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Looking to enroll in the EMS program at NTCC?  

Here are a few considerations. 

Apply as early as possible for any semester.  Determine if you want the EMT-Basic program or continue to the paramedic level. 

EMT-Basic is the entry-level for EMS.  The EMT Basic provides fundamental care for patients.  Paramedics provide extended and advanced-level care including intubation, medication administration, and clinical assessment.

Please see the admissions information below 

ADMISSION PROCEDURE 

Click on EMS Program Application in the menu on the left side of the page

²ÝÁñÉçÇø maintains an open-door admissions policy and constantly strives to provide programs beneficial to all students. The admission requirements are found in the College catalog. 

Examination Requirements

Students interested in the Associate of Applied Science EMS Degree need to test before enrolling and meet Texas Success Initiative (TSI) guidelines before graduation.

Information on the TSI exam can be found on the NTCC website.  EMS AAS students will be required to meet TSI requirements for reading in order to be able to enroll in any of the EMT Paramedic level courses.

Students who are enrolled in the any EMS certificate program are waived from the TSI requirements. EMT Basic students will be advised to take the THEA during the first semester. 

Students enrolling in the paramedic certificate or AAS EMS degree program are also required to have successfully completed the EMT-Basic program and be a nationally registered or a Texas certified EMT within 3 months after the start of the paramedic program.  

Paramedic Students completing the EMT course from a program other than NTCC, can transfer credit. If college credit was not an option, credit by examination will transfer to six semester hours. Cost  is $10 per semester hour.

see the NTCC Academic Catalog for more information  or type  in to your browser.  scroll down to the General Fee section

Interview

All students are required to interview before enrolling.  This interview allows the Instructor to answer any questions from the students as well as allows the student to tour the EMS department and the campus.

The following should be acknowledged, documented, and/or obtained before the first day of class You will be given a link to upload the required documents:

1.  Documentation that the student is at least 18 years of age, or will be 18 years of age, within a year of completion of the EMT-Basic Course.  This documentation consists of a copy of an official Texas or federal ID, such as a driver’s license or passport.  

2.  Documentation of a high school diploma or a GED.  This documentation consists of a verifiable copy of the high school or GED transcript.

3.  Documentation of required immunizations or immunity. The following immunizations need to be documented: Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis, Rubella, Mumps, Measles,  Hepatitis B, Influenza, and Meningitis (if non-exempt).

4.  Documentation of physical exam completed by a licensed physician or mid-level provider.

5.  Documentation of  Tuberculosis test. Tuberculosis test MUST remain current for the student’s duration of the program.  Thus for TB, the student MUST repeat the screening yearly for re-entry. 

6.  Documentation of criminal background.  All students must go to and complete a background check.  The school code is OH-51.  An addendum to this document is from the Texas Department of State Health Services(TDSHS).  The TDSHS statement defines criminal history as it relates to EMS certification/licensure eligibility.  The EMS Program abides by this policy for admission.

7.  Acknowledgement of the Functional EMS Job Description found below.

8.  Acknowledgement of the Americans with Disabilities Act pertaining to EMS found below.

9. Complete student data sheet 

DSHS Statement on Criminal Backgrounds

A person shall be disqualified from eligibility to acquire an EMS certification, or a person’s initial or renewal application for EMS certification or paramedic licensure shall be denied, or a person’s EMS certification or paramedic license, whether active or inactive, shall be revoked if the petitioner, applicant, certificant, or licensed paramedic is convicted of or place on deferred adjudication community supervision or deferred disposition for an offense committed on or after September 1, 2009 listed in Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 42.12, Sections 3g(a)(1)(A) through (H) as follows: 

(1) murder; 

(2) capital murder; 

(3) indecency with a child; 

(4) aggravated kidnapping; 

(5) aggravated sexual assault; 

(6) aggravated robbery;

(7) substance abuse offenses, as described in Health and Safety Code, Chapter 481, for which punishment is increased under: 

(a) Health and Safety Code, §481.140, regarding the use of a child in the commission of an offense; or 

(b) Health and Safety Code, §481.134(c), (d), (e) or (f), regarding an offense committed within a drug free zone, if it is shown that the defendant has been previously convicted of an offense for which punishment was increased under one of those subsections; 

(8) sexual assault; 

(9) An offense, other than an offense committed on or after September 1, 2009, for which the person is subject to register as a sex offender under Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 62. 

