The Certificate in Emergency Medical Technology (EMT) is a complete program and also can be the first part of the Associate in Science (A.S.) Degree in Emergency Medical Services Technology (EMS), which has three parts. The second part of the degree is the Technical Certificate in Paramedic Technology, and the third part consists of the General Education and Elective courses required for the degree. To earn this degree, all three parts must be completed. The EMT Technical Certificate must be completed successfully as a major requirement for continuing to the limited access Paramedic Certificate; however, the General Education and Elective courses for the A.S. Degree can be completed at any time

Step 1: Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certificate

1 Semester. Offered every semester.

The EMT Certificate is the first step toward the Paramedic Certificate or A.S. Degree in EMS.

The advanced level of EMS care is provided by the paramedic. This individual may perform Advanced Life Support (ALS) procedures. ALS is defined as treatment of life-threatening emergencies through the use of specific techniques identified by the U.S. Department of Transportation. These procedures must be performed under the supervision of a licensed physician.

Certificate Details

Step 2: Paramedic Technology Certificate

3 Semesters. Begins each fall on West Campus and begins each spring on Osceola Campus.

The Paramedic Certificate is a limited access program for students who hold a current Florida EMT Certificate.

Admission to Valencia does not imply acceptance to the Paramedic Certificate
Program.

Students must apply and be accepted into the program.

Certificate Details

Step 3: Emergency Medical Services Technology A.S. Degree

1 Semester. Offered every semester.

To earn the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Degree, a student must complete the EMT Certificate and the Paramedic Certificate as well as the General Education and Elective Component.

All degree-seeking students must satisfy entry testing requirements and satisfactorily complete all mandatory courses in reading, student success, mathematics, English, and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) in which the student is placed.

Degree Details

1. Read about Emergency Medical Technology (EMT) admission & program requirements and the Valencia College catalog; read this program guide in its entirety.
2. Be a U.S. Citizen, a U.S. permanent resident or an International Student.
   International Students: F-1, J-1, and all other non-immigrant visa types eligible to enroll in degree-seeking programs, must complete their background check, fingerprinting, drug testing, immunizations and CPR certification at least six months in advance of the anticipated start term. Contact the Health Sciences Compliance Office to begin the compliance process and background check at email: HSCompliance@valenciacollege.edu.
   NOTE: All individuals who have DACA, Temporary Protection Status, Refugee, Asylee status, etc. must complete the Employment Authorization Permit (EAP) prior to submitting application.
3. Must be a high school graduate with a standard high school diploma (or GED) and must be at least 18 years of age.
4. Attend a Health Sciences Information Session (strongly recommended). Information Session dates are posted on the Health Sciences website
5. Submit a completed Valencia Application for Admission and pay the application fee; satisfy the requirements for Degree-Seeking Status, including submission of all official transcripts from all institutions (include High School transcripts or GED score report) must be submitted to Valencia College and posted on your record, and be in Active Student Status.
6. After satisfying the above, register online via your Atlas account for the three EMT Program courses (EMS 1119, EMS 1119L and EMS 1431L) in the same time block (day or evening) on the same campus. You must register in time to attend the last EMT Program Orientation for the term. After successfully registering for the three courses you will receive an Atlas e-mail with Orientation and Compliance information.
   Registration for EMT classes closes five (5) days before the start of the term.
7. Complete all of the Compliance requirements that will be sent to you via your Atlas e-mail (also located in your Student Detailed Schedule) once you are successfully registered in all three EMT courses. NOTE: These requirements have a completion deadline.
8. Attend the mandatory EMT Program Orientation. Non-attendance of the mandatory EMT program orientation will be cause for removal from the program.

Certification

After you complete all three EMT courses with minimum grades of “C” your name will be sent to the Department of Health, Bureau of EMS in Tallahassee, so you will be eligible for state certification. Applications for state certification are given at the end of the term.

Cost

The estimated total cost (subject to change) for the EMT Program, including tuition, special course fees, and associated expenses such as background check, drug testing, immunizations, uniforms, and licensing is $2,500. This estimate does not include books.

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• EMT: Technical Certificate in Emergency Medical Technology
• Paramedic: Technical Certificate in Paramedic Technology
• EMS: Associate in Science (A.S.) Degree in Emergency Medical Services Technology

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The following information explains the differences in declaring your program as the EMT Technical Certificate, the Paramedic Certificate or the A.S. Degree in EMS

EMT

To receive financial aid for the EMT courses, you may need to complete additional course prerequisites and you need to:

• Declare the AA degree or the AS Fire Science as your Primary major
• Declare the EMT Technical Certificate as your Secondary major
• Have at least 12 Elective credits remaining in the AA Degree

Paramedic

• You will be entered as “Pending Paramedic” until actually accepted to the Paramedic Program.
• If you hold a current Florida EMT license, you will not be required to complete entry testing in reading, English and mathematics or the EMT Program to apply to Paramedic, unless you also declared the AA degree for financial aid purposes.
• The Paramedic program is eligible for financial aid upon admittance.

