FaQ
Find frequently asked questions below!
General Operations
CrimsonEMS’ area of service is defined as the same as HUPD’s area of service, excluding the Longwood Campus. In the past, CrimsonEMS has been requested by groups such as the OSL, student organizations, intramurals, club sports, and the Alumni Association to serve at parties, athletic events, and special campus-wide events.
Patient encounters on shift are documented with patient care reports, but patient identifying information is kept confidential and members of CrimsonEMS are strictly required to uphold confidentiality of patient information.
Patient encounters on shift are documented with patient care reports. All patient identifying information is kept confidential and members of CrimsonEMS are strictly required to uphold this confidentiality, as outlined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Joining CrimsonEMS
If you do not yet have EMT certification, you may apply to join CrimsonEMS through our fully-subsidized EMT-B training course. If you already have certification, you may apply to join as a transfer EMT. You can find more information about the application here.
All members of CrimsonEMS are expected at minimum to meet the service requirement, currently set at 5 hours per month. However, members are encouraged to serve more than that, and they regularly do.
The class and all materials are fully subsidized by HUHS. Members are just responsible for the below fees, and financial aid is available for all fees—although the extent to which they are subsidized depends on the semester. CrimsonEMS is committed to ensuring that cost is not a barrier to joining CrimsonEMS.
| Fee | Cost | Comments |
| NREMT written exam | $104 | |
| MA licensure or relicensure | $150 | |
| CrimsonEMS joining fee | $75 | |
| Equipment rental | $50 | Cost is $25 each for boots and EMS pants. Members may provide their own equipment instead. |
| Quarterzip | $68 | These are fully optional but very helpful. Cost is variable depending on how many members order. |
| NREMT recertification | $20 |
EMT-B Training Course
Any Harvard undergraduate can apply to take the course during Freshman SPRING, Sophomore FALL/SPRING, or Junior FALL. The class is offered semesterly, with approximately 10-12 students accepted each term. Unfortunately, CrimsonEMS does not currently accept Extension School students, graduate students, or staff members affiliated with Harvard. We recommend that you check out other local opportunities for EMT certification, such as Boston University’s courses, if you are still interested in working in EMS.
A basic science background in biology, chemistry, and physics is helpful. The training course will review these topics before delving into concepts such as anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, illness, trauma, abuse and patient assessment, as well as methods of treatment and management.
The class is divided into four modules—foundations, medical, trauma, and special patients & operations. Along the way, you will also learn the skills needed for certifications in CPR, prehospital trauma support, and emergency pediatric care.
There are reading quizzes every class, as well as an exam after each module. The course is pass/fail.
The course does NOT count towards college credit. The course is outsourced to Professional Oxygen & Ambulance Service, Inc (Pro EMS), one of the leading emergency medical services company within the New England region. As a result, it is operated independently of Harvard and is not able to be taken for credit.
Balancing the training course with academics and other extracurriculars is feasible, but takes forethought. The course meets for approximately 15 hours per week, and there are also readings assigned outside of the class. Many class members would agree that CrimsonEMS takes the same amount of time as a challenging PSET class. Students often say they find that CrimsonEMS becomes their main extracurricular activity the semester of the training course.
For at least two semesters after the course, class members are required to join CrimsonEMS as full members and are therefore expected to fulfill the service requirement, currently set at 5 hours per month. Even after that year, however, we hope members will continue to be a part of CrimsonEMS, and the vast majority of class members do stay on.
If you have more specific questions about balancing the time commitment, please email us at communications@crimsonems.org.
To receive a Massachusetts EMT-B license from the National Registry of EMTs, students first have to pass a state practical exam and then the NREMT national written exam. The practical exam will occur at the end of the training course. After passing the practical exam, students can register to take the written exam through Pearson VUE. The written component consists of a digital multiple-choice question exam with anywhere between 70-120 questions.
More information about the certification process are be given to students during the training course.
Most recently, the Spring 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2023 classes saw a 100% pass rate on the Massachusetts state practical exam, which then qualifies them to take the NREMT written exam. From there, more than 95% of students passed the NREMT written exam and have went on to become licensed EMT’s!
Leading up to the end of the course, both CrimsonEMS and Pro EMS work to offer multiple in-person and virtual office hours and a week-long EMT “Boot Camp” to ensure that all students are equally prepared to take and pass the Massachusetts state practical exam. Following the state practical, CrimsonEMS and Pro EMS have specific resources in place to allow students to prepare for the NREMT written exam, which students schedule once they feel prepared.