Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals are often the first to arrive when help is needed most. They deliver critical, time-sensitive care in homes, workplaces, public spaces, at accident scenes, and during transport between health care facilities. EMS professionals rapidly assess patients, make clinical decisions under pressure, initiate lifesaving treatment under physician direction, and ensure patients are transported to the appropriate level of care. In this role, they bring emergency-department-level care directly to the community – often in situations where seconds can make the difference, EMS professionals also provide advanced care during ground air interfacility transports, maintaining continuity of care for patients in critical condition. For many, EMS is more than a career; it is meaningful, hands-on work that makes a measurable difference in people’s lives every day.
A career in EMS offers variety, challenge, and purpose, with no two shifts ever the same. EMS professionals work in diverse settings, including ambulance services, fire departments, law enforcement agencies, hospitals, and aeromedical transport services. With experience and additional education, graduates can advance into leadership and specialty roles such as EMS administration, emergency management, industrial health and safety, critical care transport, and EMS education. These opportunities provide multiple pathways for long-term career growth and professional advancement.
The EMS department is designed to prepare students for real-world practice as entry-level Emergency Care Attendants (ECAs), Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), Advanced EMTs and Paramedics. Through a blend of classroom instruction, hands-on skills training, high-fidelity simulation, and clinical experience, students develop the knowledge, technical skills and confidence needed to perform effectively in fast-paced, high-stakes environments. Graduates are eligible to sit for certification examinations through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) and to seek certification or licensure through the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
Students may pursue a one-year Associate of Applied Science degree in Emergency Medical Services or complete certificate programs in Advanced EMT or Paramedic for a more focused career pathway. Courses are offered at both the Temple and Hutto campuses, providing flexible options for students ready to begin a career centered on service, professional growth, and real-world impact.
Admission to the Department
To be admitted to the EMS Department courses, students must first meet Temple College’s basic entrance requirements. However, admission to Temple College does not constitute automatic acceptance into the EMS coursework.
Persons enrolling in the AAS Paramedic Program must:
1. Apply for and achieve admission to Temple College.
2. Pass the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) exam or document that you are exempt from the exam.
3. Take the PLATINUM Entrance Exam or its successor. All candidates should achieve the minimum passing score established by the Department (Refer to the Advanced Application Packet).
4. Provide documentation of immunization against tetanus, diphtheria, mumps, measles, rubella, varicella, influenza, COVID-19, and hepatitis B. (Some immunization series may require five months to complete.) Students must have all required immunizations completed before beginning clinical rotations.
5. Provide documentation of a negative tuberculosis test or chest x-ray performed within the previous six months.
6. Show proof of EMT or AEMT certification (NREMT or Texas DSHS). Students who have completed an EMT course and are in the process of obtaining certification are eligible to apply. Students may be admitted contingent on obtaining their certification.
7. Submit a completed Advanced Application Packet according tot he deadline listed in the packet.
8. Submit copies of all relevant academic transcripts: high school, college or university, military service school, and other (proprietary schools) to both Admissions and Records and the EMS Department.
9. Submit a resume or curriculum vitae showing work history with emphasis on EMS experience.
10. Satisfy criminal background requirements (Refer to Advanced Application Packet).
11. Satisfy drug screening requirements (Refer to Advanced Application Packet).
12. Satisfy CPR requirements (Refer to Advanced Application Packet).
13. After a completed application portfolio is on file, an interview with at least one member of the EMS faculty will be scheduled. Notification regarding admission status will be sent within two weeks of interviews. If an application is rejected, the applicant may request a hearing before the Department Chair. Requests must be submitted in writing and must include the reason why the application should be reconsidered.
The number of clinical experience slots available at affiliated hospitals and EMS provider organizations limits the program’s enrollment. Competitive selection 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 EMS faculty will review applicants. Factors that may be considered, should competitive selection become necessary, include:
- Previous academic performance.
- Results of the PLATINUM Entrance Exam, or its successors.
- Interview results.
- Temple College service area residency status.
- Employment by one of the Department’s clinical affiliates.
Policies
UNIFORMS AND OTHER SUPPLIES: Students enrolled in EMSP courses must wear a uniform to class and clinical rotations. Uniform and supply requirements are outlined in the application packets for each level. The cost of uniforms and supplies is not included in any of the College 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. This fee will cover the cost of malpractice insurance coverage for the remainder of that academic year.
HEALTH INSURANCE: EMS students are at risk for injury and disease. Students are encouraged to obtain health insurance. The liability insurance policy is not health insurance and does not provide access to medical care in case of injury or illness.
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT: The decision to work while enrolled in the EMS program is the individual student’s responsibility. While students may be employed or volunteer in the clinical setting outside regular instructional hours, they may count time and patient care procedures toward course completion only if they are functioning in the capacity of a student on a scheduled clinical rotation.
CLINICAL AVAILABILITY: The EMS Department cannot guarantee that all required clinical rotations will be available outside the hours of a student’s regular employment. If a clinical rotation required for successful completion of the course in which a student is enrolled is permitted only during periods when the student is engaged in their regular employment, the student must arrange time off from work to complete the rotation.
STUDENT TRAVEL: A significant portion of the rotations must take place at clinical sites that provide access to larger numbers of patients presenting common problems encountered in the delivery of emergency care. Temple College and the EMS Department assume no responsibility for expenses incurred as a result of travel or transportation required to satisfy course requirements.
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND AND DRUG SCREEN TESTING: Clinical sites will require a criminal background check and/or drug screen testing prior to beginning clinical rotations. If the student does not meet the clinical site’s standards, they will not be permitted to attend or complete the clinical rotation at that site. For more information, please refer to the appropriate application packet.
The nature of EMS duties requires restrictions on credentialing individuals with criminal histories. Applicants with criminal histories who wish to take the NREMT or to be certified or licensed by DSHS are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by those agencies. Therefore, the EMS Department cannot advise a student whether they will be eligible for certification and/or licensure upon course completion. Questions regarding certification or licensure of applicants with criminal histories should be directed to the Texas Department of State Health Services or the National Registry of EMTs.
PROMOTION: Once the student is accepted into the advanced EMSP coursework, it is expected that he/she will continue to progress directly to the next semester’s courses. To do this, the student must:
- Have completed all previously required EMSP courses with a grade of “C” or better.
- Have satisfied the student minimum competency requirements for all previously required EMSP courses.
- Maintain good academic standing according to Temple College’s policies.
- Meet all general Temple College requirements and be approved for registration.
The following grading scale applies to all EMSP courses:
Numerical Value Letter Grade
89.5-100 A
79.5-89.4 B
74.5-79.4 C
69.5-74.4 D
below 69.5 F
COMPETENCY-BASED: Instruction in the EMSP coursework is competency-based. Although minimum clock hour requirements for didactic instruction, clinical rotations, and field internship have been established, successful completion depends on the student’s demonstrating proficiency in the knowledge, skills, and personal behaviors/attitudes required of an entry-level EMS professional. EMS students must also complete a comprehensive written exit examination and a clinical simulation/oral examination at the end of the final semester. Students may require additional shifts and lab time to demonstrate competency.
CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE: Students who complete the prescribed EMSP coursework are eligible to take the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) examination at the appropriate level and to apply for Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) certification or licensure.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Applicants who believe they have a disability that will require accommodations during the application process or during their enrollment should contact the EMS Department as early as possible. Students must complete all course and program requirements to graduate.
The NREMT administers a separate process from Temple College’s for determining whether accommodations for disabilities will be granted during the certification 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.
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