Emergency Medical Services (2023)

EMTs and paramedics are the eyes and ears of the medical community. Being a paramedic is less about dramatic resuscitations and more about being:

• Resourceful
• A critical thinker
• A problem solver
• Driven to constantly improve clinical skills

As a student in our programs, and later as a professional working in the field, you'll encounter a number of tasks, skills and personal qualities vital to success, including:

• Lifting and carrying patients
• Having a good driving record
• Working quickly under pressure
• Being able to work in a team environment
• Possessing above-average hand and finger dexterity
• Seeing, hearing and evaluating details relevant to a patient’s condition
• Maintaining emotional stability when treating people who may be critically injured or in a state of shock

Mission Statement

​The primary mission of the Broward College Paramedic Program is to provide competent, culturally sensitive, skilled Paramedics who were exposed to a strong educational foundation inclusive of cognitive, psychomotor and affective learning domains. Our goal is to provide graduates that offer the highest quality of pre-hospital emergency medical care. Through our partnerships within the community, we are the leading EMS program in Broward County.

Program Goals

To prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. Both the institutional and program goals focus on the preparation of the student for employment, the preparation of the student for higher level education, providing learning opportunities for the student and the overall success of the student.

• Prepare knowledgeable and skilled students who possess the critical thinking and problem solving abilities to sustain the professional, moral and ethical obligations associated with being a member of the Paramedic team.
• Prepare students to successfully complete both the Florida Department of Health Paramedic Certification Examination and National Registry Examination.
• Organize and maintain an advisory committee, which consists of persons actively practicing or supporting the Paramedic profession.
• Apply the process of care for emergency management to a diverse patient population using the most current theory and technology.
• Demonstrate knowledge of safe and effective patient care by adherence to the National EMS Curriculum and Standards.
• Ensure students receive accurate information, guidance and advisement to obtain optimal direction for their educational pursuit in the Paramedic profession.

Technical Performance Standards

The professional level of a Paramedic requires highly skilled and competent individuals who function as integral members of the health care team. The Paramedic must acquire and maintain specialized technical skills and medical knowledge to render quality patient care. The activities listed below are examples of the type of activities in which a student in the Paramedic program will be required to perform in order to successfully complete the program.

1. Motor Skills:Demonstrate a high degree of manual dexterity and the ability to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general treatment and emergency care to patients/clients; must be able to life large weights (50 lbs) without assistance; the ability to maneuver with mobility in small spaces, as well as be sedentary for several hours at a time.
2. Visual:Demonstrate visual acuity and perception sufficient for observation and assessment.
3. Tactile:Demonstrate tactile abilities and sufficient sensitivity with all digits of both hands to complete pertinent assessment information and provide treatment, as needed.
4. Hearing:Demonstrate functional use of hearing to acquire and mentally process information that is heard and to better monitor and assess patient.
5. Communication:Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly with patients/clients, physicians, other health professionals, faculty, significant others, community or professional groups and colleagues. Communication includes: verbal and nonverbal expression, reading, writing, computation, and computer skills.
6. Interpersonal:Demonstrate the ability to relate to others verbally beyond giving and receiving instruction, and to cooperate with people from a variety of social, emotional, intellectual and cultural backgrounds.
7. Critical Thinking:Demonstrate critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment and problem solving, to maintain competent judgment under stressful conditions, and to apply quick reaction time in an emergency situation.
8. Organizational Skills:Demonstrate the ability to handle multi-tasks simultaneously and to operate in a logical, sequential, and orderly manner.
9. Intellectual Abilities:Demonstrate the ability to read, write, speak and understand English at a level consistent with successful course completion and with development of positive patient-student relationships.
10. Commitment to Learning:Demonstrate a positive attitude toward decision- making policies and program operating rules and procedures.
11. Affective Learning Skills (Behavioral & Social attitudes):Demonstrate appropriate affective behaviors and mental attitudes in order not to jeopardize the mental, emotional, physical, and behavioral safety of colleagues and other individuals with whom one interacts in the academic, laboratory, and clinical setting.

Scheduling Options

​This EMT program is offered on either Central or North Campus in the day or in the evening. TheParamedic Program is offered either in the day or evening. The first two semesters are offered on North Campus and the last two semesters are offered on Central Campus. For the Paramedic program, the schedule a student enters with, is the one that the student is required to stay with. Hardships will be considered on a case by case basis.

Program Length

​The EMT certification course is one semester long (12credit hours). The Paramedic Certificate is four semesters in length (42 credit hours). The total time to complete the EMS Associate’s Degree program is six semesters (73 credit hours).

Fall and Spring semesters are 16 weeks in length. During the Summer semester, it is only 12 weeks in length, but the content you are taking is the same as-if it was the longer 16 week semester. Therefore Summer class sessions are longer in duration. The total amount of time in each class is the same number of hours whether you attend in the Fall/Spring or in the Summer.

EMS Cohort Model

Broward College EMT and Paramedic programs are organized as cohorts, groups of students who take all of their courses together. People learn better in groups, and cohorts also build community, teach accountability, foster leadership skills, and encourage communication. These attributes are critical to the EMS profession. Our cohorts are also arranged as “day” and “night” groups to make your class schedule as consistent as possible.

