Would you go to Paris and not see the Eiffel Tower? In a certain way going to Paris and going to Emt school are kinda similar. Both are expensive expenditures designed for personal growth. BATA in San Leandro offers a fine establishment to help you do so. But that's just what it is, "fine". Nothing terrible, nothing extraordinary. So why am I rating it 5 stars? Because BATA is great at scouting talent. On June 25, 2009 at 7 pm in New York, another Bay Area facility 10 mins north from here called the Golden State Warriors drafted an undersized baby faced player named Steph Curry who changed the direction of the franchise forever. In a similar notion BATA signed a baby faced, undersized unicorn of their own. Ricardo James Segura. Rick and his team of Mike, David, and Brian are the best in the business and the sole reason that I put BATA in such high regard. Does BATA have working gurneys? Sometimes. Does BATA's online learning program help the success of its students? Debatable. Does BATA have a functioning lock for the stalls in their bathrooms? Naw. Does BATA have comfy seats? I'm not really sure, but probably not. But I would lather myself up with syrup and roll around the floor of barbershop if Rick was lecturing, comfort comes secondary. He is a fountain of information and has 20 years of experience as an EMT. You know how you're 3rd grade music teacher that taught you how to play the recorder probably told chicks he was a musician, fuck that guy. Rick is actually the real deal, teaches part time and is out in the real world practicing part time as well. I faced the greatest fear in my life a few months ago when I took a DNA test. From the 1800s to the early 1900s the British rule hit my family's home state of Orissa in India. Orissa was and is a poor state, something like the Nebraska of India. However it's proximity to china and its long Oceanside made it an ideal trading spot. The British soldiers took land and resources from my people creating a famine that killed over 2 million, capturing the surviving men as slaves and raping the women. Due to its poverty the Indian Government did not offer aid to Orissa and focused on its larger more prospering states, something that they still don't bring up today. When I took the DNA test I was afraid that it would show some British ancestry. When the results showed a minority percentage European my heart sank, upon further investigation tho it was shown that all my European DNA came from Italy which makes sense cause I love pasta. My greatest fear was to be brought into existence by the means of injustices that plagued my people and spilled blood on the sacred soil of my ancestors. My second biggest fear is that Emt school would suck. Thanks to Rick it doesn't, I'm 23 now I've been in school for 18 years and he's probably one of my favorite instructors. In fact I'm taking two classes rn, working part time, and I'm super lazy there is no reason why I should be making it to every class yet some days I even look forward to class. Our class is filled of students from all ages, genders, and backgrounds and we all get along due to the tone set by Rick. I'm sure there are a lot of other beautiful monuments in Paris but I wouldn't go to Paris and not see the Eiffel Tower. I'm also sure there are a lot other good EMT instructors but I wouldn't go to EMT school if Rick wasn't my instructor. read more

