Emergency Medical Services Program

The Emergency Medical Services Program is designed to provide instruction at the certificate and associate degree level for the EMS professional. The program is based on the National EMS Education Standard for the EMT, Advanced EMT and Paramedic. Upon successful completion of the selected program, the student will be eligible to take the National Registry certification exam. After passing the National Registry certification exam, the candidate will then be eligible to apply with the Office of EMS & Trauma for licensure. Upon licensure, the EMS professional is allowed to perform life-saving skills under medical direction as defined by their scope of practice.

ALL students, irrespective of track, must be admitted to ASU before applying to the EMS Program. Students must also take the University System of Georgia Accuplacer Test or an equivalent.

Additional Requirements

1. Complete the EMS Application Packet
2. Copy of Driver’s license
3. Copy of high school diploma or GED high school equivalency certificate
4. Letter of recommendation (optional, but may be taken into consideration during the selection process) i.e. Fire Chief, Supervisor, EMS Director, Paramedic, or other healthcare professional
5. Verification of EMS licensure. (Paramedic and AEMT candidates)
6. Evaluation on an individual basis by the EMS faculty
7. To comply with the requirements of clinical facilities, the Health Sciences Division requires students to submit a completed immunization and TB screening form. This form must be completed before classes begin. Flu shots must be deferred until October. 
8. All Health Science students are required to have personal health insurance in order to participate in clinical practicums.

An EMT, AEMT, or Paramedic, is a caregiver with the responsibility of providing life supporting assessments and interventions. Implied in this caregiving role are essential job junctions that require the EMS Professional to demonstrate certain cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skill), and affective (behavior) mastery.

To satisfactorily complete all levels of certification, the student must have developed the necessary skills to become an entry level practitioner according to their level of training. The examples below are not all inclusive and additional disabilities that prove to prevent the performance of essential job functions may be considered on a case by case basis.

• Visual Acuity (with/without corrective vision) – Having the visual capacity to identify life-threatening signs of physical distress through objective patient assessment, identify details of a patient’s medications, and with accuracy draw solutions into a syringe when required.
• Auditory Acuity (with/without aids) – Having the auditory capacity to accurately obtain a subjective medical history and to complete a patient assessment using an aneroid sphygmomanometer, stethoscope, and other equipment as necessary to detect sounds including but not limited to breath and bowel.
• Physical Ability – Having the physical capacity to safely lift patients and equipment weighting at least 180lbs. with a partner, and have the stamina to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Speaking Ability – Having the capacity to acquire a medical history and other details regarding the subjective assessment from the patient, family members, and/or bystanders and communicate those findings in various manners to coordinate patient care.
• Manual Dexterity – Having the capacity to perform intravenous catheterization, fill syringes, and perform other task(s) often associated with effective hand-eye coordination.
• Mental Stress – Having the capacity to perform without hesitation and with coordinated control, the skills of an EMT during times of mental stress, display principles of patient care consistent with the community standard, and respond positively to correct and modify behavior as required.

Additional Costs and Fees

1. Professional liability insurance is required prior to clinical assignment. Fees are assessed as part of the student’s tuition and fees.
2. The student must assume responsibility for their own health in the event of an illness, an accident, or exposure to communicable disease. Associated expenses will be the responsibility of the student.
3. Students are required to have approved uniforms and equipment as described in the program handbook. Associated expenses are not assessed in advance and will be the responsibility of the student.
4. Students are required to have received all necessary immunizations as listed in the program handbook. Associated expenses are not assessed in advance and will be the responsibility of the student.
5. Each student will be held accountable for participating in the required Life Support courses. Fees are assessed as part of the student’s tuition and fees for the appropriate semester.
6. Students are required to take a comprehensive self-assessment exam prior to graduation. Fees are assessed in the graduating semester as part of the student’s tuition and fees.
7. Upon completion of the required curriculum, those students with a minimum of 2.0 will be eligible to take the NREMT cognitive and practical examinations. Upon releasing the student for the registry examination, it is expected that the student will complete the exam process within 30 days. Fees associated with the National Registry psychomotor and cognitive examination (first attempt only) will be assessed during the appropriate  semester. The student will be responsible for National Registry practical examination site fees.

Required Courses for Emergency Medical Services Certificate Program

The Paramedic is a Health Science professional whose primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care for ill and injured patients. The Paramedic’s scope of practice includes invasive and pharmacological interventions to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with acute out-of-hospital medical and traumatic emergencies. Paramedic education represents the highest level of out-of-hospital care. Graduates of the Emergency Medical Services Certificate Program are encouraged to take the additional prescribed college courses in order to complete the Associate of Science degree in Emergency Medical Services.

Required Courses for EMT and AEMT Certificate Program

The ASU EMS Program also offers the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Program during the day as a part-time as well as a full-time course. The class sequences are as follows:

Part-time AEMT Curriculum

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NREMT Boards for EMT are taken after successful completion of these courses.

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NREMT Boards for AEMT are taken after successful completion of these courses.

Full-time AEMT Curriculum

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NREMT Boards for EMT are taken after successful completion of these courses.

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NREMT Boards for AEMT are taken after successful completion of these courses.

Required Courses for Emergency Medical Services Career Associate Degree

The Paramedic is a Health Science professional whose primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care for ill and injured patients. The Paramedic’s scope of practice includes invasive and pharmacological interventions to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with acute out-of-hospital medical and traumatic emergencies. Paramedic education represents the highest level of out-of-hospital care. Graduates of the Emergency Medical Services Certificate Program are encouraged to take the additional prescribed college courses in order to complete the Associate of Science degree in Emergency Medical Services.

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Humanities requirement may be met by taking any literature or appreciation course in the Humanities Area of the Core IMPACTS.

Depending on your enrollment status, you may be required to take ASU 1101, “First Year Experience”.