Selections FAQ

We seek enthusiastic, team-oriented applicants who can become dedicated and exceptional EMTs. We value a passion for supporting the community through patient care and social justice, but many different qualities can contribute to EST. Be yourself and tell us who you are in both your application and interviews.

Yes! We consider applications from first-year WashU undergraduate students regardless of prior medical experience. No prior medical experience or licensure is required for first-year applicants.

You may apply if you are a second-year undergraduate student and already have an EMT-B license. Due to our training schedule, we cannot accept applications from second-year students without an EMT-B license. If you're close to obtaining your EMT-B license (i.e., will be NREMT certified by round 2 of interviews), please reach out to selections at estselections@gmail.com and you may still apply.

Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications from juniors or seniors due to our team's training timeline.

We would be happy to consider your application if you have since obtained an EMT-B license and are a sophomore. However, please note that reapplying does not guarantee a place on the team. We cannot accept applications from juniors, seniors, or sophomores without an EMT-B license.

It depends on your class year. First-year students may apply without an EMT license or prior medical experience. Sophomores must apply as licensed applicants. Juniors and seniors are not eligible to apply, regardless of whether they have an EMT license.

For the selection process, applicants are considered licensed if they expect to be NREMT certified by the second round of interviews.

First-year students do not need an EMT license to apply. If you are a first-year student who intends to apply as licensed but has not yet passed the NREMT exam, email the selections committee before applying.

Sophomores who expect to be NREMT certified by the second round of interviews may apply as licensed applicants, but should contact the selections committee at estselections@gmail.com before applying.

No. First-year applicants do not need prior medical experience. EST provides new techs with the training they need.

Previous experience is valuable, but we focus primarily on what you will bring to the team as an individual. You are welcome to discuss your experience and interest in emergency medicine. Keep in mind that second-year applicants must already have an EMT license to be considered.

EMT certification requires completing an approved EMT course, followed by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians exam and the associated practical requirements. Search for EMT academies or community college EMT programs near you that offer summer courses.

EST recruits once per year at the start of the fall semester. Students without an EMT license must apply during their first fall semester. They may apply in the next annual application cycle only if they obtain an EMT license before that cycle.

The number varies from year to year. We have received as many as 200 applications in the past, typically invite around 100 applicants to first-round interviews, and welcome up to 24 new techs at the end of the process.

We hold at least two interview rounds and notify applicants by email after each round, prior to the scheduled start date of the following round. On rare occasions, we add a third interview round. You will receive a final email whether or not you are selected for the team.

New techs without an EMT license receive AHA BLS CPR, basic first aid, and vital-signs training.

Licensed new techs complete EST-specific vital-signs training and renew any required certification cards that have expired, such as AHA BLS CPR.

Once licensed, techs complete EST's self-paced internal move-up process with support from an experienced technician. This additional training builds the skills needed to serve as a senior tech and train newer team members.

All techs participate in weekly training during Sunday evening meetings. EST also holds occasional additional trainings, including multi-casualty incident drills, CPR scenarios, and semesterly skill checks.

Yes. New techs train for 10-15 hours during their first several weeks to become CPR and Standard First Aid certified. During the second semester, techs who do not already have an EMT license take an EMT course together for about 8-12 hours each week. All techs also attend a mandatory weekly meeting and should initially expect 4-8 hours of duty each week.

EST techs are also expected to work towards the internal move-up process once they obtain their EMT-B license. This process is self-paced with assistance from an experienced technician, and usually takes a few hundred hours to complete spread out over a few semesters. Once the move-up process is completed, techs train newer members of the team and often take additional duty hours (e.g., 20-30 hours per week).

Additional roles help keep EST running and vary in their time commitment. While on duty, you may still do homework, attend class, eat, or sleep as circumstances allow.

No. EST techs come from many undergraduate schools and pursue a wide variety of majors and careers. Alumni have gone on to programs such as Teach for America and the Peace Corps, medical school, business careers, and many other paths.