Emergency Medical Science A.A.S (A45340)

Program Description

The Associate Degree Emergency Medical Science curriculum provides individuals with the knowledge, skills and attributes to provide advanced emergency medical care as an entry-level paramedic for the critical, emergent, and non-urgent patients who access the out-of-hospital emergency medical system and prepares graduates to enter the workforce.

Students will gain complex knowledge, competency, and experience while employing evidence-based practice under medical oversight, and serve as a link from the out-of-hospital environment into the healthcare system.

Graduates of this program are eligible to apply to take North Carolina and/or national credentialing examinations. Employment opportunities include clinicians of emergency medical services, fire departments, rescue agencies, hospital specialty areas, medical clinics, industry, educational, and government agencies.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program should be able to:

• Graduates of this program should be able to: - Students will have the knowledge, skills, and attributes to provide advanced emergency medical care as a Paramedic. - Students will gain complex knowledge, competency, and experience while employing evidence based practice under medical oversight. - Graduates will be eligible to take state and/or national certification examinations.

Pre-Emergency Medical Science

Students are admitted under the Associate in General Education degree until they have met the admissions requirements for the program.

Phase I: Preliminary Coursework & Requirements

The first steps for a student’s admission to the EMS program include:

1. Full admission to Alamance Community College.
2. Submission of high school/GED diploma.
3. Submission of official post-secondary transcripts for which the transfer credit will be sought.
4. Apply for financial aid.
5. Documentation of learning disabilities that may qualify the student for special consideration.
6. Attend a mandatory EMS program information session.
7. Students seeking spring semester admission must complete BIO 163  or BIO 168 , ENG 111 , and MAT 143  with a grade of “C” or better, and EMS 110  with a grade of “B” or better.
8. High school students seeking admission must meet the same criteria as a non-high school student. Students must be at least 17 by the end of the semester, in which they are enrolled for the EMS 110  (EMT) course.
9. Students seeking fall semester admission must complete BIO 163 or BIO 168/BIO 169, ENG 111, and MAT 143 with a grade of “C” or better, and EMS 110 (Initial EMT) with grade of “B’” or better.
   (Refer to special admissions process for EMS Bridge program if actively credentialed as a Paramedic).
10. Student must be at least 18 by the start of the Paramedic program

Phase II: Ranking/Selective Process

1. View Paramedic Information session at the following website: https://www.alamancecc.edu/curriculum_programs/health-and-public-services/emergency-medical-science/index.php and take presentation quiz.
2. Complete EMS Seeltive Admission Application.
3. Submit vaccination records.
4. Complete background check and drug screen through Viewpoint.

Applications are made available from January 15 to May 15. Program acceptance is contingent upon succssful completion of Phase I and Phase II. 

Required Vaccination Records

Sumbitted through Viewpoint and My Clinical Exchange

• TB

• Hepatitis B

• MMR (mumps,meales, and Rubella)

• Varicella

• Tetanus/Tdap

• Flu Vacination- via proof of vaccination within the year or completed declination form from physician 

• Covid-19 Vaccination- If a clinical site requires the Covid-19 vaccine, the student is requried to be in compliance to succesfully complete the course. 

Progression and Continuation

Alamance Community College is committed to the success of students. In order to progress in the EMS program, the student is required to meet the following ongoing standards:

1. Maintain an overall quality grade point average of 2.0
2. Maintain a grade of 80 percent or better in all EMS courses 
3. Pass medical math and cardiac rhythm interpretation exams in specified courses.
4. Pass all psychomotor skills and integrated-out-of-hospital exams (TSOP’s) in specified courses.
5. Demonstrate entry-level paramedic competency and satisfactorily complete all of the clinical and field internship requirements in specified courses.
6. Pass any general education course required by the EMS program with a grade of “C” or better.

A student may repeat an EMS course only once within a two-year period. If a student fails two EMS courses in the same semester, the student will not be eligible to seek readmission into the program for one year.