EMS AS

• You must satisfy entry testing requirements and satisfactorily complete all mandatory courses in reading, New Student Experience, mathematics, English, and English for Academic Purposes in which you are placed.
• You must complete EMT and Paramedic courses as well as General Education courses to earn the degree.
• The A.S. in EMS is eligible for financial aid when all conditions of degree-seeking status are met.

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The Schools of Allied Health and Nursing provide information about specific admission criteria for Health Sciences programs. The Health Sciences Program Guides, of which this is one, are developed for a specific academic year (August to July) and, as a rule, changes to admission and program requirements become effective at the start of an academic year; however, Valencia College reserves the right to make changes in admission and program requirements as circumstances require. If a mid-year change becomes necessary, it will be indicated in the Emergency Medical Technology (EMT) Program Changes

Students interested in a health sciences career are encouraged to explore the many challenging and rewarding opportunities available in health professions. The health sciences programs may have clinical experiences that expose the student to blood borne pathogens via contact with bodily fluids including, but not limited to blood and saliva. Students accepted into these programs will be expected to adhere to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for the use of Standard Precautions. The CDC defines standard precautions as “a set of precautions designed to prevent the transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B virus (HBV), [and] other blood borne pathogens when providing first aid or health care.” Under standard precautions, blood and certain body fluids are considered potentially infectious for HIV, HBV, and other blood borne pathogens. Students will be expected to adhere to hand hygiene protocols and consistent use of personal protective equipment including masks, gloves and eyewear. In some of the health sciences programs, students may need to conduct peer-to-peer examinations in lab settings.

To enroll in the EMT Program, you must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or International Student.

All communication from Valencia relative to enrollment in the EMT Program will be via your Atlas e-mail address. Written communication you initiate with Valencia staff should also be via your Atlas e-mail and should include your first and last names and your Valencia ID number.

Background Check, Fingerprinting, drug testing, immunizations & CPR certification

The Health Sciences programs include student clinical rotations in external affiliate health care facilities with which Valencia has agreements for student clinical assignments. The affiliates’ policies require that students serving in a clinical rotation be cleared of offenses that would disqualify them from participating in student clinical assignments. Thus, all students conditionally* accepted to a Health Sciences program are required to submit to a criminal background check, fingerprinting and drug testing as well as provide documentation of specific immunizations and American Heart Association (AHA) and Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification for health care providers following acceptance to a program. The timeframe for meeting these requirements will be provided in the Orientation information that will be sent to the student upon acceptance through ATLAS email.

NOTE: Non-Immigrant visa holders must complete their background check, fingerprinting, drug testing, immunizations and CPR certification at least six months in advance of the anticipated start term.

Students may need to renew their background and drug testing requirements annually. See the Compliance Department for more details at HSCompliance@valenciacollege.edu

If you have a positive background check, fingerprint or drug screening, you may be denied enrollment in a Health Sciences program due to the inability to participate in a student clinical assignment. If you have concerns regarding known background issues, it is recommended that you email questions to hscompliance@valenciacollege.edu.

Mandatory Orientation

The mandatory program Orientation for accepted students usually is held four to six weeks prior to the program start date. Once accepted to a program students will receive an email via ATLAS regarding orientation date, requirements and deadlines. The Orientation materials will give the student information regarding the processes for completing background checks, fingerprinting, drug testing, and other requirements through CastleBranch.com. Any other pertinent information will be given during orientation. Non-attendance of the mandatory EMT program orientation will be cause for removal from the program.

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Emergency Medical Technology (EMT) is a practice discipline with cognitive, sensory, affective, and psychomotor performance requirements. Based on these requirements, the following list of "Core Performance Standards" has been developed. Each standard has an example of an activity or activities, which a student will be required to perform while enrolled in the Emergency Medical Technology (EMT) Program. These standards are a part of the Emergency Medical Technology (EMT) courses and of the role expectation of a Medical Information Code/Biller professional.

For the purpose of the Emergency Medical Technology (EMT) Program, a “qualified individual with a disability is one who, with or without reasonable accommodations or modifications, meets the essential eligibility requirements for participation in the program.” The School of Allied Health at Valencia makes no preadmission inquiries concerning an applicant’s disability status. Information related to an applicant’s disabilities is not a part of the information reviewed by the Admission Committee.

These Performance Standards should be used to assist students in determining whether accommodations or modifications are necessary for the student to meet program requirements. A student who identifies potential difficulties with meeting the Performance Standards should communicate his/her concerns to an advisor in the Office for Students with Disabilities. The student has the responsibility to identify and document the disability and to request reasonable and appropriate adjustments. Determination is made on an individual basis as to whether any accommodations or modifications can be reasonably made.