Emergency Medical Science
Course Requirements
The Emergency Medical Science curriculum provides individuals with the knowledge, skills and attributes to provide advanced emergency medical care as a paramedic for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system and prepares graduates to enter the workforce.
Students will gain complex knowledge, competency, and experience while employing evidence based practice under medical oversight, and serve as a link from the scene into the healthcare system.
Graduates of this program may be eligible to take state and/or national certification examinations. Employment opportunities include providers of emergency medical services, fire departments, rescue agencies, hospital specialty areas, industry, educational and government agencies.
Emergency Medical Science Bridging
Students who have attained an EMS certification through a continuing education certificate
program and passed the North Carolina, National Registry, or another state certification,
may be eligible to receive college credit for specific EMS courses. Contact the EMS
Program Coordinator for more information.
Unique Aspects
Clinicals
The Emergency Medical Services clinical aspect is a cornerstone of the program. Students
learn to master the skills necessary for patient assessment and treatment of various
disease processes and trauma management. These skills include intravenous or intraosseous
initiation, cardiac monitoring with interpretation of 12 lead EKG, medication administration,
advanced airway management and the treatment of patients of all ages in a variety
of settings. A combined patient care experience is gained through field internship
and hospital clinical rotations. EMS students will complete the majority of their
clinical time in field internship with their clinical rotations throughout the hospital
where they gain the necessary expertise in adult, neonatal and pediatric intensive
care as well as emergency care.
Patient Care Experience
In addition to gaining required skills, the patient care experience exposes students
to acutely ill patients as well as potential employers while completing the program.
Students complete their hospital rotations within the various departments at FirstHealth
of the Carolinas. The field internship time is completed at a variety of EMS services
to include Moore County EMS, FirstHealth Regional EMS services, Cape Fear Valley Health
System, Scotland County EMS and Wake County EMS.
All travel during the clinical portion of the curriculum is the responsibility of the student. Travel costs are not included in the tuition or fees, so student should make financial arrangements prior to entering their clinical courses. Clinical rotation sites and cost are subject to change.
Exam Preparation
Graduates of the Emergency Medical Science program may be eligible to take the NC
state credentialing exam. This exam is required to gain employment by EMS agencies
in North Carolina. Graduates may also be eligible to take the National Registry Paramedic
exam upon completion of the program.
Admission Requirements
Admissions to Sandhills Community College does not guarantee admission to this program. Testing and placement criteria must be met.
The EMS program is divided into three primary sections, EMT, Advanced EMT, Paramedic. Successful completion of EMT is required to move to Advanced EMT or Paramedic.
Test Score/Class Requirements
Students must place into:
- ENG 111 Expository Writing without a corequisite.
Students must successfully place out of:
- DMA 010, 020, 030 or MAT 003 Tier 1.
Prerequisite Classes
The student must pass the NC EMT Basic Certification prior to the field internship,
however they may perform clinical rotations.
Special Program Requirements
- Students must be physically capable of driving an ambulance, lifting and moving patients, and using rescue equipment
- Upon request, students must provide character references.
- Drug screens and criminal background checks may be required by our clinical affiliates in order to attend clinical rotations and complete the program requirements.
- During the students patient care experience they will be in various public venues. Therefore, there is a required dress code for clinical rotations that addresses grooming, hygiene, earrings and tattoos. This document is provided prior to beginning clinical rotations.
- Students progressing through the program must apply to take state credentialing exams. There are some criminal convictions that may prevent the applicant from obtaining state credentials. This will be addressed on a case by case basis through the State Office of EMS upon request for application of credentials.
- Students are responsible for the extra cost of uniforms, medical exam, immunizations, insurance and travel to clinical sites. The medical exam and immunizations must be completed prior to beginning any patient care rotation.
Program Accreditation
The Emergency Medical Services- Paramedic program at Sandhills Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
| YEAR | NC EXAM PASS RATE* | RETENTION ** | JOB PLACEMENT RATE** |
| 2016 | 100% | 69% | |
| 2017 | 93% | 71% | |
| 2018 | 100% | 89% | 88% |
| 2019 | 100% | 77% | 80% |
| 2020 | TBA | ||
| 2021 | TBA |
* NCOEMS Annual Report
** CoAEMSP Annual Report
Program Objectives
“To prepare competent 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 Emergency Medical Responder levels.”
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 US Hwy 19 N., Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
(727) 210-2350
www.caahep.org
To contact CoAEMSP:
8301 Lakeview Parkway Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
(214) 703-8445
FAX 214.703.8992
www.coaemsp.org
Estimated Program Expenses
| ITEM | IN-STATE COST | OUT-OF-STATE COST |
| Tuition* | $5,472.00 | $19,296.00 |
| Student Activity Fee | $175.00 | $175.00 |
| Technology Fee | $240.00 | $240.00 |
| General Education Course fees | $0-100.00 | $0-100.00 |
| Additional Program fees | $500.00 | $500.00 |
| Textbooks | $350.00 | $350.00 |
| Malpractice Insurance** | $36.00 | $36.00 |
| Criminal Background Checks & Drug Screens | $180.00 | $180.00 |
| Clinical Uniforms/Shoes | $250.00 | $250.00 |
| Medical Record Tracking | $40.00 | $40.00 |
| AHA/PHTLS Cards | $46.00 | $46.00 |
*Program credit hours: 74 – $76.00 per credit hour in-state tuition, $268.00 per credit hour out-of-state tuition.
**Malpractice insurance: $18.00 per academic year.
Contact Information
General Health Sciences Admissions Questions
donadiot@sandhills.edu
Ryan Teal, Instructor, EMS Program Coordinator
167 Causey Hall
(910) 695-3768
tealr@sandhills.edu
(910) 695-3936