Emergency Medical Services Paramedic Certificate, CERT1

(CIP 51.0904)

281-756-5610

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Purpose: The Emergency Medical Services Program offers training towards professional Emergency Medical Services certifications: Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) and Paramedic. Completion of all certification courses and core content allows students to obtain an AAS Degree.

The Alvin Community College Emergency Medical Services Program is designed to prepare students to recognize various emergencies and provide efficient emergency medical care to the sick and injured both at the scene and during transport to the hospital. 

Successful course completion qualifies candidates to take the National Registry examination required for EMS Certification/Licensure by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

The Emergency Medical Services 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 Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 US Highway 19 N., Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org

Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP)
8301 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
214-703-8445
FAX 214-703-8992
www.coaemsp.org

Please note that admission to Alvin Community College does not guarantee admission to the Emergency Medical Services Program. A person who has ever been convicted or received deferred adjudication for anything other than a minor traffic violation, has been diagnosed with mental illness, or has a history of substance abuse, should contact the Texas Department of State Health Services for Emergency Medical Services personnel certification eligibility criteria and clearance. Individuals with felonies are ineligible for admission to the Emergency Medical Services Program.

Functional Job Description: EMT, Advanced EMT, and Paramedic

You must be at least 18 years of age. You will need at least a high school education or its equivalent (a GED). You must possess the ability to communicate verbally face-to-face, by telephone, by computer, and by radio equipment; ability to lift, carry, and balance up to 125 pounds (250 with assistance); ability to interpret written and oral instructions; ability to use good judgment and remain calm in high stress situations; ability to work effectively in an environment with loud noises, flashing lights, and other distractions; ability to function effectively throughout an entire work shift (up to 24 hours); ability to read small print under life threatening time constraints; ability to read and understand English language manuals and road maps; ability to read information on computer screens, ability to discern street signs and address numbers; ability to interview patients, family members, and bystanders; ability to document on a computer; ability to bend, stoop, and crawl on uneven terrain; ability to withstand varied environmental conditions such as extreme heat, cold, and moisture; ability to work in low light, confined spaces, and other dangerous environments.

Transfer Policy

Coursework from another program or from military training will be evaluated on an individual basis by the Program Director. A grade of “C” or better is required on all transferred courses. Transfer students will be admitted on a space available basis.

Transfer students must:

1. Complete the admission requirements to Alvin Community College as well as the Program admission criteria.
2. Submit course syllabi from the previous institution, if requested by the Program Director.
3. Meet with the Program Director.

Selection for Admission

Admission to the Emergency Medical Services Program is competitive. After the application deadline, applicants are ranked by the selection rubrics for each level of certification, EMT, AEMT, and Paramedic. The Emergency Medical Services Program Applicant Selection Committee oversees selection of the approved applicants. Students are notified via email as to their selection status and ability to register for courses. Students must present the acceptance letter to the registration specialist upon enrollment in EMSP courses.

Progression / Dismissal Guidelines

1. Students are expected to abide by the current Emergency Medical Services admission, curriculum conduct, and program requirements at the time they are admitted to the Emergency Medical Services Program.
2. Emergency Medical Services courses cannot be taken out of order as shown in the catalog and degree plan.
3. New Program students are encouraged to complete the entire Paramedic program. Please note that there are exit points after EMT and AEMT.
4. Students must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 or better throughout their tenure in the Program.
5. Students must have a “C” or better in all completed courses.
6. A student who withdraws from an EMSP lecture/lab course with a related clinical component must withdraw from the corresponding course.
7. A student who receives a grade of C, D or F in an Emergency Medical Services course with a related clinical component will be assigned the grade of D or F in the corresponding course. A student who receives a grade of D or F in an Emergency Medical Services clinical course with a related Emergency Medical Services lecture/lab course will be assigned the grade of D or F in the corresponding course(s). The student will have to repeat all courses; the failed course and the D or F course(s).
8. Co-requisite courses must be completed for a student to be eligible to apply for the next level of certification courses.
9. The Paramedic portion of the Program is 2 full (Fall and Spring) semesters. Both semesters must be completed without interruption between the two.
10. A student may be dismissed from the program for violations of program values and code of conduct. When dismissed, a grade of “F” will be assigned the EMSP courses where the behavior occurred. A grade of “F” will be assigned to any other EMSP courses taken concurrently.

