EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN-BASIC
Career Studies Certificate
Purpose: This curriculum is designed to produce competent, entry-level Emergency Medical Technician–Basic (EMT–B) providers, who can function either in a volunteer or career fire and rescue department capacity, and service the community with basic life support care via the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) infrastructure. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible for the Virginia Office of EMS written and practical certification exam. As certified EMT–B’s, under the direction of an operational medical director, they can then function with a rescue squad; fire and rescue department; emergency room; local, state or federal government agencies; ski patrol; humanitarian relief organizations; or other EMS-related roles.
Credit for Prior Learning: Students in this program who hold current EMS certification may be eligible for credit for prior learning. See an academic advisor or counselor for further information.
Admission Requirements: Prior to starting the program applicants must do the following:
• 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.
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 being well suited for this challenging, yet rewarding pursuit. Virginia Office of EMS website.
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 grade of “D” or “F” be received, that course must be repeated before continuing in the EMS course sequence. Should a student receive two such grades, he/she will be removed for one year, and strongly encouraged to join a volunteer EMS rescue squad or get more committed to EMS in some other way. The student may then return to the EMS program, repeat the courses in which a “D’ or “F” was received and continue, as long as he/she passes them on the second attempt. Should any course earn a “D” or “F” after a 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 is solely the responsibility of the student. Punctuality and the wearing of appropriate uniforms are musts. 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.
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).
Special Notes:
• EMS 111 and EMS 120 are mandatory corequisites. EMS 120 is generally held the 2nd 8 weeks of the 16-week term in which EMS 111 is held.
• EMS 120 consists of 12 hours of emergency department observation, and 12 hours of ambulance ride-along.
• The EMS program offers 8–10 sections of EMT–Basic yearly, as a year-round course offering.
• Approximately 25 percent of EMT–Basic students continue immediately in EMT–Intermediate classes.
• Approximately another 25–35 percent continue into prerequisites for Advanced Life Support programs or other NOVA classes after completing EMT–Basic.