Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about RPIA? If these don’t help, you can always reach out to ask!
RPI Ambulance is an organization at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute that includes a New York State-certified basic life support transporting EMS agency, but we’re so much more than that! Beyond ambulance service to the RPI campus and surround community, we provide medical standbys for all types of events on campus!
RPI Ambulance does not bill for transport services. If you need to go to the hospital, we’ll take you free of charge!
We provide training for all of our levels at no cost to you!
You begin at RPIA as an observer. From here, you’ll move on to attendant, which requires a CPR certification. You’ll also go through several trainings to learn the layout of the ambulance, how to use EMS equipment, and how to perform basic assessment skills. As an attendant, you’ll work under the direct supervision of a crew chief.
After attendant, there are two paths you can take: driver and crew chief. To become a driver, you’ll go through our extensive driver training program. To become a crew chief, you’ll have to become an EMT (we can work with you to get the course subsidized!), after which you’ll go through our extensive crew chief training process.
We’d love to have you, but we need to help you get reciprocity first. We’ve done this tons of times; reach out to our officer board at officers@rpiambulance.com, and check out the NYS EMS reciprocity page for more information.
There’s only one requirement to join RPIA: each year, you must attend a one-hour OSHA lecture. We now provide this asynchronously, so it’s easier than ever to join!
RPI Ambulance provides basic life support ambulance service to the RPI community and surrounding towns. We’re in service 24/7 when classes are in session and many times when classes are not in session. We also provide medical standby services for various events on and off campus.
Sorry—we’re all volunteers and work without monetary compensation because we absolutely love what we do. If you working with RPIA at a hockey or football game, at a concert, or at any of the other events we cover, you will probably get to see some or all of the show for free!