 of the new Hall Paramedic Academy and Class 35 of the Hall EMT Academy.

Nearly 300 family members, friends and Hall Ambulance leadership were in attendance to show their support to 14 paramedic students and 12 EMT students for their accomplishments.

The event marked the completion of Class 1 of the Hall Paramedic Academy which began on Aug. 20, 2018. Each of the students, who previously worked as Hall EMTs, were eager to take their EMS careers to the next level. Upon completing the company's paramedic assessment program, they became eligible for sponsorship into the paramedic program. Through the sponsorship, their education and field training were covered as well as their regular wages while attending class Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Over 16 weeks, the paramedic students completed 608 classroom hours comprised of 452 didactic hours, 14 exams, 14 quizzes, six finals and 150 hours in hands-on skills and labs. Afterward, they were required to complete 120 hours in hospital clinicals and 540 hours in field internships. Their final steps toward becoming certified paramedics included passing the NREMT skills, FISDAP exit exam and the NREMT written exam.

In addition, 12 students are prepared and ready to start their EMS career as emergency medical technicians as graduates of Class 35 of the Hall EMT Academy. For seven weeks, the recruits completed 272 classroom hours consisting of 224 didactic hours as they prepared to work in Hall Ambulance's 9-1-1 system. The students passed five module exams, daily quizzes and 48-hours in skills in preparation to take the NREMT written test. Finally, they completed 24-hours in field training and ambulance ride-alongs.

Established in 2018, the Harvey L. Hall EMS Academy serves as the training facility for the Hall EMT Academy and the Hall Paramedic Academy. The campus also hosts continuing education programs for Hall Ambulance Paramedics, EMTs, RNs and Emergency Medical Dispatchers.

Founded by Harvey L. Hall in 1971, Hall Ambulance Service, Inc. is the 9-1-1 paramedic provider for 88 percent of Kern County, California's population, comprising of over three-quarters of a million people.