EMS Cadet - Communications (July 2025 Academy)

When someone calls 9-1-1, seconds matter. They’re often in crisis, panicked, and need immediate help. Communications Medics at Austin-Travis County EMS provide this help: calmly, with clear instructions and words of encouragement over the phone. They are our “first” first responders and play a vital role in our third service EMS system at Austin-Travis County. If you are compassionate, caring, and great at multi-tasking, this is the job for you! We are looking for qualified candidates to provide this critical service from our state-of-the-art Communications center in Central East Austin.

Each new hire starts as a Cadet, attending a paid 10-week training academy. Following graduation of the academy, each Cadet must complete a field training period prior to being cleared to independent duty and serving as a Medic. Our Communications Medics answer 9-1-1 calls that require emergency medical services. As a 9-1-1 call-taker, they triage medical complaints, assess life threats and provide medical care and interventions over the phone.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Participates in the Austin – Travis County Emergency Medical Services Academy training program, which includes daily room lectures and laboratory practice, response simulations, and other orientation activities, to qualify incumbent for graduation from the Academy and promotion to EMS Medic - Communications.
• Develops knowledge to determine appropriate action for calls, including providing emergency medical self-help with pre-arrival instructions, triaging medical conditions by phone and determining callers’ location through standardized medical triage.
• Develops skills for assisting callers by analyzing, evaluating, and determining appropriate emergency medical pre-arrival instructions as defined by the Medical Director.
• Participates in the learning of operating a variety of communication and computer-based equipment used in taking 911 medical calls, including dispatching and monitoring the various EMS Units and STAR flight helicopter services.
• Develops knowledge and skills in documenting patient care and other reports appropriately.

This position is classified as an “essential” position, meaning you will be required to work during holidays and bad weather (ice storms, flooding, etc.) when the City is otherwise closed.

Upon completion and graduation from the EMS Academy, a cadet will be certified as a Medic – Communications in substantial compliance with Chapter 143 Local Government Code. After successfully serving the entire probationary period of twelve (12) months from date of hire as a Medic – Communications, will automatically become a full-fledged civil service employee and have full civil service protection.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be 18 years of age or older (no upper age limit)
• Must read, write, and speak English
• Must be eligible for employment in the U.S.
• Must have a valid driver's license
• Must possess a high school diploma or GED
• Must be certified as an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) or higher

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• Valid Texas Class “C” Driver’s License (or the ability to obtain a Texas driver's license by Academy start date)
• Texas Department of State Health Services certification as an EMT-Basic or higher (or eligibility for reciprocity at that level of certification if applying from out of state)
  • For the initial application, applicants can apply with any valid State or National Registry certification (EMT-B or higher). Texas reciprocity will be required if offered employment.
• National Academy of Emergency Dispatch (NAED) Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Certification within ninety (90) days of the date of initial hire
• American Heart Association CPR Certification within ninety (90) days of the date of initial hire.

Must successfully complete the Austin-Travis County Office of the Chief Medical Officer (OCMO) credentialing process within nine (9) months from the date of hire.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of emergency medical call-taking.
• Knowledge of emergency telecommunications operations.  
• Knowledge of the primary and secondary streets and highways in the service area.
• Knowledge of various services provided by EMS.
• Knowledge of pre-hospital emergency medical care and rescue.
• Skill in oral and written communications.
• Skill in responding quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in the operations of public safety communications equipment, computers and related software applications.  
• Ability to exercise independent judgment.
• Ability to communicate professionally in a manner that conveys care and concern for the patient and family. Ability to exercise independent judgment.
• Ability to quickly and accurately obtain appropriate information.
• Ability to type 35 WPM with an 80% accuracy rate.

Physical Requirements:

• Unimpaired mobility: Must be able to quickly relocate to a back-up Communications Center or Mobile Communications vehicle.
• Lifting: Lightweight lifting from varying heights, carrying materials weighing approximately twenty (20) pounds.
• Fine Motor Skills: Must be able to quickly and accurately operate required computer and 911 phone equipment.
• Vision: Must have correctable vision acceptable for 911 communications computer and equipment operation, must have color acuity adequate for determination of incident flagging and alerts in the Computer Aided Dispatch Computer, 911 Phone System and other communications equipment.
• Hearing: Must be able to hear and understand information provided by callers by phone and must be able to hear and understand radio traffic.
• Speech: Must be able to speak and enunciate clearly and at a level audible to others by phone and radio, must be able to speak clearly in stressful situations, must be able to verbally communicate with patients, families and other emergency personnel by phone and radio.

EEO/ADA

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation.  In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk. ADA Office: (512) 974-3256 TDD (512) 974-3303. 

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act.  If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or TTY (512) 974-2445. 

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of the position given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The listing of duties and responsibilities shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.