Emergency Medical Services

This program is a Selective Program. Application requirements are included in the description below.

Emergency Medical Services

The Emergency Medical Services Program prepares students to deliver out-of-hospital emergency care at the scene of a medical or trauma emergency. A student graduating with an EMT Certificate or Associate of Applied Science degree will be prepared to fill positions of EMT Basic, EMT Advanced and EMT Paramedic. Emergency Medical Technicians serve in the pre-hospital setting as vital members to the healthcare team, with entry level competency. They use their medical knowledge and skills to relieve suffering and reduce injury severity and death.

EMT Basic Certificate

Instruction at the basic level serves as a foundation for the upcoming Emergency Medical Technician. This entry-level certificate introduces the general anatomy and physiology of the human body and how medical or traumatic conditions may affect a patient subjected to these life-threatening conditions. The students will learn the appropriate patient assessments by performing lifesaving procedures such as cardiac arrest management, oxygen administration, spinal motion restriction, bandaging, splinting and medication administration as defined by the National EMT Basic Standard Curriculum. Upon Completion of this course students will be eligible to take the National Registry (NREMT) Basic exam administered by a Pearson Vue authorized examination site. Students gaining certification through the National Registry will be able to then apply to the Texas Department of State Health Services for their state of Texas EMT Basic Certification.

EMT Advanced Certificate

At the EMT Advanced level students will continue to use the foundation they learned as an EMT Basic. The EMT Advanced level requires the student to be certified at the EMT Basic level either through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians or the Texas Department of State and Health Services. Students will study in depth patient assessment, anatomy and physiology of the human body systems. They will then practice and perform advanced invasive lifesaving procedures such as intravenous (IV) administration and endotracheal intubation.

Upon Completion of this course students will be eligible to take the National Registry (NREMT) AEMT exam administered by a Pearson Vue authorized examination site. Students gaining certification through the National Registry will be able to then apply to the Texas Department of State Health Services for their state of Texas Advanced EMT Certification.

EMT Paramedic Certificate

This is the highest level an EMT student can achieve within the EMS Program. Must be EMT Basic certified by the Texas Department of State and Health Services or National Registry. The paramedic level requires the student to be certified at the EMT Basic level either through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians or the Texas Department of State and Health Services. The paramedic student candidate will concentrate on a comprehensive patient assessment and learn advanced medical skills such as electrocardiogram interpretations and treatments of emergent conditions associated with specific interpretations that may indicate a life threating condition. The student will learn to administer the most current trends in pharmacological treatments in certain medical conditions as recommend by the American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support and their Pediatric Advanced Life Support guidelines.

Upon completion of this course, students are prepared for both the didactic and psychomotor National Registry certification exams (didactic & psychomotor) at the Paramedic level. Students will be eligible to take the National Registry (NREMT) Paramedic exam administered by a Pearson Vue authorized examination site. Students gaining certification through the National Registry will be able to then apply to the Texas Department of State Health Services for their state of Texas Paramedic certification or license (EMS Associate of Applied Science required). Once certified or license by the Texas Department of State Health Services, students may be employable in many settings such as hospital emergency rooms, industrial sites, air ambulances, private EMS providers, public EMS providers, city fire departments and special rescue groups.

Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic Associate of Applied Science

The Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic Associate of Applied Science degree has the following academic course requirements in addition to the BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I & BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology II. They are ENGL 1301 Composition I, a Humanities Elective, PSYC 2301 General Psychology or PSYC 2314 Lifespan Growth and Development Courses taken for the certificate program may be applied toward completion of the two-year Associate of Applied Science Degree in Emergency Medical Services.

Upon completion of the degree, students are prepared for both the didactic and psychomotor National Registry certification exams (didactic and psychomotor) at the Paramedic level. Students will be eligible to take the National Registry (NREMT) Paramedic exam administered by a Pearson Vue authorized examination site. Students gaining certification through the National Registry will be able to then apply to the Texas Department of State Health Services for their state of Texas Paramedic license.

