Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certificate Program
EMT BasicThe EMT and Advanced EMT certificate programs are accredited by the Alabama Department of Public Health, Office of EMS and Trauma. The Department’s Paramedic program is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions (CoEMSP).
AdmissionFor credit students, the criteria for general admission of EMT students to the University are the same as those for all students. Please consult with the University’s admission’s office for more information about admission policies and procedures at (251) 460-6141, or you may visit their web site at www.southalabama.edu/admissions/contact.html
The Department also allows for students to register and be admitted to the EMT certificate program as a non-credit student. Non-credit students are not required to meet University level admission requirements (ACT scores, etc.); however, they must apply for admission to the department and meet certain departmental admission requirements (i.e., high school diploma or GED, criminal background check and drug screen test, etc.). For more information, please contact the office at (251) 431-6418.EMT Basic
The basis for the curriculum is the current Department of Transportation’s (DOT) National Standard curriculum for EMT (2009).
Pre-requisite
American Heart Association - Healthcare Provider CPR certification.
To progress throughout the program, a minimum final grade of 80% must be achieved in each course. Students will be allowed to repeat a course only one time. Students unable to satisfactorily complete EMS 112, 113 and 115 will not receive a completion certificate by the department or the University.
The State of Alabama mandates the National Registry of EMT’s examination at both the EMT, Advanced EMT and Paramedic levels of practice. Only those students who have met all academic requirements of the program will be eligible to sit for the National Registry examination. All other criteria for progression and completion will be listed in each course syllabus and will be mandatory.Students are responsible for payment of all tuition and fees. Tuition and fees are set by the University of South Alabama, upon approval of the Board of Trustees. For current information on tuition and fees, please refer to the University’s admission’s office or click here http://www.southalabama.edu/admissions/expenses.html
Non-credit student tuition and fee information can be obtained by calling our office at (251) 431-6418.
Students are responsible for all personal health care expenses, including those resulting from injury or illness, while engaged in learning experiences required by the department. Students will be required to show proof of health insurance or a signed waiver while in the program. Students must show proof of all required immunizations.
Students are responsible for all travel expenses to and from clinical and field internship sites. Students are responsible for the purchase of uniforms and required clinical equipment and supplies for their internships. Students also must maintain current Healthcare Provider (CPR) certification throughout the program of study.
Financial AidUniversity of South Alabama
Department of EMS Education
Attn: Charles Erwin, Program Director
2002 Old Bay Front Drive
Mobile, AL 36615
cerwin@usouthal.edu
(251) 431-6418
EMT Program Advisor
Emergency Medical Technician
Description of the ProfessionThe Emergency Medical Technician’s scope of practice includes basic skills focused on the acute management and transportation of critical and emergent patients. This may occur at an emergency scene until transportation resources arrive, from an emergency scene to a health care facility, between health care facilities, or in other health care settings.
In many communities Emergency Medical Technicians provide a large portion of the out-of-hospital care. In some jurisdictions, especially rural areas, Emergency Medical Technicians provide the highest level of out-of-hospital care. Emergency Medical Technicians work alongside other EMS and health care professionals as an integral part of the emergency care team.
Emergency Medical Technicians’ scope of practice includes basic, non-invasive interventions to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with acute out-of-hospital medical and traumatic emergencies.
Emergency care is based on assessment findings.
Additionally, Emergency Medical Technicians provide care to minimize secondary injury and provide comfort to the patient and family while transporting the patient to an emergency care facility.
An Emergency Medical Technician’s knowledge, skills, and abilities are acquired through formal education and training. The Emergency Medical Technician has the knowledge of, and is expected to be competent in, all of the skills of the EMR1. A major difference between the Emergency Medical Responder and the Emergency Medical Technician is the knowledge and skills necessary to provide medical transportation of emergency patients.
The Emergency Medical Technician level is the minimum licensure level for personnel transporting patients in ambulances. The scope of practice is limited to basic skills that are effective and can be performed safely in an out-of-hospital setting with medical oversight and limited training.
The Emergency Medical Technician transports all emergency patients to an appropriate medical facility. The Emergency Medical Technician is not prepared to make decisions independently regarding the appropriate disposition of patients. The Emergency Medical Technician serves as part of an EMS response system, assuring a progressive increase in the level of assessment and care. The Emergency Medical Technician may make destination decisions in collaboration with medical oversight. The principal disposition of the patient encounter will result in the direct delivery of the patient to an acute care facility.
In addition to emergency response, Emergency Medical Technicians often perform medical transport services of patients requiring care within their scope of practice.
EMT Psychomotor Skills1. The Emergency Medical Responder Course IS NOT a prerequisite for EMT training. It is designed to train traditional first responders, such as police officers and non-EMT firefighters, to provide efficient and effective medical care to the sick and injured until the arrival of EMT personnel. The course is available through the University in two forms, both of which meet certification standards of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. For academic credit the course is available as a 3-hour class, EMS 110 Emergency Medical Responder. An identical model is available through the Alabama Gulf EMS System (EMS Region 6) for non-credit enrollment and may also be available off campus (i.e., within the seven counties represented by AGEMSS at the site of need). Alabama has the capacity to license Emergency Medical Responders who have completed an approved course and have successfully passed the Emergency Medical Responder examination of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
2. EMT Description is excerpted from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National Scope of Practice document, pages 25-26.
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