Emergency Medical Technology, Technical Certificate

Emergency Medical Technology

Purpose

The Emergency Medical Technology program at Jones College is dedicated to preparing students with the essential knowledge, skills, and professional competencies required to function as entry level prehospital healthcare providers. Through a structured curriculum aligned with national EMS education standards, students develop proficiency in patient assessment, emergency medical interventions, and critical decision making. The program emphasizes hands on training, simulation based learning, and clinical field experiences to ensure graduates are well equipped to manage medical and traumatic emergencies in diverse prehospital settings. With a focus on evidence based practice and ethical patient care, the program strives to produce competent, compassionate, and adaptable EMS professionals ready to serve their communities.

Program Description

The mission of the Department of Emergency Medical Technology at Jones College is to deliver the highest standard of EMS education, ensuring students receive comprehensive, evidence based training that prepares them as competent, workforce ready emergency medical professionals. The program provides rigorous classroom instruction, immersive simulation experiences, clinical rotations, and field internships, all designed to cultivate technical expertise, critical thinking, and professional integrity in the EMS field.

Dedicated faculty members, meeting the qualifications set by Jones College, the Career and Technical Education Division, and the Mississippi State Department of Education, deliver high-quality instruction. The educational experience is further enriched through pre-selected clinical and field internship preceptors, state-of-the-art media resources, and high-fidelity training equipment, all of which enhance student learning and skill development.

Achieving this mission requires a collaborative effort between the college, program faculty, clinical education centers, and students. As future EMTs, AEMTs, and paramedics, students are expected to take an active role in their education, expanding their knowledge of patient care, emergency interventions, and professional conduct. Success in the program ultimately depends on each student’s dedication, accountability, and commitment to excellence.

Educational Approach & Training Structure

The Emergency Medical Technology Program provides a comprehensive, competency based education that integrates foundational medical knowledge with hands on patient care experiences.

Classroom Instruction covers essential topics, including anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and advanced patient assessment. Instruction is interactive and evidence based, ensuring students develop the necessary skills to manage life threatening emergencies in adult, pediatric, and geriatric patients.
Clinical Internships place students in hospital emergency departments that provide medical control to ALS providers in the field. Depending on availability, students may also gain experience in critical care units (CCU & ICU), labor and delivery suites, operating rooms, psychiatric facilities, pediatric wards, and geriatric care units, ensuring exposure to a broad spectrum of medical conditions and patient populations.
Field Internships are conducted with licensed ambulance and rescue services, allowing students to apply their skills in real-world pre-hospital settings. Under the supervision of experienced EMS professionals, students gain firsthand experience in advanced life support (ALS) interventions, scene management, and emergency transport.

By combining classroom learning, simulation, clinical exposure, and field application, the program ensures graduates are well prepared for national certification, professional licensure, and a successful career in emergency medical services.

Program Structure & course Progression

The Emergency Medical Technology Program at Jones College follows a structured curriculum designed to provide students with progressive levels of EMS education, from Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to Advanced EMT (AEMT) to Paramedic.

First Semester:
The first semester consists of EMT coursework and academic prerequisite courses, which are offered each semester. Completion of the EMT course is the foundation for advanced EMS education and is required before progressing into AEMT or Paramedic coursework.
Advanced EMT (AEMT) Pathway:
Students have two options to complete the AEMT certification:
1. Standalone AEMT Course - Available during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
2. Integrated AEMT Pathway - Students can complete AEMT objectives as part of the Paramedic Program curriculum.

Students in the Integrated AEMT Pathway can complete an AEMT bridge course at the end of their first semester in the Paramedic program, meeting the content requirements to sit for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) AEMT Examination int he Spring semester.

Paramedic Program:
The Paramedic curriculum consists of three semesters beyond the EMT course.
Paramedic students are admitted each Fall on a competitive entrance basis.
Upon successful completion of all coursework, students are eligible to sit for the National Registry Paramedic Examination (NRP).
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Paramedicine:
To earn an AAS in Paramedicine, students must successfully complete the following courses:
- Anatomy & Physiology I and II
- College Algebra
- English Composition I and ll
- Oral Communications
- Social Science Elective
- EMT and Paramedic Core Courses

The program is sanctioned by the Mississippi State Board of Health and meets or exceeds the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) / U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) standards for EMS education.

Profession of Paramedicine Description

Paramedics are highly trained healthcare professionals who have met the credentialing requirements set by recognized agencies to practice out-of-hospital emergency medicine under medical direction. Their primary role is to assess patients, provide lifesaving interventions, and facilitate access to definitive care, with the ultimate goal of reducing morbidity and mortality caused by illness and injury.

