Purpose: This curriculum is designed to produce competent, entry-level Paramedic providers, who can function either in a volunteer or career fire and rescue department capacity, and service the community with advanced life support care via the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) infrastructure. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible for the National Registry Paramedic written and practical certification exam. As certified Paramedics, under the direction of an operational medical director, they can then function as Advanced Life Support providers with a rescue squad, either volunteer or career, fire and rescue department, emergency room, ambulance transport entity, local, state or federal government agencies, ski patrol, humanitarian relief organizations, or other EMS-related roles.
Admission Requirements:
Prior to starting the program students must:
- meet eligibility requirements as stipulated by the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services.
- meet the College’s general admission requirements.
- attend and/or watch the online version of the EMS program’s Information Session and adhere to the prerequisite requirements therein, including a:
- current EMT-Intermediate certification
- current Healthcare provider certification
- current health physical with appropriate immunizations
- drug screen
- current background check
- have completed NAS 150 Human Biology with a grade of “C” or better.
- have completed HLT 250 Pharmacology with a grade of “C” or better
Accreditation: The EMS Program is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in cooperation with the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
Physical Requirements: An EMS provider is faced with many physical and psychological challenges. Please refer to the Virginia Office of EMS website for a more detailed functional job description, to ensure you are well suited for this challenging, yet rewarding pursuit. http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/OEMS/Training/
Academic Requirements: Students must complete each course with a grade of "C" or better in order to continue in the EMS sequence. Should any single failing grade (D or F) be received, that course must be repeated before continuing in the EMS course sequence. Should a student receive two failing grades, they will be removed for one year, and strongly encouraged to join a volunteer EMS rescue squad or get more invested in EMS in some other way. The student may then return to the EMS program, repeat the failed courses and continue, presuming they pass them on second attempt. Should any failed course be failed under second attempt, the student will be removed permanently from the EMS program and counseled toward another Allied Health career.
Clinical and Behavioral Requirements: Clinical and internship courses are a critical component in any medical program, but the practice of medicine requires the strictest of safe and appropriate behaviors, when dealing with actual sick and injured patients. Students are always supervised by trained and certified professionals, and there is zero tolerance for inappropriate and/or unsafe actions or behaviors. Transportation to and from the multiple clinical and internship sites are solely the responsibility of the student and punctuality and wearing of appropriate uniforms is a must. Essential documentation of all patient care is also a critical element of each clinical and internship course, and grades in each course will be strongly based on each of these components.
All first-time students must take a one-credit Student Development (SDV) course prior to enrolling in their 16th credit at NOVA.
Special Notes:
- Courses must be taken in the semester sequence, and must be taken together as co-requisites within a given semester.
- The EMS program offers all courses in both Fall and Spring semesters, therefore program cohorts may start virtually year-round.
- A small contingent of EMS courses are also offered during the Summer term, but due to the compressed 12- week summer session, these courses do not constitute the "core" EMS curriculum, as a general rule.
- Advanced standing credit is available, at no cost, for students who have earned their EMT-Basic and Intermediate certifications.