UMEMS Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I'm an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), how do I join?
A: Application information can be found on our Volunteers page.

Q: I'm not a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) but would like to volunteer?
A: State statute limits what a non-EMT can do as a volunteer with an ambulance service. Currently we have no non-EMT volunteer positions available.

Q: Is there an interview process?
A: Yes. After we review your application, we will send you information about our interview process. Interviews typically take about 30 minutes. Once you have successfully completed an interview, we will send you a formal acceptance or rejection letter. As of Spring 2022, interviews are conducted via Zoom, however that is subject to change.

Q: What is orientation and how often do you do them?
A: All newly accepted volunteers are required to attend a one-day orientation before they can begin volunteering at events. Orientations are conducted at least twice each year, depending on need.

Q: How can I get more information about becoming a certified Emergency Medical Technician?
A: We offer not-for-credit EMT courses through UMEMS. You can find more information about them on the Courses page. Other local programs that offer EMT education include Hennepin County Medical Center, Inver Hills College, Century College, Hennepin Technical College, Allied Medical Training, and others. See the Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board website, for a listing of state-wide EMS courses.

Q: What benefits do volunteers receive?
A: Volunteers receive Emergency Medical Technician initial class reimbursement (up to $600) after one-year of active volunteering, training including Emergency Medical Technician refreshers, meal vouchers for most sporting events, parking validation for events, and other benefits such as a yearly team banquet.

Q: Are all members volunteers?
A: Nearly all of our members are volunteers. We have a full-time EMS Team manager, a part-time student employee and 4 part-time paid EMT Field Training Officers.

Q: How much time do you require for volunteers?
A: The current UMEMS accountability policy requires nine events (typically lasting about four hours) or 40 hours over three months as well as attending monthly meetings held the second Sunday of every month As of Spring 2022, most of the monthly meetings are conducted via Zoom. Though this averages out to three events per month, keeping the quota in three-month periods allows our members more flexibility with school and work schedules.

Q: Does UMEMS respond to 9-1-1 calls?
A: Short answer, no. Longer answer: UMEMS holds a Specialized Basic Life Support Ambulance license. Our service area is listed as the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses of the University, as well as the Arboretum in Carver County. Under our specialized license, we only operate and handle emergencies as part of medical coverage for events within the University. As an ambulance service, UMEMS is also a member of the Metropolitan EMS region. In that role, we can be called upon to provide assistance to the greater community in the event of a disaster. This assistance may be limited to additional EMS personnel, activation of our ambulances, or staffing of the Metro EMS Region’s Ambulance Strike Team Bus, a 16 patient ambulance, utilized in disasters.