Are you interested in working for one of the best and the busiest 911 services in the nation? Learn more about the application and hiring process, and what you can expect when you work with New Orleans EMS.
Things to Know Before You Apply
New Orleans EMS is the 911 provider of emergency medical services in the City of New Orleans. We provide prehospital emergency medical care in response to over 69,000 calls for service per year, treating almost 50,000 patients a year. New Orleans EMS serves as a leader in prehospital clinical guideline development and mass casualty incident planning in our region of Louisiana.
We hire for full-time positions, and field personnel work 12 hour shifts on a 2-2-3 schedule. We employ paramedics, EMTs, and Advanced EMTs. We maintain a high standard of care, and additional information can be found in our ROPE Protocols.
In order to work for New Orleans EMS, you must be current with and certified by both National Registry and the Louisiana Bureau of EMS. You must also have a clear driving record for 1 year prior to applying. The following certifications are additional requirements:
| EMT/ADVANCED EMT |
PARAMEDIC |
| BLS/CPR Healthcare Provider |
BLS/CPR Healthcare Provider
ACLS
PALS*
PHTLS* or BLTS or ITLS |
| *Both PALS and PHTLS must be completed during the one year probationary period prior to promotion to permanent status. If you lack these certifications currently, it will not prevent you from completing the application process. |
Annual in-house training courses include Blood borne Pathogens, HAZ-MAT, and Defensive Driving. Our Education and Training Department offers regular renewal courses in all required certifications at no cost to employees.
In addition to traditional EMS roles, New Orleans EMS has taken the lead in special operations, with paramedics serving as tactical paramedics with the New Orleans Police Department, swift water and dive paramedics for water rescue, and HAZMAT paramedics to assist the New Orleans Fire Department. Additionally, paramedics serve with the Louisiana Urban Search and Rescue team, LA-TF1, as medical specialists.
How to Apply
All employees of New Orleans EMS are civil servants, and therefore individuals wishing to apply must do so through the City of New Orleans Civil Service Department. Here are the 3 simple steps-
- You will need to complete the online application.
- Once you have submitted your application and attached the required documents your submission will be reviewed by Civil Service to determine eligibility. Please be sure to update your contact information if it changes.
- After completing step 2, please send your resume, certificates, references and three letters of recommendation to emsemployment@nola.gov. Resumes should include complete addresses and contact information for current and former employers. If you are out of town and would like to request your preliminary interview to be conducted via Skype-please let us know in your email.
We review resumes all year round and host NOEMS Academies quarterly. If you have additional questions or need assistance, please send an email to emsemployment@nola.gov.
NOEMS Academy
All new hires must complete our New Orleans EMS Academy. The NOEMS Academy is an organized process by which employee are formally trained in the policy and procedure standards of New Orleans EMS. During the Academy, new hires will apply for an Orleans Parish Permit, be issued a probationary badge, radio/accessories, and a PPE bag. They will receive copies of the departmental Policy and Procedure Manual, ROPE Protocols, Clinical Policies and Procedures Manual, and other documents as needed. In-services are conducted in order to familiarize new hires with electronic patient care reporting software, radio operations, rescue operations, bio-hazard disposal procedures, city geography/hospital locations, unit operations, and other areas of knowledge as needed. A written departmental test for the appropriate skill level as well a ROPE Protocol test are part of the orientation process as well.
The probationary period for all new employees is one year. A year end evaluation will be completed and forwarded to the Civil Service Department with recommendations to place the employee on permanent status or discontinue employment.