Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Career Studies Certificate
Purpose: This Career Studies Certificate leads to entry-level employment
opportunities in the field of Emergency Medical Services. This curriculum prepares students to assess
and care for patients at the basic life support (BLS) level. Successful completion of required courses
allows students to sit for the National Registry of EMT’s Emergency Medical Technician certification
exam.
Program Goals: At the completion of the program:
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The student will demonstrate technical proficiency in all skills necessary to fulfill the role of an
entry-level EMT.
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The graduate of the program will demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply, and evaluate the
clinical information relative to his/her role as an entry-level EMT.
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The student will demonstrate personal behaviors consistent with the professional and employer
expectations for the entry-level EMT.
Approval: This program is approved by the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical
Services.
Program Requirements:
Physical Requirements: This program requires extensive walking, stooping,
bending, pushing, pulling, climbing stairs, and lifting. Lifting and carrying requirements: at least 125
pounds; Motor coordination is necessary because over uneven terrain, the patients’, EMTs’, and other
workers’ well-being must not be jeopardized. Further, extensive use of sight, hearing, and speaking is
required. An EMS provider is faced with many physical and psychological challenges. Please refer to the
Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services website for a more detailed functional job description- https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/oems/training.
Clinical and Behavioral Requirements: Selected and supervised student clinical
experience is required by the program and will be accomplished at selected, regional health care
facilities and licensed EMS agencies. The student is responsible for transportation to these facilities,
as well as to any scheduled field trips or combined program classes. Program preceptors will observe and
evaluate the student’s suitability for the profession. If a student does not exhibit those documented
behaviors required of the EMS professional, the student may be asked to withdraw from the program.
Other Requirements: In addition to basic college costs such as tuition and
fees, this program requires expenditures for uniforms, books, immunizations and physical, testing fees,
certification courses and some medical equipment items. Students are also responsible for their own
transportation to clinical sites.
Eligibility to attend an Emergency Medical Technician course in Virginia requires that you must:
- Be proficient in reading, writing and speaking the English language.
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Be a minimum of 16 years of age at the beginning date of the certification course. If less than 18
years of age, you must provide the course coordinator with a completed parental permission form with
the signature of a parent or guardian verifying approval for enrollment in the course.
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Have no physical or mental impairment that would render them unable to perform all cognitive and
psychomotor skills required for that level of certification.
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Hold current certification in an Office of Emergency Medical Services approved
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course at the beginning date of the course. This
certification must also be current at the time of state testing.
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Not have been convicted of or found guilty of any crime, offense or regulatory violation, or
participated in any other prohibited conduct identified in state EMS regulations as follows:
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Have never been convicted or found guilty of any crime involving sexual misconduct where
lack of affirmative consent by the victim is an element of the crime.
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Have never been convicted of a felony involving the sexual or physical abuse of children,
the elderly or the infirm.
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Have never been convicted or found guilty of any crime (including abuse, neglect, theft
from, or financial exploration) of a person entrusted to their care or protection in which
the victim is a patient or is a resident of a health care facility.
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Have never been convicted or found guilty of any crime involving the use, possession, or
distribution of illegal drugs except that the person is eligible for affiliation or
enrollment five years after the date of final release if no additional crimes of this type
have been committed during that time.
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Have never been convicted or found guilty of any other act that is a felony except that the
felon is eligible for affiliation or enrollment five years after the date of final release
if no additional felonies have been committed during that time.
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Are not currently under any disciplinary or enforcement action from another state EMS office
or other recognized state or national healthcare provider licensing or certifying body.
Personnel subject to these disciplinary or enforcement actions may be eligible for
certification provided there have been no further disciplinary or enforcement actions for
five years prior to application for certification in Virginia.
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Have never been subject to a permanent revocation of license or certification by another
state EMS office or recognized state or national healthcare provider licensing or certifying
body.
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All references to criminal acts or convictions under this section refer to substantially similar
laws or regulations of any other state or the United States. Convictions include prior adult
convictions, juvenile convictions, and adjudications of delinquency based on an offense that would
have been, at the time of conviction, a felony conviction if committed by an adult within or outside
Virginia.
- Be clean and neat in appearance.
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May not be under the influence of any drugs or intoxicating substances that impairs your ability to
provide patient care or operate a motor vehicle while in class or performing clinicals, while on
duty or when responding or assisting in the care of a patient.