Readmission

Students may be readmitted to the Emergency Medical Services Program (the incomplete certification level; EMT, AEMT, or Paramedic) ONCE after withdrawal or failure of a course.

1. Once enrolled in the Emergency Medical Services Program, a student who receives a D, F or W in an EMSP course or drops an EMSP course, must, if eligible, apply for readmission.
2. Students are readmitted on a space available basis and on the student’s compliance with conditions/requirements established by the Program Director. These requirements may include but are not limited to, remediation in academic course work, repeat of the EMSP course(s) previously taken.
3. Re-entering students must abide by the current admission, curriculum, conduct, and program requirements at the time they are re-admitted to the Emergency Medical Services Program.
4. The department reserves the right to deny readmission to a student who discontinued to the program because of academic dishonesty or exhibited unsafe and/or unprofessional behavior. The decision to deny or accept readmission will be made by a faculty review committee.

Student Accountability

Students are responsible for the following costs which are NOT included with the tuition and fees charged by Alvin Community College.

1. Criminal background screening.
2. Drug screen - to include any for cause or random testing.
3. Program uniform.
4. Any required vaccinations, immunizations, or titers (Vaccination declinations are NOT permitted).
   • Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MRR) - 2 shots in the series or positive antibody titer for all 3 components
   • Varicella (Chickenpox) - Vaccine or medically documented history of disease or a positive antibody titer
   • Hepatitis B (Hep B) - 3 shots in the series or a positive antibody titer
   • Tuberculosis (TB) - 1 step TB Skin test (negative) or QuantiFERON Gold Blood Test or provide a clear Chest X-Ray
   • Tetanus (Tdap) - documentation of a Tdap booster within the past 10 years or documentation of a Td booster within the past 2 years
   • Meningitis - for students 22 years old and younger
   • Flu Shot (During Flu season) - Dated September 1st through March 30th of the year of application
   • Covid Vaccine
5. Physical
6. Textbook(s)
7. Transportation to and from clinical sites and field sites
8. Cost of meals at clinical sites
9. CPR Certification

Paramedic Admission Requirements

Paramedic cohorts begin every August (Fall semester). The ACC EMS Program only runs one Paramedic cohort per academic year. Applications are available at https://www.alvincollege.edu/ems/ or in the Health Science Building Room S108. See the Emergency Medical Services website for application acceptance dates and deadlines. Qualified applicants are admitted according to space available. To be considered for admission into the Paramedic portion of the Emergency Medical Services Program, the applicant must:

1. Have completed the Apply Texas application.
2. Been accepted to Alvin Community College.
3. Have submitted all required official transcripts to Alvin Community College.
4. Have access to your Alvin Community College email account.
5. Be 18 years of age or older.
6. A high school diploma or GED is required.
   1. the high school diploma must be from a school accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) or a corresponding agency from another state. Candidates who received a high school education in another country must have their transcript evaluated by a foreign credentials evaluation service that attests to its equivalency. A home school diploma is acceptable (TAC RULE §157.33 - Certification).
7. Have a VALID Texas Driver’s License or Valid Texas Identification Card.
8. Have a VALID Social Security card or Permanent Resident Card.
9. Have a VALID, non-expired, non-suspended TEXAS AEMT Certification or National Registry AEMT certification
   OR
   Have a VALID, non-expired, non-suspended TEXAS EMT Certification and an Advanced EMT course completion certificate from a TEXAS Department of State Health Services approved AEMT course.
10. American Heart Association BLS CPR Certification (No other forms of CPR certification are permitted).
11. Complete all Viewpoint requirements. (See Student Accountability).
12. Meet the functional and physical qualifications required to work as a Paramedic (See Above).
13. Complete, in its entirety, the Paramedic application.