Application Requirements

All applicants must

1. Participate in the Prospective Student Information Session. For the session schedule, access the information online at https://www.southtexascollege.edu/ems
2. Be admitted to the college as a high school graduate or GED equivalent, except for dual credit students.
3. Paramedic Certificate or AAS Degree Option: Meet TSI College Readiness Standards, or meet TSI exemption standards. 
4. Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for all courses completed at STC or, if currently a high school student, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale on the high school transcript.
5. Be 18-years of age to be eligible for certification by the Texas Department of State and Health Services or National Registry.
6. Hold a valid Texas Driver’s License or Texas ID.
7. Pass a criminal background check, 10-panel drug screen through approved providers, and complete all required immunizations including Hepatitis B series.
8. Submit a completed program application.
9. Meet the technical standards of the program.

Program Application

Program applications are available from EMS Faculty and will be discussed and completed during advisement prior to registration. Please contact the EMS Program office at 956-872-3178 for additional information.

NOTE: Please see program web page for additional information regarding the application process at https://www.southtexascollege.edu/ems

Graduation Requirements

To earn an Emergency Medical Technician Certificate or Paramedic Associate of Applied Science Degree, a student must meet all college graduation requirements and complete all coursework as prescribed in the degree plan with a minimum grade of “C”.

Program Learning Outcomes

Emergency Medical Technician - Basic Certificate

1. Student will provide basic life support emergency medical care as a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) by using an AED.
2. Students will demonstrate the knowledge on the Health & Safety Code Chapter 773 (Texas EMS Act).
3. The student will operate emergency vehicles safely in the emergency and non-emergency mode.
4. Student will present research on evidence-based practice pertaining to spinal motion reduction.
5. The students will perform basic life support skill of vital signs at the level of an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) within an EMS system.

1. Student will demonstrate advanced life support emergency medical care as a certified Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT).
2. The students will be able to initiate effective airway management and appropriate artificial ventilation procedures on patients.
3. The student will competently assess and manage patients with traumatic injuries by performing bandaging/splinting techniques.
4. Student will perform vein puncture and medication administration according to current professional standards and protocols.
5. The student will perform intravenous therapy at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) level in the clinical setting.

1. Student will diagnose basic dysrhythmias using 12-lead EKGs in patients with cardiac emergencies and apply appropriate electrical and pharmacological interventions.
2. Student will diagnose an endocrinology emergency and apply appropriate pharmacological interventions specific to the emergency.
3. Student will demonstrate appropriate interventions in treating a high-risk patient.
4. Students will utilize special operation resources to analyze patient priority by categorizing according to severity.
5. The student will perform patient assessment, intravenous therapy, pharmacological intervention, and EKG monitoring.

Advisory Committee Members

Andrew Levine, MD -Medical Director, South Texas College EMS Program/Private Practice
Ben Martinez, Licensed Paramedic/Assistant EMS Chief - City of Pharr EMS
Richard Becerra, Licensed Paramedic/Clinical Liaison - Med-Care, EMS Inc.
Francina Atkins, RN  Regional Faculty - American Heart Association
Gustavo Ramirez, Licensed Paramedic/Fire Chief - City of Alton Fire Department
Javier Alaniz,  Licensed Paramedic/Lieutenant - City of McAllen Fire Department
Michael Farris,  Acute Care Nurse Practitioner-Adult Gerontology - Rio Grande Regional Hospital Bone & Joint
Fidel Garcia, EMT-Paramedic - Starr County Memorial Hospital District
Noemi Sanchez, EMS Compliance Consultant - Texas Department of State Health Services - Retired
Gloria Vela, RN, MSN Director of Education/Employee Health - South Texas Health Systems
Walter Fuentes, EMT/Assistant Fire Chief - City of Palmview Fire Department
Sean O'Connor, Community Representative/ Local Business Owner - ASAP Printing Solutions

Ex-Officio Members

Carlos E. Tello, EMS Program Chair, South Texas College
Joseph Archer, EMS Faculty, South Texas College

• Emergency Medical Technician Basic Certificate
• Emergency Medical Technician Advanced Certificate
• Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic Certificate
• Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic Associate of Applied Science

Emergency Medical Technician Basic Certificate

TSI Exempt

Emergency Medical Technician Advanced Certificate

TSI Exempt

Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic Certificate

TSI Liable

Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic Associate of Applied Science

TSI Liable

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Identifies courses to fulfill minimum 15 credit hour General Education requirement