Program Readmission

Students who have earned a “C” or “D” in an EMS course will be considered for readmission using the following criteria:

• Students will be allowed to seek readmission with in a 1 year period. If the student does not return within 1 year, the student must reapply to the Paramedic program. 
• Readmission is subject to current admission criteria and progression policy.
• Grade point average of at least 2.0.
• Returning students will be considered on a competitive basis with the current applicant pool.

Students who withdraw from the EMS program

• Must have completed previous EMS courses with a grade of “B” or better within the past two years. The exception is if the student withdraws from EMS 110 resulting in no earned grade. Students may then seek readmission.
• Readmission must occur within two years of an academic dismissal/failure or withdrawal. A student who makes a grade of “F” in any EMS course will not be considered for readmission.

Readmission Process

1. Submit a letter to the EMS Department Head requesting readmission

• The letter should be submitted one semester prior to the semester in which the student plans to return. It should include the following:
  • Reasons for interruption of the previous enrollment.
  • If the interruption was due to academic reasons, a plan detailing how the student will maintain satisfactory academic performance upon return. Line at the bottom should read: Readmission is not guaranteed.  Everything below Imporant Readmission notes should be deleted. 

Readmission is not guaranteed. The following criteria will be used in evaluating the request for readmission:

• Available clinical space.
• Grades earned in core Emergency Medical Science (EMS) courses.
• A grade of “C” or better in any general education course that is required in the program.

Important Readmission Notes

Before being admitted in the Emergency Medical Science program, the student is allowed to repeat general education courses to improve grades.

After being admitted into the Emergency Medical Science (EMS) program, the student cannot fail a general education and EMS course during the same semester. If this occurs, the student will not be considered for readmission.

Special Admissions Process for Emergency Medical Science Bridge Program

The Emergency Medical Science (EMS) applicant who meets the phase I admission requirements and is a current credentialed North Carolina or national paramedic is eligible to receive a total of 50 transfer hours. Following an official transcript and credentialing evaluation, EMS Bridge students must be enrolled in and successfully complete all other EMS and related courses and GPA requirements to be eligible for graduation.

Technical Standards

Students entering the program must meet specific emotional, behavioral, physical, and cognitive standards. This information is found in the Admissions Office and in the program handbook.

Students qualifying for special accommodations to these standards must contact the Disability Services Coordinator at 336-506-4130 for more specific information.

Criminal Background/Drug Screens

Clinical agencies with which the College has contracted to provide clinical experiences for EMS students require the submission of criminal background checks and drug screening in order to participate in clinical experiences at the site. The background check and drug screen will determine if the student is eligible to enter the clinical agency. Students are responsible for the cost of the background check and drug screen.

If a clinical site denies a student placement in the facility, the student would be unable to complete the required clinical component of the course. The student will be withdrawn from all EMS courses and will not be allowed to progress in the program. Currently, the EMS program uses an online vendor for background checks and drug screening.

Program applicants should be aware that if they have pled guilty to, or have been convicted of, a felony or misdemeanor, the Office of EMS may restrict or deny licensure. Applicants are encouraged to review the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services Criminal Record Check Requirements for Credentialing.

Program Costs

The EMS curriculum has additional costs associated with it. Students who enroll in this program are required to pay for such items as certification exams, uniforms, supplies, and the like. Many of these are required as part of the curriculum, but are not provided by the College. Additional expenses required for this program are listed below with approximate costs (*note prices are subject to change): 

• Emergency Medical Services Program Estimated Costs and Fees
  Student Activity Fee	$35.00
  Curriculum Instructional Technology Fee	$27.00
  College Access, Parking & Security (CAPS) Fee	$18.00
  Student Accident Insurance	$1.00
  Books	$450.00
  Uniform, Platinum Planner, EMS Testing, Background check, drug screen	$490.00
  Lab Fees	$162.00
  Malpractice Insurance	$80.00
  *Does not include cost of tuition. Tuition will vary from semester to semester depending on the number of credit hours taken.