I attended BATA after resigning from my software engineering job for a career change. I was one of the first students at the new Milpitas location. My instructors Scottie and Dakota were seasoned EMS professionals with a tons of experience working in the field as well as teaching. They were well connected and excellent instructors. I came in with some high-level knowledge from AP Biology in high school, and I enjoyed revisiting the biological sciences related to emergency medical treatment from a very applied perspective during lecture time. I got to learn for the first time how to perform crucial life saving procedures with personalized coaching from the instructors during the practical exercise time. The classrooms were well stocked with all kinds of equipment and we got to see everything that goes into an ambulance during class and then see even more during the ride-alongs with local companies. It was cool seeing all the stuff described in the textbook. BATA is based on one of the best NREMT textbook and exam preparation resources at the time of this review (JBL). The rigor of BATA rivaled that of my STEM undergraduate education at a UC. I postulate this is because incentives are nicely aligned as BATA needs to thoroughly prepare students to be future livesavers with responsibility across EMS, firefighting, medicine, and other fields of service. The 5 week course was quite fast-paced, but Scottie and Dakota helped everyone willing to put in the work succeed. For folks who had unexpected schedule conflicts or illnesses arise, BATA staff flexibly provided multiple options to retake the class in the future. Coming from an engineering background, I had cognitive biases and some unlearning to do in order to ramp up onto the complex operating system that is the human body. I used to be a Teaching Assistant when I was in university and took pedagogy courses. Scottie and Dakota's socratic and rigorous teaching styles was very effective at helping catch subtle errors in me and my classmate's technique, and I learned more from them than I would ever have been able to learn otherwise. Thanks to their coaching, I went from not knowing how to take a manual blood pressure on the first day to being quite comfortable taking various vital signs out in the field during my practical ride-alongs. Now the ride-alongs were one of the coolest part of the program. I was on top of getting my immunizations done well before I started class. I was quickly matched with ride-along shifts at two companies, one IFT and one 911. Being able to shadow actual paramedics and EMTs (including former BATA alums) and apply my skills from class to help patients in the community was probably one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had. I'm very impressed at the organization and networking the staff at BATA has invested in to make it seamless for BATA students to gain real world experience and post-graduate paid employment opportunities. As promised, right after class I already had job offers from two local ambulance companies (we even had recruiters visit us in class to sell us on their companies before class ended). I'm excited to join the world of EMS and I was only able to make it this far with Scottie J, Dakota, Ysabel, Nicky and the rest of the BATA team's support! Join team BATA if you want to save lives! read more

Good stuff about BATA - The staff really cares about you finishing the course, and will help you in any way they can do get that done - The facilities are nice, and there are plenty of practice resources (ie. dummies, supplies, extra tutoring available) - Nice balance of class time -- 4 hour lecture in the morning, 4 hour skills sessions in the afternoon - Absolutely fantastic skills teacher (and lecturer), Chris Gregory -- incredible educator both in the classroom and outside with mannequins, created fun and educational exercises, created a safe space for students to ask questions, really dedicated and cares which showed every day - Prepared us well for National Registry Exam, and gave ample resources and guidance on how to get through all the bureaucratic steps to get state certified, ambulance license, etc. following national certification Not good stuff about BATA - The 5 week course is an unreasonable time frame -- It is only possible to stay up to date with the material if you have literally no other commitments or responsibilities outside of class and can dedicate 20-30 hours in addition to being in the classroom. It is efficient, however at the cost of mental and physical health, so just know what you are getting yourself into - My professor, Judith Crawford, was extremely problematic in how she spoke about race (made an argument racism was rare in the field/invalidated the experience of a POC when they spoke up in class), mental health (instilled that 51-50 calls equated to restraints and that most mental health emergencies are also violent), and female health (made jokes about never wanting to get a childbirth call/was weird about learning babies and female health in general) **She abruptly left the class after 4 weeks, and hopefully will not be returning, but beware** - Feel a bit like a cash cow, because the 5 week course really feels like you are set up to fall behind and fail because it is so fast. The staff really do care, and will try their best to help support you in any extra way they can, but ultimately they have the 5 week because more students = more money, so just know it is a mixed bag Overall I would recommend BATA, just with a grain of salt. I definitely give them the benefit of the doubt and believe I had a different experience than most because of my professor (it was her first class) and COVID made the school overall a bit frazzled and unorganized, which I definitely understand. My professor was abhorrent, however due to that she left during my course (and I believe won't be returning), I won't reflect my experience with her in BATA's star rating. If you're looking for a grueling, but quick certification, BATA is the place for you. read more

When I first started EMT class, I was a little concerned that BATA had been founded just a few years ago and didn't have an established track record. I am happy to say that my concern was uncalled for; the past couple months have been some of the most exciting in my life. I can unequivocally say that Rick has been one of my favorite instructors ever. He's personable, engaging, and extremely knowledgable. I was impressed by his real-world experience, his endless barrage of stories, and most of all by his enthusiasm for teaching. He has a knack for building a culture of healthy competition, and the camaraderie amongst students at the end of the 8th week was unlike anything I had experienced before in a classroom, let alone at the end of the second month. Should I mention that one of the students brought home-made chocolates for the end-of-class potluck? Even more significantly, the instructors did a great job of working off of each other and teaching us a different aspect of EMS. David had incredible real-world MCI scenarios, Mike skillfully guided students through a difficult calls, and, though I didn't spend as much time with him, I had the impression that Brian held a high standard. Rick was the kingpin, taking special time to learn names and to personally help every student succeed by working with their strengths and weaknesses. I can think of few instructors who are so consistently well-liked by all of their students. Overall, I'm truly grateful for having been part of this experience. I took this class on a whim and was lucky to be placed in a great class with a great set of instructors. It turned out to be much better than I could have imagined, and I would highly recommend Rick's class for anyone who is interested in EMS. read more

