Emergency Medical Services

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(CIP 51.0904)

The EMS courses prepare students as emergency medical care providers in a pre-hospital setting. Persons certified as Paramedics provide a higher level of care than Emergency Medical Technicians or Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians, as specified by the Texas Department of State Health and the National Registry of EMT’s. The goal of the WCJC EMS program is to prepare Paramedics, Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (AEMT), and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.

The WCJC Emergency Medical Services Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) 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 (www.caahep.org)
727-210-2350

To contact CoAEMSP (www.coaemsp.org):
214-703-8445

EMT courses are offered at the Richmond, Wharton, and Bay City campuses. Advanced EMT (AEMT) courses and Paramedic courses are offered at the Richmond and Wharton campuses.

The Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic Certificate program offers semester credit hours that may be matriculated into the Emergency Medical Services Associate of Applied Science degree.

Upon successful completion at the various levels (EMT, AEMT, Paramedic) of the program, the student will be eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians exam.

Upon successful completion at the various levels of the program and successfully completing the National Registry exam, the student may be eligible to apply for state certification/licensure through the Texas Department of State Health Services at the levels of EMT, AEMT, Paramedic and Licensed Paramedic.

Entrance Requirements

• Must apply and meet all admission requirements to WCJC.
• Complete and submit the program application directly to the EMS program. A student information/registration packet will be issued for the requested class.
• Students must first complete the EMT program (or hold a current State of Texas EMT certification) prior to enrolling in the Advanced EMT course.
• Students must first complete the EMT and Advanced EMT program prior to enrolling in the Paramedic course.
  • An alternative is to have a current State of Texas AEMT certification prior to enrolling in the Paramedic course. Students must provide the EMS Program Director a copy of their current AEMT certification, a college transcript and/or other supporting documents to review for proper program placement.
• Must provide a High School Transcript or GED certificate (required for college admission, and the EMS program also needs a copy for your student file).
• Must create a Castle Branch account and upload all documentation. Instructions for creating the Castle Branch account are provided after program application. The following information must be uploaded into the Castle Branch account once completed:
  • Must provide documentation showing proof of required immunizations or current titer levels.
    • Proof of Hepatitis B vaccination series or have started the Hepatitis B series
    • Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis (Tdap) adult dose within the last 10 years
    • MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
    • Varicella (or history of chickenpox)
    • Flu vaccine (current season)
  • Must provide documentation of annual TB skin test (positive results will require followup).
  • Must provide copy of current CPR certification by the American Heart Association (AHA) in Basic Life Support (BLS) or American Red Cross Professional Rescuer CPR. NO OTHER CPR CARDS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
    • WCJC offers AHA BLS CPR classes through our Continuing Education Program. Please contact the EMS Department for additional information.
  • A current 10-panel drug screen (arranged through Castle Branch). The drug screen is valid for one (1) year from the date of the test. If the test is over one year, a new test will be required. Random drug tests may also be required. Failure to provide test results may lead to dismissal from the program.
  • An entrance physical is required for the program. The form will be included in the registration packet issued to the student by the program.
  • Must complete a health data form. The form will be included in the registration packet issued to the student by the program.
  • A full background check is required through Castle Branch. The form will be included in the registration packet issued to the student by the program.
    • Clinical facilities/field agencies require a current criminal background check to be completed prior to allowing student participation in clinical training at their facilities.

Petition for Credit for Professional Licensure/Certifications

College credit may be granted for certain professional certifications if specific criteria are met. Documentation must be provided by the student to demonstrate the certification is equivalent to specific credit coursework. Certification eligible for credit include: current National Registry and/or State of Texas EMT-certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and National Registry and/or State of Texas AEMTcertified Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT). A Petition for Credit form must be completed by the applicant and approved by the Program Director, appropriate Dean, Registrar, and Vice President of Instruction before credit is granted. A fee of $32.00 per credit hour will apply.

Sequential Curriculum

The curriculum of the EMS program is sequential; therefore, a student must achieve a minimum grade of 80 in each EMSP course to receive credit for the course and progress to the next sequence of courses. This does not apply to transfer students who have obtained their National Registry and/or State of Texas certification at the EMT, AEMT, or Paramedic levels.

The grading scale for the EMS program is as follows:

A = 90 - 100
B = 80 - 89
F = below 80

Expenses

Program costs include: tuition, fees, liability insurance, student accident insurance, skills/clinical tracking software, and the initial National Registry Exam fee. These fees are all included in your payment to the college. Additional costs include: textbooks, uniforms, immunizations, background check(s), drug screening, online record tracking, and student supplies. Financial Aid is available. Students may contact the Financial Aid Office for information.

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