12 week, Mon./Wed. evening course. Most definitely an extremely challenging course. But duable if you put in the work. My first (911) ambulance ride-along was intense. I went from arriving to the ED with a stroke patient to immediately requested to assist with CPR as another patient that previously arrived to ED flat-lined. This went on for over 2 minutes. He was bleeding out severely. Both blood transfusion devices malfunctioned, one right after the other. I was suddenly part of a team of about 8 trying to bring this patient back to life. 2 minutes past, to no avail. The medic was about to call time of death at 2 min. 27 sec. She was mid sentence then a team member checked the corotid pulse, weak at first then just as quick it became strong. SUCCESS! Next call was a possible cardiac arrest that suddenly changed to full arrest. Upon arrival and figuring that just moments ago I assisted the previous team with success in bringing someone back to life I went in without hesitation to begin CPR. Suddenly, it started hailing, then raining, then lightning strikes. During this moment I realized we're now all soaked, in a "puddle of water," AED is on and connected to the patient. I was not only focused on assuring that I maintained high quality CPR I was also listening with serious concern if, and or when the AED might initiate to shock the patient. I clearly understood I was surrounded by experienced professionals from various agencies. That said, you never know. Shit happens. I kept focused. The AED gave no such advice. Unfortunately the patient was unable to be revived. Upon arrival of the sheriff acknowledged the patient DOS. That was just of my 3 of 6 ride-along experiences that day. Take this course seriously. You might just be put in a position to save someone's life, and or witness death too. The information you're required to know, memorize, and execute will insist you stay on your toes throughout this course. Do NOT think you can cheat, and or casually get by. You will definitely have wasted your time and money should you attempt this approach. Now consider yourselves advised. That's extra, no charge. Not West Coast EMT but, material from JB Learning has some serious issues of concern. That said, your instructors are aware and committed in ongoing communication with them. If, or rather when you get the 12th edition JB Learning textbook you find the questionable information just let the instructor know and they'll handle it and provide you with accurate information. Again, they're pretty much doing this already. Obviously, if you're reading this review at a later date from original post date, this issue will most likely apply. That said, the instructors, mine were Manny Eskander & Andrew Frank are very knowledgeable, phenomenal, helpful, genuine, kind, and patient. Even during a quiz or exam they won't give you the answer but they can help guide and clarify. Students can and will easily become overwhelmed and the instructors are at the receiving end so, be aware, kind, and appreciate that they, at the end of the day, are always available to help you...JUST ASK. Easy peezy. And remember, it's not their fault that JB Learning is what it is. I can express enough my gratitude and respect for them. I can only hope that they are receiving well deserved, fair, and adequate payment for their amazing teaching skills. Because they bloody well deserved it. I could not have succeeded without them. As for administration. I'll just say this, their is definitely some inconsistencies that I personally experienced. My advice, make and keep copies of "everything" for yourself that you're required to hand in. When waiting for your Ride-along notification and information do NOT count on consistency. I received the first notification, no problem. I even got a text to follow up and confirm that I received the message and to confirm that I will attend. Then I supposedly was sent another message/email. I called the office to check for my second ride-along and they said I missed it and provided their evidence claiming an email was sent,(even showed the date). I did not receive it. PERIOD!!! I advise you to not only check email, junk mail, texts, but call the office every week until you get absolute confirmation. If administration seems frustrated by your following up. Don't sweat, it's your money and time that takes priority. My classmate claimed he got sent to the wrong location. I can't verify this. That said, definitely verify the location, company, time, date, where to park, etc cetera. Take responsibility and action to avoid being charged an extra $50.00US for missing your ride-along. Funny thing, when I got the second ride-along they too followed up with a text message that time. Hmmm? Overall I still give 5 stars. Totally worth it. I'm proud of my graduating class. Once again, a big shout out and props to instructors Manny & Frank!! You guys F*@K'N ROCK!! And to Michael, Leo, & Pry!! read more

