Program Details

EMS personnel generally work outside of the hospital. They respond to traffic and industrial accidents and other emergencies. They treat patients with a variety of problems. EMS professionals must think quickly and clearly. They often make independent decisions that can mean life or death for the patient. Employment and volunteer opportunities are available with rescue squads, fire departments, emergency rooms and private industry. There are different levels of training and practice. Job function and salary depend on the credential obtained.

The Northern Virginia Community College EMS Program prepares entry-level paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains, with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician and/or Responder Levels.

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

• Minimum Expectations

  Following goal(s) defining minimum Expectations:

  • To prepare entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), Psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains, with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician and/or Responder Levels.
  • State OEMS BLS Accreditation
    The Northern Virginia Community College EMS program is accredited to offer EMT education by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Emergency Medical Services upon the recommendation of the Division of Accreditation, Certification and Education.
  • Paramedic Program Outcomes
    CAAHEP Accredited Paramedic Programs and CoAEMSP Letter of Review (LoR) Programs track and report outcome measures annually to the Committee on Accreditation for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
    • The most current CoAEMSP Annual Report was for the calendar year 2020.
    • The following are our reported percentages:
      • The most recent success rate for the National Registry of EMT Paramedic Cognitive exam was 80%.
      • The most recent positive placement rate for graduates was 82.6%.
        • Positive placement is defined by the CoAEMSP as ‘Employed full or part-time in a related field and/or continuing his/her education and/or serving in the military.
        • Positive placement is measured at the completion of the program.
      • The most recent retention rate was 79.3%
• EMS Lab

  The mission of the Emergency Medical Services Lab (EMSL) is to provide students in the emergency services field the tools and equipment necessary to become successful in their learning experience.

  EMSL students are given the opportunity to learn and perform a variety of hands-on training. There is no guarantee that every student will experience all that is taught during clinical rotations. One of the benefits of incorporating simulated experiences is it allows students to hone many of the skills required in practice prior to actually coming in contact with the patient.

  A shared course calendar is now available under the EMSL calendar link. Faculty and staff will be asked to provide an updated course schedule and any additional requirements to the lab manager as soon as they have been assigned. The calendar is monitored daily to help ensure all updates and requests are completed in a timely manner. To reserve the required lab equipment for that session, click the Online EMSL Request Form link in the Helpful Links box on the right.

  Please review the Simulation Center Policies and the EMS Lab Guidelines and be sure to check the acceptance box on the form when finished. Your request will not be processed if the acceptance box is not checked.

  To use the CSC, you must reserve time on the calendar. The calendar is updated regularly to help determine when the center is available. To reserve the center, click on the Online CSC Request Form Link in the Helpful Links box on the right. The EMS lab manager is available to perform the scheduling feature if desired.

• Lab Guidelines

  The following guidelines are being made to ensure all persons understand their rights, roles and responsibilities while working in Room 174, the Emergency Training Laboratory.

  Students:

  • Shall be accompanied by a faculty/staff member while in the lab and storage rooms.
  • Are not allowed to remove/check out any equipment from the EMS inventory.

  Faculty/Staff Personnel:

  • Shall have full discretion as whether to allow food/drinks during their classes.
  • Are required (Section 12.80 Administrative Services Procedures Manual) to complete and forward all requests to borrow school equipment through the lab manager. Request shall be no less than 48 hours’ notice from date requested.
  • Faculty/Staff offices to include personal work stations should not be used without expressed permission of those individuals.
  • Only trained faculty/staff are allowed to operate simulators, computers and equipment.
  • Lead faculty/staff are responsible for insuring all classroom doors are secured at the end of each class session.
  • Lead faculty/staff are responsible for insuring all their assigned lab equipment is returned to its original location at the end of each class.

  Equipment:

  • Damaged or lost equipment will be reported to the lab manager via email (online forms link) by the end of the work day.
  • All assigned equipment and corresponding pieces shall be wiped down, washed and/or securedin their proper working order for future use by others.

  Facilities:

  • Personal items left in the classroom will be turned in to lost and found at the end of the following week.
  • All items in the refrigerator will be removed every Friday for cleaning. Condiments must be dated when they were placed in the refrigerator to remain in the refrigerator.
  • Cover food you cook in the microwave.
  • The coffee pot, filter and table must be cleaned after each class use.
  • All tables and chairs shall be put back in their original position at the end of each class session.
• Transfer Opportunities

  This credential is not designed to transfer.

• Credit for Prior Learning

  Northern Virginia Community College accepts industry-standard certifications, credentials and/or professional courses for credit. Broadly, licenses, credentials and/or certifications must be current and valid for consideration. For more information regarding the status of the certification and its eligibility for credit, please see an advisor or faculty members in the discipline area that awards CPL credit.

  • Credit for Prior Learning
• Career Prospects

  Employment and volunteer opportunities are available with rescue squads, fire departments, emergency rooms and private industry. There are different levels of training and practice. Job function and salary depend on the credential obtained.