Emergency Medical Technician Programs

Volunteer State Community College offers both an EMT–Basic and EMT–Paramedic Technical Certificate programs.

Enrollment Requirements

Students seeking enrollment in either program must provide evidence of a passing score on a background check prior to official acceptance/enrollment into the respective program. Either the failure to provide the required background check results by the due date established or the receipt of any other than a passing score on the background check will make a student ineligible for enrollment in the program. The background checks are performed at the student's expense.

Emergency Medical Technician – Basic

The Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (IV) technical certificate program is the required course of studies designed to prepare students for entry-level positions as professional medical care providers in a pre-hospital setting such as an ambulance service. These are prerequisite courses for persons considering entry into the Paramedic Technical Certificate and the A.A.S. Degree programs. The EMT–Basic (IV) duties include the recognition, assessment, and basic management of medical, trauma, and environmental emergencies under the direction of on or off–line medical control. The courses follow the most current U.S. Department of Transportation National Standard Curriculum. Students who successfully complete the course work and clinical components of the program are eligible for the Tennessee Initial EMT–Basic Licensing Examination and the EMT-IV Extended Skills Licensing Examination.

Courses are offered at several off–campus locations that may include Nashville and Clarksville. Up to sixteen students are accepted into each section of the course each semester offered. Students enrolled MUST successfully complete all didactic and clinical components of the program to be eligible to take professional licensing examinations. Both semesters are required for licensure in Tennessee.

EMT–Basic Enrollment Requirements

The EMT–Basic Certificate is available to all students who are at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or GED. Students should be physically able to perform heavy lifting or strenuous activity for extended periods of time and must demonstrate the ability to perform these tasks during classroom and clinical periods.

Emergency Medical Technician – Paramedic

The Emergency Medical Technician – Paramedic technical certificate program is designed to prepare competent entry level graduates in emergency medical care to serve in emergency care settings such as an ambulance service. Using the most current U.S. Department of Transportation National Standard Curriculum, discussions include the application of advanced patient assessment, problem recognition, and advanced treatment modalities for medical, trauma, and environmental emergencies. Clinical exposures in local hospitals assure appropriate experience in dealing with emergencies for all age groups including pediatrics and geriatrics.

The program is CLOSED to general enrollment and students are competitively selected. Individuals wishing to be selected must complete the following application process:

• Application to the College submitted by May 1
• Application to the Paramedic Program by May 1
• ACT/SAT scores submitted (students under 21 years of age)
• Basic EMT Knowledge Examination
• Psychological Profile
• Personal Interview
• Physical Ability Demonstration
• College Placement Examinations