Emergency Medical Services, Associate of Applied Science

Program Information

Have you always wanted a career helping others? Are you passionate about making a difference? An Emergency Medical Services (EMS) certificate from San Jacinto College can prepare you for certification in a health care field that can lead to a career in EMS or other related fields. Each year in the US, about 240 million calls are made to 911 for emergency medical assistance, which means just about every minute someone urgently needs help, your help. If you qualify, next time you could be the one receiving a call for emergency help. Are you ready?

The San Jacinto College EMS program:

• Combines classroom lectures and lab skills with real time clinical patient treatment experience in hospitals and on ambulances. EMS training at San Jacinto College utilizes modern classroom facilities and state-of-the-art skills laboratory equipment to prepare students to be competent and qualified emergency medical personnel;
• Provides live hospital clinical and 911 ambulance (EMS) patient-care experiences to give students practical experience in the workplace during training. Students apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom in real-life patient treatment situations, supervised by experienced clinical faculty and preceptors; and
• Is taught by faculty carefully selected based on their knowledge, teaching abilities, previous education, and EMS field experience. San Jacinto College EMS faculty are committed to student success by providing quality education and training. Many are well known and highly respected throughout the EMS community.

Program Accreditation

The San Jacinto College EMS program 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 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33756
727-210-2350

www.caahep.org

Continuing Education activities are accredited by:

Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE)
12300 Ford Road, Suite 350
Dallas, TX 75234
972-247-4442

The San Jacinto College EMS program is overseen by and granted approval from:

The Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS), Office of EMS/Trauma Systems Coordination
 PO Box 149347
 Austin, TX 78714-9347
 512-384-6700

Certification testing for EMS certification is done through:

The National Registry of EMTs

Rocco V. Morando Building
6610 Busch Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43229
614-888-4484

North Campus is accredited by:

Texas Department of State Health Services EMS and Trauma Systems
PO Box 149347
Austin, TX 78714-9347
512-834-6700; and the
 

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), through the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions (CoAEMSP)
8301 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
Office: 214-703-8445; Fax: 214-703-8992
 

Why is this information important? Students may click here for a short video explaining the importance of accreditation. 

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program have numerous opportunities for employment and growth in their education. Although career placement as a certified EMT-Basic or Paramedic does not require the completion of an associate degree, students who do complete the degree have greater career opportunities and are eligible to become licensed paramedics by TDSHS.

Most graduates continue their careers in the EMS field and are employed by:

• Public agencies such as municipal or county 911 EMS, fire departments, and police departments (SWAT Tactical Medics),
• Private EMS services,
• Hospitals,
• Helicopter or fixed-wing air ambulance services,
• Staff medics with offshore oil and gas exploration companies, and
• Contractors working in developing and recovering countries.¹

¹

Source: EMS Workforce for the 21st Century: A National Assessment

Graduate opportunities may also extend beyond traditional EMS roles to include:

• Nursing,
• Law Enforcement,
• Firefighting,
• Occupational Health and Safety,
• Health Care Administration,
• Education, and
• Physician Assistant or Medical Doctor.

Earning Potential

Emergency Medical Technician & Paramedics $37,947 per year¹

¹

Source: texaswages.com, median salary Gulf Coast region, 2022

For more information, students may contact 281-998-6350, x7301.

Campus

North Campus

Information

The goal of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program at San Jacinto College is to prepare competent entry-level Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains, with exit points at the Emergency Medical Technician-Basic and Paramedic levels. The EMS curriculum includes a combination of class lectures, skills training, and clinical training in hospital and ambulance settings. The EMS program at San Jacinto College meets Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) and the National Registry of EMT requirements for certification eligibility. Upon successful completion of the program, students registering for the EMS program must meet TDSHS requirements and be eligible to take the National Registry of EMT certification examination. Any applicant convicted of a felony and/or misdemeanor offense may be ineligible for clinical participation and/or state certification.

Students enrolling into San Jacinto College programs with external learning experiences (i.e., clinical, practicum, externship, cooperative, etc.) will be required to comply with the immunization requirements and policies of the clinical/external learning sites to engage in all clinical/external learning experiences. Vaccination requirements at clinical/external learning sites are implemented pursuant to the independent authority of such facilities and are not mandated by San Jacinto College. Failure to meet the immunization requirements mandated by clinical/external learning sites may limit a student’s ability to complete the program and/or may delay the student’s graduation date. San Jacinto College does not process exemptions, and students should address potential vaccination exemptions directly with the clinical/external learning site. 

Program Enrollment

A criminal background check and/or drug screening is required of all health science students attending clinical courses or practicums and may be required prior to admission to the program.

Students must meet all program requirements for eligibility to take the National Registry certification examination. A fee is charged by TDSHS and the National Registry of EMT for certification and/or examinations. There may also be additional charges for field experiences.

For information on course offerings and enrollment requirements, students may visit the San Jacinto College EMS Program Web Page.  

Students who wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree after graduation from San Jacinto College may want to consider programs in the Western Governors University (WGU) College of Health Professions. WGU will accept credit for students with an AAS in Emergency Medical Services. Interested students may find more information on the WGU website.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program Requirements

EMS practitioners are held to the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct. This expectation extends to education programs, their faculty, students, clinical affiliates, and EMS services. Students and prospective students must be able to demonstrate strong professional characteristics to be eligible for entry and licensure with the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS).

Texas Administration Code Background Statement

**Note: Pursuant to Rule 157.12 for the Texas Administrative Code (TAC), a person who has any arrests, criminal charges or indictments, criminal investigations, motions to revoke probation, etc. of any crime may be disqualified from obtaining licensure as an EMS Professional. 

Additionally, in accordance with Texas House Bill 1508, the College informs all students in this program who may have a criminal background that a criminal history could keep graduates from being licensed by the state of Texas. Students with any questions about their background and licensure may speak with the Department Chair.  

If students have any questions regarding past incidents, they may contact TDSHS at their website or may call them at 512-834-6700. A criminal background check and/or drug screen must been conducted by a designated investigative agency at the expense of the student. This background check must be completed before registering for classes and only those applicants with a clear background will be eligible to register unless a qualified exception is made by the Program Director.

EMS Program Information Sessions and Mandatory Semester Orientation

All EMS students (new and returning) must attend the mandatory semester orientation prior to course start date (session dates and times located on the San Jacinto College EMS Program Web Page).

Order Background Check and Drug Screen

The state of Texas and the San Jacinto College EMS program require students to provide a current (within 1 year) criminal background check and drug screen. The program utilizes a third-party vendor to obtain these records. Students may order their background and drug screen at www.castlebranch.com.** 

**All EMS program students must purchase and complete CastleBranch requirements before the start of class.

Updated Immunizations and Completed Physical

All immunizations must be current and must not expire during the program. Current immunization records must be uploaded to the student's CastleBranch account.**

Applicants must pass a program-approved physical. The physical form is available on the San Jacinto College EMS Program Web Page. 

**All EMS program students must purchase and complete CastleBranch requirements before the start of class.

For more information, students may contact 281-998-6150, x7301.

Plan of Study

3EMS

Capstone Experience: EMSP 2268 Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic Practicum

Note: Students must pass each course listed in the degree or certificate for Emergency Medical Services with a grade of C or higher to be eligible to receive a degree or certificate.