I have only good things to say about West Coast EMT, and specifically, my instructor Sam. I recommend this school (and have, already) to people who don't just want to get an EMT certification, but who also want to feel competent and prepared when they go into the field. One of the common sentiments I read online was that new EMTs (from other schools) graduated and felt like a fish out of water before going into their first jobs. I think something very unique and valuable about WCEMT is that if I were dropped into a 911 shift right now, I could hold my own, and probably even help some people. I owe it to WC, and Sam, to write an absolute essay of a review, so: The class was challenging, but not in the way that some college professors say their classes are "challenging" (and use it as an excuse to fail a bunch of people). This class was challenging, but in a way that actually brings out the effort of the students. I have been an A student for all my life and always found school relatively easy, but to get an A in this class, you have to really put in the time and the work. It's also one of those classes where studying and reviewing actually translates to higher grades. I took the 12 week T/Th class while in college full-time. It is totally doable if you are willing to shift your priorities and focus on this class. Studying 1 hour before class won't work; you need to literally live in this textbook. Do your readings and notes before class, follow along during lectures, and ask questions. Block 1 is a slap in the face because it shows you the question style for exams; the questions are tough, because they're written like the NREMT (or even harder). The subsequent blocks are much more palatable because, by then, you've learned how to break down the questions. The S/S notebook is a very valuable study resource; complete it as you progress through the unit, don't wait until the day before the exam. Simply completing it was enough for me to learn the pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, and treatment for each condition, and apply that knowledge to the exams. The JBL quizzes are also very valuable to review before each exam as the questions on the exams can be very similar. The skills instructors were very friendly and helpful. Most of them were working in the EMS field as well as being graduates of WC, so were a very valuable resource to ask questions to. The two ride-alongs were one of the most valuable parts of the class. I lucked out and got both with CARE/Falck in LA, a 911 service. Most other people got one with a 911 service, and one with an IFT. My first ride-along was about half way through the class and I was definitely floundering. I recommend waiting until the later half to do your ride alongs. My last one was just before the end of block 4 and I was able to impress my supervising crew enough that they let me run a call & perform an assessment by myself (which I felt prepared enough to do, thanks to this class!). Applying what I saw on the ride-alongs to what I learned in class was awesome and helped bridge the gap between actually knowing something and understanding something. Additionally, lots of the fire paramedics we met on my ride-along were graduates of WC, and had only good things to say. This class would be nothing without the instructor, Sam Tonetti. She is easily one of the most capable, intelligent, and funny people I've ever met. The teacher always makes the class, and this is definitely the case here. She made everything engaging, relevant, personal, and applicable to the real world. She could answer pretty much every question we threw at her, even the dumb ones. It was obvious she really likes her job and really wants us to succeed. I took the NREMT five days after taking the final. I didn't study in-between. I got cut off at 70 questions, and passed. Overall, if you're going to go to an EMT school, WC is the best/only choice. P.S: 5* for Little Baby, too! read more

I was enrolled in the full time EMT Basic class from January 2019 to February 2019 in their Orange County location. Going into this class I had little to no exposure to the medical field or to many of the biological and physiological concepts the class covers. If you're worried about a lack of experience hindering you, don't! The class is intense but if you study hard, participate in lectures, and finish the homework, you'll be well prepared for your NREMT skills exam as well as the NREMT written exam. I passed both on my first attempts. I'm a big advocate of your instructor having a substantial impact on your success in any given class. A good instructor can make boring concepts interesting, motivate you to work hard, and balance education and fun. My instructor was Kyle and he was able to do all these things. Kyle is an incredibly knowledgeable paramedic/instructor and he did a great job of relating his real world experiences to the skills and concepts we covered. Kyle's method of teaching pairs humor and practical knowledge with a genuine interest in his students' success. He often stayed late and responded to emails outside of class hours to ensure our class was prepared. If you have the opportunity to take a class with him I highly recommend it. Beyond the quality instructors West Coast EMT employs, their new Anaheim facility offers large, clean classrooms for their students and a lot of good equipment to get hands on training. Everyone will have the opportunity to work with all the tools EMTs use in the field. You'll handle oxygen tanks, AEDs, backboards, CPR dummies, splints, and much more. I was in the last group of students to attend class in their Orange, CA facility and after visiting the Anaheim location on several occasions since then, I can tell you it has everything you need to be successful. The last thing I'll say is that West Coast EMT goes the extra mile in preparing you for a career after you complete the class. They bring in private ambulance companies to discuss the role they play in the community and share what it's like being an EMT. You'll go on ride-alongs with some of these ambulance companies and get real world experience in transporting and treating patients. The staff at West Coast EMT even take on the task of contacting these ambulance companies on your behalf (working with your schedule of course) to set up these ride-alongs so that you can spend more time focusing on classwork. For many who become EMTs, this is their first step in a career in fire or in medicine. If your goal is to continue your education beyond attaining your EMT certification, I encourage you to consider West Coast EMT as your first step in that pursuit. read more