Instructor Albright is one of the best instructors I've had. Throughout taking this EMT course, as a student doing the reading and going through the course material, we get constant guides, helpful tips and tricks, and just overall thorough guidelines which were designed by Instructor Albright to help us. This is important and is a big indicator of a teacher who truly cares for every student to the point where he is at home with his wife and daughter, but is still doing all of the reading with us and typing up extremely helpful guides where you can tell he's putting in the time and effort, even at home, for the benefit of his students. He does a lot of things that he actually doesn't need to in order to help us excel. He stays late after class if a student has a concern and answers questions honestly and thoroughly. He truly is an exceptional instructor and I cannot stress this enough. The students in his class have a national registry First Try exam pass rate of more than 90% (very high passing percentage) and it's obvious why. I was passionate about the EMT field before even choosing which academy to go to, but I can honestly say I'm glad I went with BATA because Albright has made me more passionate about the field than I ever was before. BE WARNED, this man will make you work hard. BUT, he will keep you engaged the entire time, and you will learn A LOT. He does this to send well-trained, well-qualified, and passionate EMTS out into the EMS world, and that's what you'll get with BATA and Instructor Albright. I would highly recommend this Academy to anybody who is serious about working in EMS. read more

I've worked in the medical field for years and wanted to broaden my horizons by becoming an EMT. However, I had a number of issues finding a course suitable for me. I couldn't afford to leave my primary work, thus ruling out day classes. I was eager to begin courses in the near future, and the majority of EMT course options were annually held many months away. Finally, I didn't want to leave the Bay Area. I ultimately discovered the Bay Area Training Academy and in retrospect could not be happier with my decision to enroll. The class was scheduled to my convenience and provided a thorough review of the field of medicine from the perspective of an EMT-B. I had taken a separate EMT course 10+ years ago, thus giving me the perspective and confidence to advertise the quality of BATA staff, course materials, and case simulations. Between BATA staff and students, BATA begins to feel like family quickly. I had the privilege of working with Instructor Albright, a well-experienced paramedic who brought enthusiasm and professional advice to a new level for each class. He organized practice simulations regularly to prepare us students for both passing the national examination and becoming the best emergency medicine staff possible. Students have convenient access to ride-alongs in ambulances as well to maximize actual experience. Overall, the course outlines expectations and outcomes thoroughly; the informative staff provides students individual counsel for both coursework management and general career development. It goes without saying at this point that I believe BATA is certainly worth considering. read more

I recently took the 5-week EMT course with BATA and I couldn't imagine before I started, the amount I would able to learn in such a short amount of time. My instructor was Chris Gregory and he was amazing as an instructor. Incredibly knowledgeable on the content he was teaching and he brought great energy and passion from the first day till the last day; which made the course so much easier to complete. I came in with no prior medical experience or knowledge and in 5 weeks I felt so confident in the subject matter and felt very prepared for the NREMT. Chris also goes above and beyond to help his students understand complex subjects and you never feel like he is just rushing through the material. All of the skills instructors were amazing as well, just like Chris they will go through the skills until you feel confident in your abilities to do them on your own. And they make the hands-on portion of the class really fun. Nicky was great as well, she was accomodating when I had to switch classes due to work, and she was also able to create a safe environment during these times. Overall, I was pretty shocked at how smoothly the course went, and before I chose BATA I was in between programs that I wanted to attend. But now looking back I am beyond happy that I chose this program. If you are serious about enrolling in an EMT program I would 100% recommend BATA, you won't regret it. read more

