Columbia State Community College emergency medical services faculty recently recognized 13 emergency medical technicians, 23 paramedics, 19 advanced emergency medical technicians and 7 general technology graduates upon completion of their programs during the Fall 2021 EMS Pinning and Commencement ceremony held in the Webster Athletic Center.

“I couldn’t be more proud of all the EMTs and AEMTs with what they have accomplished this past year,” said Dr. David Cauthen, program director of the EMS Academy. “We also need to give special recognition to the paramedic program which accomplished a 100% first-time pass rate, an EMS Academy record. The amount of effort put in by the cadre and the dedication by all the students has been absolutely amazing. All of them have proven to be some of the very best!”

Columbia State’s EMT graduates also completed a 100% first-attempt credential exam pass rate for the National Registry.

An EMT provides basic life support at the site of illnesses and injuries, assisting with transport to the hospital. The Advanced EMT provides basic and advanced life support at sites of illnesses and injuries through transport to the hospital. 

The accelerated advanced emergency medical technician course is an academy-style, semester-long program designed to educate and train students to serve as vital members of a pre-hospital EMS team. Students must complete 144 hours of clinical rotations to earn a technical certificate in AAEMT.

The General Technology Associate of Applied Science program combines two certificate or degree programs together to make a degree. Most commonly, two EMS certificates are combined together to make a degree.

“EMS prepares students to start exciting careers in as little as 15 weeks with the option to continue and become a paramedic or work toward a degree,” said Dr. Kae Fleming, Columbia State dean of the Health Sciences Division. “Excellent job opportunities await completers. Columbia State’s EMS department is known for producing the best prepared emergency providers in Tennessee.” 

The program provides students with the necessary didactic and practical training to perform life-saving skills. Additionally, students will learn to work alone, as well as in a squad-based (team) environment. 

“The fall 2021 EMT and AEMT graduates have shown that grit and determination pay large dividends,” said Greg Johnson, EMT/AEMT coordinator for the EMS Academy. “I am excited to see what is in store for each of these graduates and the communities in which they will serve. A special thanks to EMS Academy faculty for their hard work and dedication to our students’ success.”

For more information about the EMS program, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/EMS or contact Johnson at 931.540.2792.