EMR / ECA Course - coming soon!

We are NOT hosting this class yet. This page provides INFORMATION ONLY. We do hope to be open soon. Please provide your information so we can contact you when the course is available - click here. 

The term /title of Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) is used by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). 

The term/title of Emergency Care attendant (ECA) is used by the state of Texas. 

They are one in the same.

Our fee will be $800 per student. 

The emergency medical responder (EMR) is an out-of-hospital practitioner whose primary focus is to initiate immediate lifesaving care to patients while ensuring patient access to the emergency medical services system. EMRs possess the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide lifesaving interventions while awaiting additional EMS response and rely on an EMS or public safety agency or larger scene response that includes other higher-level medical personnel. When practicing in less populated areas, EMRs may have a low call volume coupled with being the only care personnel for prolonged periods awaiting arrival of higher levels of care. EMRs may assist but should not be the highest-level person caring for a patient during ambulance transport. EMRs are often the first to arrive on scene. They must quickly assess patient needs, initiate treatment and request additional resources. 

• You must be at least 18 years old
• Have a high school diploma or GED certificate 
• Successfully complete a DSHS approved EMS training course ... ours!
• Submit a completed EMS Personnel Certification application and fee to the state of Texas
• Pass the National Registry exam at NREMT.org 
• Submit fingerprints for Texas/FBI criminal history check - and pass a simple background check. 

The role of the EMR is primarily to focus on preparing you to respond and care for a patient until a transport EMS unit arrives. Some ambulance services have an EMR /ECA working with an EMT, when their protocol allows.  

EMR/ECA certification is most often suitable for individuals that are Fire Fighters in pursuit of TCFP, first responders in rural areas, industry campus first responders, Law Enforcement, ambulance drivers, and other similar roles. 

Students will receive a book and Access to the online program via Navigate Premier. Navigate Premier Access unlocks a complete eBook, Study Center, homework and Assessment Center, a dashboard that reports actionable data, Navigate TestPrep, and Interactive Lectures. 

Based on the National EMS Education Standards and endorsed by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Emergency Medical Responder: Your First Response in Emergency Care, Seventh Edition clearly and concisely covers every competency required of students embarking on this vital EMS role. Using clear, accessible language and proven pedagogical features designed for first responders with limited medical training, the Seventh Edition prepares law enforcement personnel, fire fighters, rescue squad personnel, athletic trainers, college students, and laypersons for the medical emergencies they may one day face in the field. The Seventh Edition delivers:

• Current State-of-the-Art Medical Content. Emergency Medical Responder, Seventh Edition incorporates current medical concepts to ensure students understand assessment and treatment approaches that will help patients in the field.
• Clear Application to Real-World Medical Response. Each chapter includes four realistic case studies that challenge students to think critically and analytically and apply what they’ve learned. The Voices of Experience boxes further connect the chapter’s key concepts to the real world.
• Concept Reinforcement. The Seventh Edition is built on the premise that students need a solid foundation in the basics followed by appropriate reinforcement. For example, the Patient Assessment chapter fully details every step of the patient assessment process. Each medical and trauma chapter then revisits this process and discusses elements of patient assessment that may require extra attention when presented with particular emergencies.

Key content updates to the Seventh Edition include:

• Updates to ensure content meets or exceeds the scientific recommendations developed by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) and is consistent with the ECC Guidelines as established by the American Heart Association and other resuscitation councils around the world
• A new crew resource management section to address this recently added EMR Education Standard
• Updated coverage of communicable and infectious diseases, including precautions and procedures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Updated illustrations throughout to better reflect the protective equipment required during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Additional attention to fentanyl and first responder safety, including use of naloxone
• A focus on soft skills, with additional coverage relating to the growing concern of suicide risk, among both patients and responders, including discussion of peer support
• Updated discussion of the organizational structures for the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and incident command system (ICS)

 This course will be conducted primarily as a distributive learning course online for the didactic portion of the course, with two days available for skills testing in Conroe Texas.  Skills sessions will be held monthly on the last Saturday of the month. There is a 3-month time frame for students to complete this course. All online didactic portions of the course must be completed before students can attend a Skills Sessions Day (Skill Session day is included in cost of course).

Our goal is to prepare students to pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam. Texas requires all EMR/ECA candidates to pass the NREMT before being allowed certification in Texas. The state of Texas requires a minimum of 60 hours training for this course. 

NOTE: NREMT is the name of the organization – students are NOT studying for, nor testing to become, Emergency Medical Technicians. 

Hospital and ambulance clinicals (ride along) are not required as part of the course; however, Big Texas CPR LLC - with assistance from our medical partners - may offer an observer shift, on an ambulance, based on the interest of the individual and/or group. 

To receive a successful course completion students must achieve a 70% or higher on the course final exam and finish with a course final grade of 70% or higher. Generally, each chapter assignment will be made of a 10-question quiz with unlimited attempts and 1-3 short answer questions that are recorded as complete/incomplete. Each chapter will have prerecorded lectures in addition to chapter outlines, power points, and other learning aids. The module exams will require a 70% or higher within two attempts. Module exams will be timed and taken at home.