Admissions Policies

The Emergency Medical Services Professions (EMSP) Department provides course work to prepare students for practice as competent entry-level ECA, EMT-Basics, EMT-Intermediates, Paramedics, or Critical Care Paramedics. Graduates are eligible for the credentialing exam offered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) or the Board for Critical Care Transport Paramedic Certification (BCCTPC).

Once the applicant has successfully passed the National Registry exam process, they are eligible to apply to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The Texas Department of State Health Services grants the privilege to practice in the state of Texas.

A two-year program leads to an Associate of Applied Science degree in Emergency Medical Services. A Paramedic Certificate of Completion is available for students who do not wish to pursue an associates degree. Students who complete the Critical Care Coursework and have an AAS in EMS Professions are eligible to receive an Enhanced Skills Certificate.

Admission

There is no discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, disabling conditions, handicaps, or national origin. To be admitted to the EMS program, students must first meet the basic entrance requirements for admission to Temple College. However, admission to Temple College does not constitute automatic acceptance into the EMS program.

EMT Basic (EMSP 1501/1160) Program

Persons wishing to enroll in the EMT-Basic course must:

1. Hold a high school diploma or a GED.
   
2. Apply for and achieve admission to Temple College.
   
3. Complete EMT Basic Application
4. Document immunization against tetanus, diphtheria, mumps, measles, rubella, varicella, and hepatitis B.
   
5. Document negative results from a tuberculosis skin test or chest x-ray performed within the previous 6 months.
6. Satisfy Criminal Background requirements (See EMT Basic Application)
7. Satisfy Drug Screening requirements (See EMT Basic Application)
8. Document successful completion of an American Heart Association's Health Care Provider Course or American Red Cross' CPR/AED for the Health Professionals Course
   

Click here to access Temple College's Online Application

Click here to download an EMT Basic Program Application Packet

Intermediate/Paramedic Program

Students must make formal application to the EMSP Department to pursue course work beyond EMT-Basic. Applicants who have completed their EMT-Basic course work, but who do not yet hold EMT-Basic certification may be accepted with the provision that they obtain EMT-Basic certification before the end of their first semester of advanced course work. Students are accepted for advanced course work beginning in the Fall semester at Taylor and in the Spring semester at Temple.

An application portfolio must be submitted according to the deadlines established by the EMSP Department. The portfolio must include:

1. A completed application for admission, including an application essay.
   
2. Documentation of high school graduation or a GED.
   
3. Copies of all relevant academic transcripts: high school, college or university, military service schools, and other (proprietary schools).
   
4. A resume or curriculum vitae showing work history with emphasis on EMS or other health care experience
   
5. Documentation of EMT-Basic certification. Students who currently are enrolled in an EMT-Basic course or who have completed EMT-Basic course work and are engaged in the credentialing process should provide a statement to this effect.
   
6. Results of the Department's comprehensive EMT-Basic examination. Students who successfully complete EMSP 1501 are exempt from taking this examination and may substitute their score on the EMSP 1501 final examination. To be considered for admission, an applicant must achieve a minimum score of 70 on this examination. One retest will be permitted.
   
7. College Admission Test scores.
   
8. Verification of immunization against tetanus, diphtheria, mumps, measles, rubella, varicella, and hepatitis B.
   
9. Negative results from a tuberculosis skin test or chest x-ray performed within the last 6 months.
10. Satisfy Criminal Background requirements (See Application Packet)
11. Satisfy Drug Screening requirements (See Application Packet)
    
12. Proof of successful completion of the American Heart Association's Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers, or an equivalent course approved by the Department Chairman, within the previous two years.
    

After a completed application portfolio is on file, an interview with one or more members of the EMSP faculty will be scheduled. Letters regarding admission status will be mailed within two weeks of interviews. If an application is rejected, the applicant may request a hearing before the Department Chairman. Requests must be submitted in writing and must include the reasons why the application should be reconsidered.

The number of students in the program is limited by spaces available for clinical experience in affiliated hospitals and EMS provider organizations. Competitive selection of students may be necessary if the number of applicants exceeds the number of seats available. In this event, a committee consisting of the Medical Director and EMSP faculty will review applicants. Factors that may be considered if competitive selection becomes necessary include:

1. Previous academic course work and performance.
   
2. Comprehensive departmental EMT-Basic exam scores (or scores on the EMSP 1501 comprehensive final examination.)
   
3. Interview results.
   
4. Prior work experience in EMS.
   
5. Temple College service area residency status.
   
6. Employment by one of the Department's clinical affiliates.
   
   

Click here to access Temple College's Online Application

Click here to download an Intermediate/Paramedic Program Application Packet

Critical Care Paramedic Program

Persons wishing to enroll in the Critical Care Paramedic courses must:

1. Hold a high school diploma or a GED.
   
2. Apply for and achieve admission to Temple College.
3. Completion of the Accuplacer test (or equivalent)
   
4. Complete Critical Care Paramedic Application
5. Document current certification/license as a paramedic
6. Document at least two years experience as a paramedic
7. Document immunization against tetanus, diphtheria, mumps, measles, rubella, varicella, and hepatitis B.
   