Operating primarily in prehospital settings, paramedics possess the knowledge, technical skills, and professional demeanor expected by both the public and the EMS profession. They serve as critical links within the healthcare system, ensuring seamless continuity of care between emergency scenes, transport, and receiving facilities.

Beyond emergency response, paramedics play an active role in public health, patient advocacy, and system wide healthcare coordination. They work collaboratively with healthcare providers, emergency response agencies, and community organizations to improve health outcomes and resource utilization. The evolving role of the paramedic includes responsibilities such as:

Public education and health promotion
Participation in injury and illness prevention programs
Facilitating access to care in under served populations
Serving as an initial treatment provider in community based healthcare models

As trusted professionals, paramedics are accountable to medical direction, their peers, and the public. They uphold the highest standards of clinical excellence, ethical practice, and patient centered care. Recognizing the importance of evidence based practice, paramedics actively engage in research, quality improvement initiatives, and professional development.

A commitment to lifelong learning, peer mentorship, and involvement in professional organizations ensures that paramedics remain at the forefront of emergency medical services, healthcare innovation, and patient advocacy.

Physical Demands

The demanding nature of paramedicine requires individuals to possess exceptional physical stamina, endurance, and overall fitness to safely perform essential job functions. Paramedics must frequently walk, stand, lift, carry, and balance often under challenging conditions and while managing patient loads exceeding 125 pounds.

Strong motor coordination and situational awareness are critical, particularly when navigating uneven terrain, confined spaces, or hazardous environments. Paramedics must be able to maintain control and stability to ensure the safety of patients, themselves, and fellow emergency responders.

Meeting these physical and motor demands is essential for delivering effective prehospital care while minimizing risk of injury and ensuring optimal patient outcomes in high-stress environments.

Accreditation

The Emergency Technology program at Jones 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).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 U.S. Hwy 19 North Suite 158 Clearwater, FL 33763
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org

To contact CoAEMSP:
Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for Emergency Medical Services Professions
8301 Lakeview Parkway Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
214-703-4884
214-703-8992 (fax)
www.coaemsp.org

Program Length

EMT: 1 Semester consisting of EMS 1163 (EMT I) and EMS 1174 (EMT II).
AEMT: Elective (one semester) for students who have completed EMT

Paramedic: Technical Certificate - Three (3) Semesters beyond EMT II.
Associate of Applied Science - Four (4) Semesters beyond EMT II.

These estimates do not include remedial course work or the necessary completion of BIO 2514 - Anatomy and Physiology I and BIO 2524 - Anatomy and Physiology II .

Admission Requirements

The Paramedic Program at Jones College selects students based on fair, objective, and transparent criteria. Admission is open to all qualified individuals who meet the established entrance requirements outlined below. The selection process ensures that all applicants are evaluated equitably, based on academic readiness, technical skills, and professional potential for success in the field of emergency medical sevices.

EMT

18 years of age or older
Admission to Jones College
Enhanced Composite ACT score of 16 or above (or meets professional qualifications to exclude ACT requirement per EMS program policy)
High School Diploma or GED
Up-to-date immunizations
Hepatitis-B inoculations
Physical Examination stating that the student is medically capable of the paramedic job demands: physical and emotional
Negative or acceptable, as determined by clinical facilities, FBI background check.

AEMT\Paramedic

All EMT admission requirements plus:

Current NREMT certification
Current state of MS EMT certification (Or Eligibility)
Health-care Provider CPR certification

*Students who lack entry level skills in Math, English and Science are required to take developmental courses to gain entrance into the college level courses

Program Reentry

Students who withdrew from a previous paramedic class are eligible to reapply for admission to the program. Unless advanced placement is requested and approved under the program’s advanced placement procedures, reapplicats will begin the program with the next incoming cohort. They must complete all coursework and adhere to the same guidelines, policies, and procedures as other students in the class.

Advanced Placement

The Paramedic program at Jones College does not accept credit earned through challenge examinations, achievement tests (advanced placement), or experiential learning for the Paramedic core classes.

Institutional Transfer Credit

Students seeking to transfer EMS course credits from an accredited institution must adhere to the Jones College student transfer procedure.

In cases where the transferred courses do not align with the current state and program curriculum or originate from an out-of-state institution the student must provide the Jones College EMS Department with the course curriculum and/or learning objectives for evaluation.

The Jones College EMS Department, in collaboration with the school registrar, will conduct a gap analysis and objective comparison of the submitted curriculum to detemine equivalency and acceptance of the courswork.

Students transferring credits under the policy must also comply with the re-entry procedures outlined in the program guidelines.

Experiential Learning Credit

Jones College Emergency Technology Department does not accept credit earned through an experiential learning for any EMS related courses. All students must complete formal coursework that meets the accreditation and competency requirements of the program.