Criminal offenses NOT LISTED ABOVE are subject to a department review which may lead to denial, suspension, or revocation. 

Functional Position Description for ECA / EMT / EMT-I / EMT-P

Introduction

The following general position description for the FR, EMT, EMT-I and EMT-P is provided as a guide for advising those interested in understanding the qualifications, competencies and tasks required for emergency medical services certification. It is the ultimate responsibility of an employer to define specific job descriptions within each Emergency Medical Services (EMS) entity.

Qualifications

To qualify for EMS certification or licensure an individual must successfully complete a State approved course and achieve competency in each of the psychomotor skills. In addition the individual must achieve a passing score on the state written certification or licensure examination.  EMS personnel must be at least 18 years of age. Generally, the knowledge and skills required show the need for a high school education or equivalent. EMS personnel must have the:

• Ability to communicate verbally via telephone and radio equipment
• Ability to lift, carry and balance up to 125 pounds (250 pounds with assistance)
• Ability to interpret written, oral and diagnostic form instructions
• Ability to use good judgment and remain calm in high-stress situations
• Ability to work effectively in an environment with loud noises and flashing lights
• Ability to function efficiently throughout an entire work shift
• Ability to calculate weight and volume ratios and read small print, both under life threateningtime constraints
• Ability to read and understand English language manuals and road maps
• Ability to accurately discern street signs and address numbers; ability to interview patient, family members and bystanders
• Ability to document, in writing, all relevant information in prescribed format in light of legal ramifications of such
• Ability to converse in English with coworkers and hospital staff as to status of patient
• EMS personnel should possess good manual dexterity, with ability to perform all tasks related to highest quality patient care.  Ability to bend, stoop and crawl on uneven terrain and ability to withstand varied environmental conditions such as extreme heat, cold and moisture is vital.  
• The ability to work in low light, confined spaces and other dangerous environments is required.

 Description of Tasks

• Receives call from dispatcher, responds appropriately to emergency calls, reads maps, may drive ambulance to emergency site, uses most expeditious route and observes traffic ordinances and regulations.
• Reassures patients and bystanders, avoids mishandling patient and undue haste, searches for medical identification emblem to aid in care.
• Determines nature and extent of illness or injury, takes pulse, blood pressure, visually observes changes in skin color, auscultates breath sounds, makes determination regarding patient status, establishes priority for emergency care, renders appropriate emergency care (based on competency level) may administer intravenous drugs or fluid replacement as directed by physician.
• May use equipment (based on competency level) such as but not limited to, defibrillator, electrocardiograph, performs endotracheal intubation to open airway and ventilate patient, inflates pneumatic anti-shock garment to improve patient’s blood circulation or stabilize injuries.
• Assists in lifting, carrying, and transporting patient to ambulance and on to a medical facility.
• Extricates patient from entrapment, assesses extent of injury, uses prescribed techniques and appliances, radios dispatcher for additional assistance or services, provides light rescue service if required,provides additional emergency care following established protocols.
• Complies with regulations in handling deceased, notifies authorities, arranges for protection of property and evidence at scene.
• Determines appropriate facility to which patient will be transported, reports nature and extent of injuries or illness to the facility, asks for direction from hospital physician or emergency department.
• Observes patient in route and administers care as directed by physician or emergency department or according to published protocol.
• Identifies diagnostic signs that require communication with the facility.
• Moves the patient into the emergency facility from the ambulance.
• Reports verbally and in writing concerning observations about the patient, and patient care at the scene and en route to the facility, provides assistance to emergency staff as required.
• Maintains familiarity with all specialized equipment. 
• Replaces supplies, sends used supplies for sterilization, checks all equipment for future readiness, maintains ambulance in operable condition, ensures ambulance cleanliness and orderliness of equipment and supplies, decontaminates vehicle interior, determines vehicle readiness by checking oil, gasoline, and water in battery and radiator and tire pressure.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT - ALLOWABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 has implications that pertain to licensure or certification.  The law permits testing that requires the use of sensory, manual or speaking skills where the tests are intended to measure essential functions of the profession.  For example, an applicant with reading difficulties is required to take a written exam since the ability to read is an essential function of EMS.