8. Document negative results from a tuberculosis skin test or chest x-ray performed within the previous 6 months.
9. Satisfy Criminal Background requirements (See Application)
10. Satisfy Drug Screening requirements (See Application)
11. Document successful completion of an American Heart Association's Health Care Provider Course or American Red Cross' CPR/AED for the Health Professional Course

Click here to access Temple College's Online Application

Click here to download a Critical Care Paramedic Program Application Packet

Credit By Examination

Applicants for the degree or certificate programs who already hold current EMS certification or licensure by the DSHS or NREMT are eligible to receive credit by examination for certain EMSP courses. To receive credit in this manner, students must be enrolled in Temple College. Applicants interested in credit by examination should contact the EMSP Department for additional information.

Uniforms and Other Supplies

Students enrolled in EMSP clinical courses must purchase uniforms consisting of black "pro-tuff" style pants, black boots, black belt, and a white uniform shirt. Purchase of a stethoscope also is required. The cost of clinical uniforms and equipment is not included in any fees.

Professional Liability Insurance

Students will be assessed a professional liability insurance fee when they enroll in their first EMSP clinical course during an academic year (September through August). This fee will cover the cost of malpractice insurance coverage for the remainder of that academic year.

Student Employment

The decision to work while enrolled in the program rests with the individual student. While students may be employed in or volunteer in the clinical setting outside of regular instructional hours, they may count time, procedures, and patient contacts toward completion of course requirements only if they are functioning in the capacity of a student on a scheduled clinical rotation.

The EMSP Department cannot guarantee that all required clinical rotations will be available at times outside of the hours of a student's regular employment. If a clinical rotation required for successful course completion is allowed only during a time period when a student is engaged in his/her regular employment, the student will be required to arrange time off from work to complete the rotation.

Student Travel Policy

A significant portion of clinical rotations must take place at sites in Temple that provide access to larger numbers of patients presenting with common problems encountered in the delivery of out-of-hospital care. Temple College and the EMSP Department assume no responsibility for expenses incurred as a result of travel or transportation that must be arranged to satisfy course requirements.

Promotion

Once the student is accepted into advanced EMSP course work, it is expected that he or she will continue to progress directly to the next semester's courses. To do this, the student must:

1. Have completed all previously required EMSP courses with a grade of "C" or better.
   
2. Have satisfied the competency requirements for all previously required EMSP courses.
   
3. Maintain good academic standing according to Temple College's Minimum Academic Standards, Scholastic Probation, and Scholastic Suspension policies.
   
4. Meet all general Temple College requirements and be approved for registration.
   

The following grading scale applies to all EMSP courses:

Instruction in EMSP course work is competency-based. Although minimum clock hour requirements for didactic instruction, clinical rotations, and field internship have been established, successful course completion depends on the student's demonstrating proficiency in the knowledge, skills, and personal behaviors/attitudes required for competent entry-level practice. Paramedic students complete a field internship under the supervision of experienced paramedics. The student must demonstrate the ability to apply and integrate the knowledge, skills, and personal behaviors/attitudes of an entry-level Paramedic and must receive a final evaluation of entry-level competency from his/her assigned preceptor. Students must successfully complete a comprehensive written exit examination and an oral examination conducted by the program's faculty and Medical Director at the end of the final semester.

Credentialing Examinations

Students who successfully complete prescribed EMSP course work are eligible to take the NREMT or BCCTPC examination at the appropriate level.

The National Registry of EMT'S and the Board of Critical Care Transport Paramedic Certification administer a separate processes from the one used by Temple College for determining whether accommodations for disabilities will be granted during the credentialing examination process. Eligibility is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, a student who receives an accommodation during a course taught at Temple College has no guarantee of receiving an accommodation for the NREMT credentialing examination.

The nature of EMS duties requires restrictions to be placed on credentialing of persons with criminal histories. Applicants with criminal histories to the Texas Department of Health, Board of Critical Care Transport Paramedic Certification or the National Registry of EMT's are reviewed by those agencies on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, the EMSP Department is neither able to nor responsible for advising a student with a criminal history if he/she will be eligible for certification upon course completion. Questions regarding certification of applicants with criminal histories should be directed to the appropriate agency.

Credentialing requirements, procedures, and fees vary significantly from state to state. It is the responsibility of a student who anticipates practicing in another state to contact the appropriate agency regarding credentialing or reciprocity procedures.

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Last updated:11/5/2009 at 10:29 AM