Emergency Medical Technology

Program Information

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics care for the sick or injured in emergency medical settings. People’s lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care provided by these workers. EMTs and paramedics respond to emergency calls, performing medical services and transporting patients to medical facilities.

Graduates are eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician’s exam to become certified or licensed as a paramedic. Students who complete the EMT Basic courses (EMSP-1501 Emergency Medical Technician & EMSP-1160 EMT Basic Clinical) are eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician’s exam to become certified as an EMT.

The EMS program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of the Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
www.caahep.org

To contact CoAEMSP:
8301 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
214-703-8445; Fax 214-703-8992
www.coaemsp.org

Note: Criminal history may disqualify individuals from obtaining or maintaining EMS certifications.

The Texas Health & Human Services (Department) reviews an applicant’s and/or certified/licensed EMS personnel criminal background to determine eligibility for EMS certification. Certain offenses will prevent an individual from receiving an EMS certification in Texas or result in the revocation of an EMS certificate or license.

Any person that has been convicted of, placed on deferred adjudication community supervision, or deferred disposition for any of the criminal offenses listed on the TDSHS website (https://www.dshs.texas.gov/emstraumasystems/qicriminal.shtm) are not qualified to obtain or maintain an EMS certification.

To obtain a determination of certification eligibility based on a criminal background history, a petitioner should submit a fully completed Department Petition for EMS Criminal History Pre-Screening form for EMS personnel along with the required fee and completion of a Texas Fingerprint Service Code based background check. The Petition for EMS Criminal History Pre-Screening form and the Texas Fingerprint Service Code form are available at www.dshs.state.tx.us/emstraumasystems/formsresources.shtm. Most evaluations are completed within three to six months.

Questions regarding the criminal history review process should be directed to THHS criminal background investigators at (512) 834-6700.

EMSP-1160. EMT Basic Clinical. (1 Credit)

(1-0-0-4) This course is taken for academic credit. (Prerequisite: See advisor) Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A health-related work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupational theory, skills and concepts. Direct supervision is provided by the clinical professional. Upon successful completion of EMSP 1501 and 1160 and Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) requirements, the student will be eligible to take the Basic Emergency Medical Technician certification examination. Lab Fee $84 includes professional liability insurance, drug screening and scheduling package.

EMSP-1261. Paramedic Clinical I. (2 Credits)

(2-0-0-8) This course is taken for academic credit. (Prerequisite: See Advisor) Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A health-related work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupational theory, skills and concepts. Direct supervision is provided by the clinical professional. Lab fee $85 includes skills tracker and scheduling package.

EMSP-1338. Introduction to Advanced Practice. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0-0) This course is taken for academic credit. (Prerequisite: See Advisor) Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Fundamental elements associated with emergency medical services to include preparatory practices pathophysiology, medication administration and related topics. Lab fee $105 includes exam prep package.

EMSP-1355. Trauma Management. (3 Credits)

(3-3-1-0) This course is taken for academic credit. (Prerequisite: See Advisor) Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Knowledge and skills in the assessment and management of patients with traumatic injuries. Lab fee.

EMSP-1356. Patient Assessment & Airway Management. (3 Credits)

(3-2-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. (Prerequisite: See Advisor) Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Knowledge and skills required to perform patient assessment, airway management and artificial ventilation. Lab fee.

EMSP-1501. Emergency Medical Technician. (5 Credits)

(5-4-4-0) This course is taken for academic credit. (Prerequisite: See Advisor) Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Preparation for certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Lab fee.

EMSP-2143. Assessment Based Management. (1 Credit)

(1-0-2-0) This course is taken for academic credit. (Prerequisite: EMSP 1355, 2444 and 2461) Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A summative experience covering comprehensive, assessment-based patient care management for the paramedic level. Lab fee $160 includes national registry exam registration and lab fees.

EMSP-2330. Special Populations. (3 Credits)

(3-3-1-0) This course is taken for academic credit. (Prerequisite: EMSP 1355, 2444 and 2461) Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Knowledge and skills necessary to assess and manage ill or injured patients in diverse populations to include neonatology, pediatrics, geriatrics and other related topics. Lab fee.

EMSP-2434. Medical Emergencies. (4 Credits)

(4-4-0-0) This course is taken for academic credit. (Prerequisite: EMSP 1355, 2444 and 2461) Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Knowledge and skills in the assessment and management of patients with medical emergencies, including medical overview, neurology, gastroenterology, immunology, pulmonology, urology, hematology, endocrinology, toxicology and other related topics.

EMSP-2444. Cardiology. (4 Credits)

(4-3-2-0) This course is taken for academic credit. (Prerequisite: See Advisor) Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Assessment and management of patients with cardiac emergencies. Includes single and multi-lead ECG interpretation. Lab fee.

EMSP-2462. Paramedic Clinical III. (4 Credits)

(4-0-0-16) This course is taken for academic credit. (Prerequisite: EMSP 2444, 1355 and 2461) Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A health-related work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupational theory, skills and concepts. Direct supervision is provided by the clinical professional. Lab Fee.

EMSP-2463. Clinical/RN to Paramedic. (4 Credits)

(4-0-0-16) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A health-related work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupational theory, skills, and concepts. Direct supervision is provided by the clinical professional. Lab fee $247 includes professional liability insurance, drug screening, and FISDAP scheduling, skills tracking, and testing package.

EMSP-2553. Emergency Medical Services Certification for Health Care Professionals. (5 Credits)

(5-4-2-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. An equivalency course for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) certification under Texas Administrative Code for EMS Personnel Certification. Lab fee.

A grade of 75 or better is required in all EMT courses.

Students must meet current hepatitis B and other vaccination requirements prior to starting EMT clinical courses. See brochure at www.tvcc.edu/Health-Science-Center for current requirements.

What EMTs and Paramedics Do

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics respond to emergency calls, performing medical services and transporting patients to medical facilities.

SUMMARY

2021 Median Pay: $36,930 per year; $17.76 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary non-degree award
Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
On-the-job Training: None
Number of Jobs, 2021: 261,000
Job Outlook, 2021-31: 7% (As fast as average)
Employment Change, 2021-31: 17,900

Work Environment

Most EMTs and paramedics work full-time. Their work can be physically strenuous and stressful, sometimes involving life-or-death situations.

How to Become an EMT or Paramedic

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics typically complete a postsecondary educational program. All states require EMTs and paramedics to be licensed; requirements vary by state.

Pay

The median annual wage for emergency medical technicians was $35,470 in May 2021.

The median annual wage for paramedics was $46,770 in May 2021.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of EMTs and paramedics is projected to grow 7 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 20,000 openings for EMTs and paramedics are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

SUGGESTED CITATION:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, EMTs and Paramedics,
on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/emts-and-paramedics.htm (visited February 14, 2023).

Some careers in this field will require a bachelor's degree.

TVCC's AA degrees are fully transferable to public universities in Texas. See an academic advisor or TVCC's university transfer webpage for more information on this transfer opportunity.
Many of TVCC's AAS degrees lead to an online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) degree with participating universities. See an academic advisor or the BAAS transfer website for more information on this transfer opportunity.