EMT Cohorts

The EMT program currently offers two cohorts on Central campus (“EMT Day” and EMT Night”) and one EMT Night cohort on North campus.

Paramedic Cohorts

The Paramedic program offers Day and Night cohorts that meet on different campuses depending on the semester.

The EMS program has several milestones and is designed for students to be able to earn an Associate of Science degree in EMS in six semesters.

• Milestone #1 is EMT certification with the State of Florida. State certification at the EMT level is a requirement for Paramedic training.
• Milestone #2 is state certification at the Paramedic level.
• Milestone #3 is completion of the Associate of Science Degree in EMS.

Courses are offeredat bothCentral Campus in Davie as well as North Campus in Coconut Creek.

View EMS Program Catalog.

The estimated total cost of the:

• EMT Technician Applied Technology Diplomafor Florida residents including tuition, special course fees, books, uniforms, and other fees (e.g., insurance, background checks, drug screening, health physical) is $2000*​​. For out-of-state applicants, theestimated total cost is$5,000*.
• Paramedic Technical Certificatefor Florida residents including tuition, special course fees, books, uniforms, and other fees (e.g., insurance, background checks, drug screening, health physical) is $7000*​​. For out-of-state applicants, theestimated total cost is$16,000*.
• Associate of Science in Emergency Medical Servicesfor Florida residents including tuition, special course fees, books, uniforms, and other fees (e.g., insurance, background checks, drug screening, health physical) is $10,000*​​. For out-of-state applicants, theestimated total cost is$30,000*.

* The cost listed above is a current estimate and is subject to change without notice.

For general college tuition information.

For more information regarding Tuition Payment Plan.

Apply to Broward College

Health Sciences Programmatic Admissions Criteria

EMT (ATD) Application Periods:

• January 2023 (Spring):September 12– October 14
• May 2023 (Summer): January 13– February 24
• August 2023 (Fall): May 22– June 26

Paramedic Certificate Application Periods:

• January 2023 (Spring):September 12–October 14
• May 2023 (Summer): January 13– February 24
• August 2023 (Fall): May 22– June 26

AS IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

Application Period: Open Ended – Begins each term

Important Note: Starting with Fall 2022, PSY2012 will no longer be required for students applying for the program. Students must take either POS2041 (National Government) or AMH 2020 (History of the United States Since 1877) to satisfy the Social/Behavioral Science elective. Please see your academic advisor for more information. More information regarding the civic literacy requirement can be found on theCivic Literacy Graduation Requirementsite.

BAS IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

BAS in Supervision Management Site

BAS in Supervision Management Application Form

The job outlook for EMTs and paramedics is expected to grow at a much faster pace than average, with a 22 percent increase in career opportunities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Upon completing your certification or associate’s degree, your primary responsibilities will include:

• Taking vital signs
• Examining patients
• Obtaining medical histories
• Providing basic life support and emergency medical care to stabilize a patient's condition

Our graduates are heavily recruited for positions throughout Florida and they find career opportunities in a variety of areas, such as:

• Fire departments
• Industrial settings
• Primary care clinics
• Fire-rescue agencies
• Private ambulance companies
• Aero-medical transport agencies
• Public safety/police departments
• Hospital emergency/trauma departments

TheNational Registry of EMTscan be a valuable site to search for EMS job postings and news. You can also browse jobs throughBroward College’s Career Center.

Visit theFlorida Department of Health's websitefor EMT and Paramedic licensing applications.

View the tutorial on "How to use the Online Licensure Application for Emergency Medical Technician Applicants."

Expanding your education provides a great opportunity to keep your career moving. Paramedic students are strongly encouraged to complete the Associate of Science Degree in EMS.

Paramedics who graduate from Broward College with a degree are automatically admitted to any Florida public university. This can lead to completion of a bachelor’s degree, nursing school, physician assistance school, law school or even medical school. Many paramedics go on to graduate school to learn more about educational theory, management and risk mitigation.

Paramedic Gainful Employment Disclosure

The Broward College Emergency Medical Services Paramedic Technical Certificate and ASProgramsareaccredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

To contact CAAHEP:

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
1361 Park Street, Clearwater, Fl. 33756 |727-210-2350

To contact CoAEMSP:
Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions
8301 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 111-312, Rowlett, Texas 75088 |214-703-8445

CAAHEP Accredited Paramedic Programs and CoAEMSP Letter of Review (LoR) Programs track and report outcome measures annually to the Committee on Accreditation for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

The most current CoAEMSP Annual Report was for the calendar year 2020.

The most recent success rate for the National Registry of EMT Paramedic/State Cognitive exam was 87.7%.

The most recent positive placement rate for graduates was 95.2%. Positive placement is defined by the CoAEMSP as ‘Employed full or part-time in a related field and/or continuing his/her education and/or serving in the military’. Positive placement is measured at completion of the program.

The most recent retention rate was 48.5%.

Broward College Emergency Medical Services

Health Science Admissions
healthscience@broward.edu

Health Science Advisor
Aaron Dean
adean1@broward.edu

EMT Program Manager
David Gains
dgains@broward.edu

Paramedic Program Manager
Ryan Gabner
rgabner@broward.edu

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