This is a fantastic company! I took the EMT-1 accelerated class which was a Mon-Fri, 8-5 program, and enjoyed every second of it .(they also have other options for schedule) The instructors' are the TOP GUN of the EMS classroom and field. The main teacher for my class, Jess, was not just some book taught, college grad, handing out scan-trons. His real life experience in the field was shared and welcomed by all the students. This American "bad-ass" has done everything from defend this country through the navy, protect our cities as a Firefighter, and has far exceeded the expectations of a paramedic. There was plenty of hands-on lessons as well as slides, videos, and student interaction. He was very helpful and offered as much after class room help as you wanted, including sitting in on other lectures during night class, or helping with skills day for others. You could tell that he actually cared about us knowing the information due to his passion in the field. Another outstanding individual was Matt. Even though he was an instructor for other classes, he was always there to lend advice or help during our busy schedule. He has an attitude that is like no other and makes you feel like you're part of his team as well. His knowledge combined with his easy going persona, makes him an essential addition to this team of professionals. The office, just like the classroom, was very well organized and easy to work with. This was due to an amazing executive assistant by the name of Brooke. ( you're awesome!) From my frightening first day, to my elated final day, any question or concern I had regarding any policies or technicalities, she answered with a beautiful smile! (thanks for letting me charge my phone as well :) Now as everyone knows, behind an excellent crew is an outstanding leader. Ryan Hertzberg, the program director, has revolutionized the EMS classroom and it's ability to teach eager students of all levels. Whether you're brand new to the EMS world or a paramedic who is returning for C.E. , or just want to take a CPR class for your own knowledge, this "General" has it covered. Besides the fact that he is also a paramedic, his level of attention to detail is superb. I absolutely enjoyed his enthusiasm on a day-to-day basis and his encouraging words of wisdom to get me through some tougher days. All in all, this place is GREAT, and I'll take the "Pepsi Challenge" to any other school any other day. Thanks again crew! read more

Hi my name is nick, i just attended the 4 week accelerated program that started July 15th, 2013. there were about 32-34 total students. WEST COAST EMT claim's to have a 100% graduation rate of their previous classes and they say "No man left behind" first of all that is a lie, i just found out today they have had multiple students have to repeat the coarse over & over. but that's not my main point. Their "Lead instructor" is "Tosha" who was my teacher and is for all their programs. (Accelerated +nights & weekends) what they don't tell you on their WEBSITE is "Tosha" runs a bakery on the side. I guess that explains her showing up at the same time as students (or if she is at class before it starts she is sleeping....) ALSO explains why she would go through the lectures as FAST as possible & let us out to lunch 15-30 MINUTES earlier than she should have ... (she ALSO let us out to go home at 4:30pm. Sometimes 4:15pm. Not to mention every hour we take a 10min-20min break, The schedule is "mon.-friday 7am-5pm" (LUNCH 12-1pm) so out of the 9 hours we are mandated to be there we would only spend about 6 hours learning..... (If that) THEY CLAIM THAT IF YOU HAVE NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE TO EMT, THEY WILL TEACH YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO BECOME ONE. Not true, when i was asking "Tosha" why i was having trouble learning all the info, She said: "Well almost all the other students took Anatomy & Psychology prior, so that's why you aren't doing that well... One of the directors "Veronica" was very upset when she found out I recorded the audio for the entire 4 weeks Monday through Friday. She said, "YOU CANT DO THAT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE PERMISSION FROM THE TEACHER, ITS HER LECTURE, YOUR NOT ALOUD TO RECORD THE CLASS." sorry lady but I do that on a regular basis in my college classes and it helps me learn. I think she was mainly upset because it holds their school accountable for their shortcomings..... Anyhow that's my exact experience with: West Coast EMT 932 Town & Country Rd. Orange, CA 92868 (714) 558-9604 (OH AND BTW ALL THE TESTS YOU WILL TAKE (AT WEST COAST EMT) ARE WORD FOR WORD COPIED OFF OF THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES): "CRAM.COM" / "QUIZLET.COM" / "MEMORIZE.COM" HERE ARE THE LINKS: #1 (http://quizlet.com/...) #2 (http://memorize.com...) #3 (http://memorize.com...) Was going to send this to the school for an appeal but I honestly don't want to go back there ever... Sorry Ryan for the bad review but this is all factual unfortunately... read more