BATA is an awesome organization! They are more than willing to help you put your best foot forward in helping you progress towards your goals -- whether that be in EMS, fire, police, PA school, nursing school, medical school, etc. I took the course with Instructor Albright. I cannot say how much I appreciate him (and of course the skills instructors and BATA staff). The teaching style of Instructor Albright aligned so well with how I learn. He established a safe learning environment as well as being open to us. Being open to us created a strong connection to us which in turn created the safe learning environment. There were times where I felt behind in the lectures and during skills training, but Instructor Albright was always there to answer any questions to help grasp a better understanding of the lecture material and skills. Instructor Albright's belief in strong teamwork was definitely instilled in me by the end of the course. I could not have done it without the strong support of him and my classmates. I definitely feel I have created great relationships during the course that will last! Never be afraid to ask questions and reach out to him or your classmates. We are all in this together! read more

I just finished the EMT program that started right at the beginning of the Covid crisis. The Enthusiasm, professionalism, and dedication that the entire staff showed our class during the five week accelerated program was off the charts! The academy is operated by WestMed, a BLS/Critical care ambulance company, so many of the hands-on skills are taught with the ambulances and equipment in their fleet on-site. Some companies might just explain what it would be like to work in the field, and we actually practiced real world medical and trauma scenarios treating each other in neighborhoods and parks of San Leandro with spinal considerations, C-collar/backboard, loading the patient onto the gurney, and getting their history & vitals-in the ambulance ride back to the school. Chris was our Primary EMT Instructor who, like many other staff there have the ability to make eight hrs Fly by in seconds! With experience as an actor Chris will convince you that he is really having a heart attack, stroke or an asthma attack! I highly recommended doing your EMT training here! Get ready for the educational experience Of your life! . Thank you to everyone at BATA & Westmed! read more

I just finished a five-week EMT course, and I believe Chris Gregory teaches one of the finest EMT courses a person can find in California, perhaps one of the finest in the US. Chris G, coming from a background in EMT, firefighting, lifegaurding ( & quite possibly every thing else), was our class instructor. Chris is a phenomenal educator. Every subject taught with energy, animation, and stories from his own experience that would capture the attention of the class every day. Also a shout out to our Chris's co-instrutors Collin and Jordan who would come from Westmed Ambulance, and to Nicky Bahr who heads the BATA program itself. For anyone looking for education in Healthcare I can't think of a more informative course that can be achieved in such a short period of time. My advice is don't take the five week course if you are working, as it requires all of your time. You will arrive at class wishing you had more time with the material, so stay ahead of the course work if possible. To the staff I was fortunate enough to meet at BATA, I wish you all the best in fields. You gave us quite an amazing five weeks. read more

When I say I could not be happier with my decision of going to BATA, I truly do mean it. This course, even though it is accelerated, over teaches you to make sure your successful for the NREMT and your future in the EMS. Not just is the curriculum more than fulfilling, but the instructors are the gemstones of this whole program. Not only do they treat you as equals and colleagues despite your age and the experience you have under your belt, but the teach you as if their life depends on it. They will do absolutely ANYTHING to make sure you have a solid foundation, are able to retain this information, and how to retain said information. Instructor Albright was my instructor and I have never been more impressed by a teacher. Truly deserves the big bucks. Thank you BATA for everything. Truly will be a company that will always have a lasting impact on me and my future. read more

Instructor Rick is probably the best educator I have ever had. Not only does rick make class fun, but his experience and knowledge is unmatched in this field. He makes sure you understand the course content, and goes above and beyond in making himself available to help with anybody struggling in the class. I have witnessed great leaders in my past working closely with local law enforcement professionals, and not only does rick demonstrate the quality and traits of a well established leader, maintains professionalism while staying level headed and humble. No doubt would I recommend this man to EVERYBODY wanting to take an EMT class. And Bay Area Training Academy wouldn't last without this man. Thank you Rick. If it wasn't for you, I truly don't believe I would've maintained the motivation to follow through with this class. read more

