EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Purpose: The curriculum is designed to develop the competencies needed to prepare the student to be certified as a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate and/or Paramedic.
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.
Transfer Information: Transfer is not the primary purpose of an A.A.S. program, but NOVA has articulation agreements that facilitate the transfer of this and other career-oriented programs to selected senior institutions. Students interested in transfer should contact a counselor or their academic advisor early in their program.
Admission Requirements: Applicants must do the following:
• Comply with all general admission requirements for Allied Health Programs.
• Attend a mandatory EMS department information session, held bi-monthly, or online. Check the website for dates.
• Be 16 years of age for the EMT-Basic training (first semester); must be 18 years of age or older for EMT-Intermediate or Paramedic training.
• Hold, at a minimum, a high school or general equivalency diploma. Students may apply for dual enrollment for attendance during the first semester.
• Be proficient in reading, writing and speaking the English language, and attain satisfactory scores on the NOVA math and English placement assessments.
• Have attained a 2.0 GPA at the last school attended. Students in dual enrollment must maintain 2.0 GPA during concurrent high school courses.
• Have no physical or mental impairment that would render the student unable to perform all skills required for EMS training at any level.
• Possess a national background check, including urine drug screening, with no record of any sexual crime and be at least five years past final release of any felony or drug-related convictions. Go to Certified Background website, put in code “#OR21.” Bring receipt to campus, to the EMS administrative assistant, or any EMS faculty, for the drug screen form. Cost is approximately $100. This must be repeated annually.
Completion Requirements:
• Hold a current certification in CPR – Healthcare Provider. Must hold prior to first day of class and maintain throughout the time in the program.
• After successful completion of the first semester, the following additional requirements must be achieved and maintained throughout attendance in the second through fifth semesters:
º Present proof of personal liability insurance, with a minimum of $1,000,000 coverage. Proof of insurance must remain with the student at all times, while on campus and clinical properties.
º Provide health history and physical, including annual flu shot. Must be repeated annually.
• Complete NAS 150 Human Biology or its equivalent with a grade of “C” or better prior to entry into second semester.
Special Program Completion Requirements:
Students must successfully attain each certification level prior to continuing in EMS sequence (EMT–Basic after first semester, EMT–Intermediate after third semester). Continuation to Paramedic Certification requires successful completion of EMT–Intermediate testing. After successful completion of the 2nd year, student is eligible for NREMT–Paramedic testing. Students entering program with prior certifications must attend an information session for specific course entry requirements.
Generally, EMS courses must be taken in sequence, but general studies courses may be taken in any order, and at any time. Exceptions to this policy are discussed in the monthly information sessions. All students continuing to Paramedic Certification are required to complete the A.A.S. degree requirements by their NREMT–P test date.
• Students who receive an “I” (incomplete) grade in any of the courses in the EMS sequence must resolve the Incomplete before continuing in the EMT sequence.
• Students must receive a grade of C or higher in core EMS courses in order to be eligible for the National Registry certifying examinations.
• All clinical and internship requirements must be met prior to taking any Virginia and/or National Registry certifying examination(s).
Reenrollment: Students must follow the reenrollment requirements for all Allied Health students.
Special Accreditation Status: The 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).
EMS-prefix courses must be taken in the sequence listed. General education courses may be taken in any order, but all must be successfully completed, ensuring student eligibility for A.A.S. prior to NREMT-P testing, following the fifth semester.
1 NAS 150 is the mandatory anatomy and physiology prerequisite to enter into the Advanced Life Support curriculum. This requirement can be met by any 4-credit anatomy and physiology course, such as BIO 141, NAS 161, or equivalent. However, if students take these courses, they must complete the sequence prior to graduation. Although students who have graduated with a transfer-oriented A.A., A.S., or A.A. & S. degree or any baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher education will have most of their general education considered as fulfilled, they must meet the math and science requirements specified for this program. Exceptions must be approved by the division dean responsible for the student’s curriculum.
2 Orientation to Healthcare meets SDV requirement, which must be completed by the 16th credit. Any SDV course is acceptable for this requirement.
3 Students may substitute EMS 209 for HLT 250.
4 See social/behavioral sciences courses listed under General Education Electives.
5 HIM 130 awards the required computer competencies. Several other 3-credit courses under ITE or a related discipline can also meet this requirement.
6 Students are encouraged to take PHI 227.