I had a very positive experience because of my instructor. I had Lisa as the instructor and I was extremely impressed with her teaching style. I started off in the full time course in Orange for three weeks, but the program was not compatible with my work schedule so I decided to transfer to the night class in Riverside. About 5 students were from the LA/Orange County region and we all didn't mind the commute, because Lisa definitely made it worth it! She has A LOT of experience in the field and in teaching, cares about her students, very authentic, and knows how to connect with the class. After graduating from UCLA with awesome professors and with 7 years of teaching experience, I was hoping to get an instructor who had a lot of expertise the field of EMS and after the first day in Lisa's class I knew that my experience at West Coast would definitely be worth the time and resources. She knows how to engage the students and doesn't try to play the role of the "bully drill sergeant" who is trying to prove something and is barely getting their feet wet as an instructor in the EMS world. In fact, she has a lot of humility and is very respectable. I highly recommend her class; you will gain in-depth knowledge, skills, and be greatly inspired. My only recommendation is that school would invest more in helping out the instructors. For example, they need to hire "skill instructors" or teacher aides to assist the main instructors with teaching the skills to the large amount of students because it seemed that the main instructors were already doing so much and they couldn't be at every station whenever the students needed assistance. In Orange , the class was larger and I noticed that some students had difficulty in trying to figure out how to read the skill sheets and do the skills on their own. This is mainly because there is a lack of skill instructors to assist the teachers. The school can also invest more in better technology, furniture, and equipment to promote a more professional and academic setting. But overall, it was a great experience and I would do it all over again! Keep in mind that it was intense and it definitely isn't for those who want to just get a certificate. The exams are challenging, the amount of studying required to pass is a lot, and there needs to be a HUGE commitment level on the student's part. Most importantly, having a great instructor will make all the difference! read more

I have some concerns regarding my experience at this EMT school that I feel potential students should be aware of. While I appreciate the dedication of certain instructors, I found the overall structure of the program challenging and not conducive to success. The night course format felt limiting, and many of the classes involved instructors reading directly from PowerPoint slides, interspersed with personal anecdotes rather than engaging with the material in a more interactive way. While some skills instructors were approachable and supportive, others struggled to provide adequate guidance, particularly when we broke into smaller groups and had multiple questions about specific skills. This inconsistency made it difficult for many of us to feel confident in our learning. The time commitment for the program is significant, with strict attendance policies that allowed for only two absences before facing potential dismissal. The skills sessions, held every other Sunday for 3 months, initially seemed beneficial, but I ultimately felt that they included unnecessary content that didn't align with what we needed for the exams. I noticed many students, including friends I made along the way, were retaking the course due to the challenges they faced, which raised concerns about the overall structure and support provided. It's important to note that the quizzes and exams did not always reflect the material presented in class. I found that supplemental resources, like the EMT Pocket Prep app and The Paramedic Coach on YouTube, were more effective in preparing for assessments. Additionally, I observed that the equipment used during training was outdated, which detracted from the learning experience. Overall, my experience at this school left me feeling that it prioritized financial gain over student success. From a class of 48, we ended up with less than 25 students able to take the final exam. I genuinely wish I had chosen a different program that better aligned with my learning needs and provided a more supportive environment. I encourage prospective students to thoroughly research their options before making a decision. read more

I've read review after review after review after review. I would caution you to speak with the staff and you will quickly learn people can write what they want when they're not happy. So I've heard about this EMT school for a while and I finally decided to embark on a EMS career after college. In speaking with my friends who went to West Coast EMT in Orange and in Riverside it was just a matter of where I would go. I listened and quickly realized the Riverside campus was better suited for me. Everyone was talking about how great this instructor Shawn Huges was but I didn't believe them. I got into his class and learned soo much from him. He made himself available anytime I or may classmates had a question both at school and via text or email. I've never had an instructor make himself more available than him. He encouraged us to study, yet he made the class fun and a great learning environment. If you have a problem with this program, maybe you should take a look in the mirror and evaluate yourself. When it came to my ride outs with AMR my preceptor would grill me, but I was prepared. They were impressed that I've learned so much from an EMT school. One preceptor made a comment that he didn't learn half the stuff that I already knew and he came from the same program. Fast forward, I passed the class and some of my classmates didn't. What it came down to it, I made a decision to be the best EMT possible Shawn always said, "Would you want you responding to your house for a medical aid." Other students claimed they studied but all I heard when they didn't pass was excuses. I'm not the smartest person, I have ADHD so at times focusing was very difficult. I passed the NREMT at 70, I couldn't believe it. All my friends who passed the course also passed the NREMT at 70. Thanks WCEMT read more

