Lamd,
To get your EMT cert in Cali - check your local community college catalog. Some counties require one to complete and pass (with 80%) a First Responder class before you're allowed to go on to the EMT class. Some counties allow you to go directly onto EMT. The class is a semester long, for about 10 hours a week (160 hours total). The material is not difficult, especially with the core classes pre-meds have with chemistry and biology. Your class will most likely have a final exam, a skills exam (secondary examinations, bleeding control, c-spine, airways, etc) and a certification exam. You must pass all with 70% or above to get your cert (my county is 80% though). You can also take the National Registry exam to be certified throughout the US, and not just Cali.
Best of luck future EMT! 🙂
-Forensic Chick-