If you are reading Bay Area Training Academy reviews to consider whether or not you should take this course, do it! If you are interested in becoming an EMT then I highly recommend you go for this course . The knowledge alone that is expected of you when you complete this course is above most other classes. You learn a lot and are able to do hands on stuff as well which helps you put some of your learning into perspective. I took the course with instructor Albright and I can't say enough how great he is! Albright makes you want to actually come to class and learn every week. He goes above and beyond for his students and not only will you learn you'll genuinely enjoy it. He makes being in a classroom environment enjoyable and I highly recommend him. He is very knowledgeable, honest, funny and bald, you'll love him! read more

One day out the blue I decided I wanted to do Emt.I never read a review just googled a emt school that was close and ended up loving it.I came to Bata not knowing what to expect.My first couple weeks got cut short due but I got to come back.My instructor was Stephen Albright, Wow what can I say about this man.One of the best instructors I had not only is he smart he is funny and makes u wanna come to class.Although the material is not easy his style of teaching makes you wanna learn more.I can tell you it was never a boring day in his class.From the lectures to skills I enjoyed everyday minute of it.i got the knowledge I needed and more.I can say money well spent.I can indeed say im honored to be a Bata Student.Taking this course was one of best decision Ive made. read more

If you're looking for an EMT course that goes above and beyond to teach you the skills and knowledge you need to go into EMS then Instructor Albright's class is the class for you! I can't explain the level of dedication that Albright brings to each class, he really cares about supporting his students and producing confident EMTs. Not only are his lectures and skills days fun and exciting, but they also make the material easy to digest and apply. I couldn't be happier with the course I took, I passed the NREMT test on my first try and went to work as a ski patroller the very next day. I felt confident and qualified to handle emergency situations right out of the classroom. Thank you Bay Area Training Academy and Instructor Albright! read more

Steve Albright, remember this name. He is one of the BEST teacher, I have taken any classes with, ever and I have taken lots of classes with lots of different teachers. I was enrolled in his 8 weeks course, it was tough, especially when you are also enrolled in college courses and having a kid to take care of. But Steve made it much more bearable and fun class with his funny teaching style filled with lot and lots of real world examples. I can't recommend his class enough and him as a teacher. It will be tough, stressful, long hours of studying but you can do it when you have a teacher like Steve, who really cares and helps you every step of the way, with the end goal of turning you into an amazing EMT. Thank you Steve! read more

What a ride! The instructors at BATA made every part of our education encouraging, exciting, engaging and most importantly fun! I highly recommend taking the EMT course, whatever your goals may be. Its a great starting point for a broad variety of careers and the people that work here really do care about their students, staff and the reason we all take these courses, the public at large. Scottie was hands down one of the most sincere, understanding, and honest teachers I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Five stars, a great experience and a fantastic community to be a part of and I wouldn't trade anything for what I've learned. Be cautious.. there is a lot of studying to do, but I'm sure you will do great. read more

I just finished my 5-week course for EMT-B at BATA and it was so much more than I could have asked for! Chris was my instructor and he was one of the best teachers I've ever had. He thoroughly knows the material and has so many real life experiences to pull from. Most importantly, he really cared about all of us. It never felt like we were just being pushed through a run of the mill program - BATA is far from that, and we got as much support as we needed. I feel confident going into my NREMT exam because of this program. Also, shoutout to the amazing skills instructors that BATA provides! Devin, Jordan, Clinton, James and Colin were extremely helpful throughout our course. read more

i have always wanted to be an emt. I took the 7 week program because I was in a hurry. I had no idea what I was getting myself into! it wasn't the easiest of courses, but with instructor Albright, Michael, and sarah on my team I was able to complete this program and live my dream. I am completely mind blown with the amount of dedication and support I have received from the team that bata had to offer. I would recommend this class to anyone with any interest in the ems world. they not only set you up to be successful but they also remind you constantly that you are not just a price tag and they do really indeed care about your goals. read more