I just passed the Full Time class this past term as well as the NREMT on my first try. I'm on my way to getting my OCEMS license. My instructor, Kyle, was awesome. He taught us information from the book, but also plenty of personal experiences that definitely helped me remember certain concepts. He is very informative, he knows his stuff, and he's extremely nice and fun to be around. The full time course is definitely not for the faint of heart, and if you think it'll be easy or you'll have much of a life outside of studying every day after class plus on the weekends, you're wrong. If you want to pass, you MUST study as much as you can, and then some. No half assing this class. You must take it seriously (theres $1000+ on the line, so that's also some incentive). I would also recommend some background in science and/or A&P if possible. I lost count of how many times having bio and anatomy classes under my belt saved my ass. In addition, it is absolutely essential that you make some friends. Whether it's for the purpose of keeping your sanity and venting to someone about an exam, or having a study buddies, you really have to make some connections. As much as I learned, and as much fun as I had doing it, I have to say my only complaint is the lack of quality equipment available. A lot of the things are broken, not working properly, outdated or completely unavailable. That being said, though, I don't think this really impacts the quality of the course itself. Just something that bugged me. All of that being said, I had a blast with WCEMT and learned a ton, and I believe taking this course will greatly help me in my career path. read more

I wanted to take a moment and give a huge thank you to West Coast EMT. This was by far the most challenging and rewarding experience I've had to date and would heavily recommend this program to anyone interested in becoming an EMT. You are going to work.....hard!!!!! I took the 5 week course and had Kyle as my instructor. Kyle is a paramedic and everyone in my class loved him including me. He really cares about everyones success and challenged us daily to be our best. He was really good about taking concepts that we thought was way over our heads, but then explained it in a way that was easy to understand. YOU ROCK KYLE!!! Matt the director seems a little intimidating at first until you ask him for help. He spent every lunch period for a straight week with me and a few other students and explained how to study and how to take these medical test questions. He constantly checked in on us throughout the course, encouraged us to not give up. He was quick to put us in our place when he caught me messing around, but was so supportive of everyone for that 5 weeks. IF YOU NEED HELP, ASK. Everyone in the office was amazing. All my questions were answered and emails were returned very quickly. This school is not for anyone who wants things handed to them. Do the reading, Pay attention, Work hard is my advice. We lost some students in our class who partyed every night and messed around inclass. They must have thought that $995 buys you a passing grade. I promise you it doesn't. But I'm ready to start my career of "saving babies and taking cats out of trees"(Matt's saying) and it's all because of Kyle and the staff at West Coast EMT read more

My first review ever. The full time, four week class proved very challenging for me and for over two weeks I hovered under 80% for the class which is the minimum required to be allowed to take the final. Id like to mention that i got my first EMT cert. waaay back in the nineties so I felt it'll be a cake walk. I studied day and night and still couldn't quite get there. With Bloc 5 test and one quiz left, I was at 78.66% and needed 85% on both to pass. I got 75% on the quiz and I figured might as well sign up for the next class and do it over again..one might say my confidence was pretty low considering how hard I studied. Our instructor - Denise took notice of my struggles and took time to give me extra advise on how to study and generally corrected my over-all approach. I ended up getting 95% on the Bloc 5 test which got me over the 80%. That allowed me to take the final which I passed and then skills finals which I also passed on the first try. I took my NREMT CAD test about a week after I finished West Coast EMT and passed it on the first try (60-something questions when it stopped me). I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT DENISE and I feel very fortunate to have had her as my instructor. Otherwise I would be re-taking the class. In my book she is a true educator and I recommend her wholeheartedly to anyone. West Coast EMT is a solidly and VERY professionally run school. They are demanding but then thats what I paid for when I signed up. After that class....NREMT proved easy....and thats the bottom line. I DO RECOMMEND WEST COAST EMT and DENISE!!!! read more

Worst EMT school in southern california. Save your time and money and do yourself a favor and do not waste your time with this place. It's horrible. There business model is to fail there students so they can charge you again to retake the course. The class is literally falling part. The desk are all broke chairs are all broken. Restrooms are disgusting I feel sorry for the ladies that had to use it. I mean for $1000 a student you would think they would reinvest money into the campus but they do not. The owner just takes money from the students to put in his POS truck. I wouldn't tell my worst Enemy to go to this place. Most of the instructor are worthless. We began with a class of over 50 students and literally only 10 graduate the course. This place is a legit scam. They hardly teach you anything out of the of the 10 weeks we barely did any skills. Also the grading system I have never experienced anything like that you can get a 95% on a test and your grade goes up less then 1 percent but if you get like a 80 or 70 percent your grade drops like 5 percent it's insane. Also after your exams they will not tell you what you got wrong or right or even the percent you got on your final exam. The school feels like a prison the ower just watches the class on a camera like a creeper from his house/office. next I'm contacting BBB better business. I REPEAT DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY NOT WORTH IT. I WOULDNT GO BACK IF THEY OFFERED IT TO ME FOR FREE!! RYAN SUCKS! read more