EMT Program

EMT Program

What is the EMT Program? 
The Emergency Medical Technician: (EMT) course is an academy-style, semester long program designed to educate and train students to serve as a vital member of a pre-hospital EMS team. This course provides students with the necessary didactic and practical training to perform life-saving skills. Students will learn to work alone as well as in a squad-based (team) environment.  

Spring 2025 Offering (Evening)

Interested candidates must complete the admissions process into the college (including the removal of all applicable holds) before they will be considered for enrollment in the EMT program. Candidates will be contacted one time by a member of the Health Sciences Department regarding any outstanding items that are preventing them from being accepted into the program. Only the EMT/AEMT Program Coordinator admits students into the program. Candidates will be contacted by the Program Coordinator once they are cleared to inform them of their acceptance status.

Oftentimes, college emails (acceptance letters) are filtered to a junk/spam folder. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE APPLICANT TO MONITOR THESE FOLDERS FOR COMMUNICATION FROM THE COLLEGE/PROGRAM COORDINATOR.

Please refer all questions regarding program admission/acceptance to EMT/AEMT Program Coordinator Amanda Schatz at awatson12@columbiastate.edu.

Students interested in the Williamson County campus offering should contract EMS Academy Program Director Gregory S. Johnson via email at gjohnson27@columbiastate.edu. 

What times and locations are EMT classes offered? 
EMS Academy classes are conducted exclusively at the Columbia Campus. EMT classes are offered year-round, contingent on demand. Spring and Fall offerings are typically during the evening 4 nights/week from 18:00-22:00, Summer offerings are typically during the daytime 4 days/week from 08:30-15:00.

What about clinical rotation requirements?
Students will schedule and attend 96 hours of clinical rotations outside of class. These rotations will be at clinical sites specified by the instructor cadre. Generally, clinicals are divided into 12-hour shifts constituting approximately 8 days of clinical rotations throughout the program.  

What is the first step? 
Apply for admission to Columbia State Community College. You can apply online or on any of the campuses. Ensure the college has received:

• Proof of MMR Vaccination
• High School Transcript
• All college transcripts
• ACT Scores (if applicable)
• Documentation of Varicella Zoster immunizations (2) or positive titer

EMS Academy candidates must, at a minimum, place at competency Level 1 in all categories (Math, Reading, Writing). Competency status is each area is validated by ACT sub-scores OR through institutional placement testing through Testing Services.

What if I’m a returning student?
Students who go directly from EMT to AAEMT with no break (summer/fall or fall/spring) will need to email the Health Sciences Records Clerk at HealthRecords@ColumbiaState.edu to review what is needed exactly. Background checks and drug screens should NOT be started until told to do so by either the Health Sciences Records Clerk or the EMT/AEMT Program Coordinator.

What's needed after program acceptance?

• Register for classes using the CRNs and directions provided in your acceptance letter.
• Upon acceptance, students will be enrolled in an online campus course with directions on how to submit required health records. The Health Sciences Records Clerk at HealthRecords@ColumbiaState.edu will advise the students once they have been enrolled in the Online Campus course. These documents must be submitted PRIOR to the MANDATORY orientation date.
• Purchase your uniforms. We require at least one complete uniform. It is recommended that you buy at least two complete uniforms in case your uniform gets soiled while at clinical rotation. Students must order uniforms by the deadline set in their acceptance letter to abide by uniform policy on Day 1 of class.
• Purchase required textbooks/workbooks (as outlined in your acceptance letter).
• Register and pay for EMS Testing (directions provided in your acceptance letter).
• Save the date for mandatory program orientation. (Date provided in your acceptance letter.)

Advancing after earning an EMT license.
There are several directions you can move in after you get your EMT license. Completers may choose to enter the workforce as an EMT-B and gain experience before advancing to the next level (AEMT). The most common path is to advance to the Advanced EMT, then Paramedic certificates, and complete an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in either General Technology or Health Sciences (both offered by Columbia State). The A.A.S. degree requires completion of additional general education courses in English, Math, Biology, Speech, Humanities, Social Sciences, and a GENT or Health Sciences capstone course. (See Health Sciences or General Technology degree information sheets for curriculum outlines.)