- Exams are designed at least in part to measure the student’s ability to read.

- A second example is one dealing with skills proficiency verification that must be performed within established time frames.  Performing a skill within established time frames is required because speed of performance is an integral part of patient care.

- Both the ability to read and the ability to perform skills within time frames are essential functions for an EMS provider. Therefore, in EMS, a person with a disability may not be denied the opportunity to take an examination; but this person shall be required to take a written exam and pass the skills proficiency verification within established criteria.

The Functional Job Description, outlined at the Appendix before this section, describes the required skills and job requirements essential to EMS personnel.  That description will guide all accommodations permitted for the EMT and paramedic students.

The following specific points pertain to those involved in EMS training and education programs:

-- Students cannot be discriminated against on the basis of a disability in the offering of educational programs or services.

-- There can be no accommodation during screening, evaluation or course examinations that will compromise or fundamentally alter the evaluation of skills that are required to function safely and efficiently in the profession.

-- Students who have received an accommodation during the course need to fully understand that there is a separate process for requesting an accommodation for the written certification exam and eligibility for an accommodation is determined on a case-by-case basis.  In other words, just because a student was allowed an accommodation during the course does not guarantee an accommodation for the National Registry exam.  Documentation confirming and describing the disability should be submitted according to policy for consideration.

**PLEASE NOTE**

There are accommodations that are not allowed in the EMS Program because they are not in compliance with the essential job functions of an EMT or paramedic as outlined in the Functional Job Description. These include, but are not limited to:

 1. Students are not allowed additional time for skills with specific time frames.

  --  Obviously patients would suffer due to life threatening conditions in emergency situations if treatment were delayed.

2. Students are not allowed unlimited time to complete a written exam.

  --  This request is not considered reasonable because a candidate should be able to complete a test within a finite amount of time.

  --  Students will be allowed a maximum of time and one-half to complete written exams.

3. Students are not allowed to have written exams given by an oral reader.

  --  The ability to read and understand small English print is an essential function of the profession, and written exams are designed, at least in part, to measure that ability.

4. Students are not provided a written exam with a reading level of less than grade eight.

  --  The EMS profession requires a reading level of at least grade eight to work safely and efficiently.

5. Students must take all exams during the scheduled time, as a member of the enrolled class.

--  The ability to utilize knowledge on the spur of the moment is an essential task for EMTs and paramedics.

  --  Exams are given to elicit immediate recall and understanding of emergency situations.

  --  Students will be permitted a private space to take the exam.

  --  Refer to the written examination policy of missed exams due to excused absences.

6. Students must answer all written test questions as written. No explanation of the question can be provided by the test proctor or any other individual.

  --  Additional descriptions of test questions would not be a reasonable accommodation because reading and understanding written English is an essential part of EMS communication.

  --  Students must be able to understand and converse in medical terms appropriate to the profession. Because of the critical nature of the tasks needed in emergency situations, accommodation requests are considered very carefully, on a case-by-case basis.  The safety and welfare of the community must be insured while providing full protection of the certification applicant’s rights. The main question to be considered is: with the accommodation being requested, can this individual perform the essential functions of the job safely and efficiently?  The Program Director and NTCC student services can further define the Americans with Disabilities Act as needed.