Emergency Medical Technicians provide out of hospital emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical services (EMS) system. EMTs have the basic knowledge and skills necessary to stabilize and safely transport patients ranging from non-emergency and routine medical transports to life threatening emergencies. Emergency Medical Technicians function as part of a comprehensive EMS response system, under medical oversight. Emergency Medical Technicians perform interventions with the basic equipment typically found on an ambulance. Emergency Medical Technicians are a critical link between the scene of an emergency and the health care system.

Program Overview

What Will You Learn?

Certificate

This program will teach you the basics of emergency medical care and life saving procedures for the sick and injured. It will also prepare you to be a competent member of an emergency team in the pre-hospital setting. Moreover, EMTs will learn to use an ever evolving and sophisticated set of equipment to provide basic life support for patients who are ill. EMTs can provide CPR, defibrillation, certain medication administration, bleeding control, childbirth procedures, splinting and bandaging, and many other interventions. As the entry point for all EMS careers, the EMT course provides the foundation you will need to be a successful EMS professional.

Cost

In-State Tuition: $223/credit

Out-of-State / International Tuition: $429/credit

Some programs have additional program fees

Timeline

1 Semesters

7 credits

Learn Online

This program may be completed less than 50% online.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED/HiSET.

Locations

  • This program may be completed at QCC at the Healthcare and Workforce Development Center in downtown Worcester.
  • This program may be completed face-to-face.

Career Stats

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More Info
Course TitleCourse #Semester OfferedCreditsPrerequisites

Semester 1

  • Apply and get accepted to this program (Program Code: EMWF).
  • Register for and successfully complete EMT 101 to graduate in one semester.
  • If seeking employment, meet with Career Services for career readiness preparation and to learn more about QCC’s job board.
  • Submit an Intent to Graduate Form, located on The Q.
Basic Emergency Medical TechnologyEMT 101F/S/SU7 
Total Credits Required:  7 

The Quinsigamond Community College Emergency Medical Services/Paramedic program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), which can be contacted at: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | 9355 113th Street North, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775 | 727.210.2350 | www.caahep.org. The Emergency Medical Services/Paramedic program was last granted continuing accreditation upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP), which can be contacted at: Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions | 8301 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 111-312, Rowlett, TX 75088 | 214.703.8445 | www.coaemsp.org.

Program Goals:

This program prepares the student, upon successful completion of the Massachusetts EMT-Basic exam, to practice at the EMT-Basic level; it provides supervised classroom and laboratory training. Students in this program will be required to complete approximately 160 hours of intensive lecture and laboratory materials. Upon successful completion of the didactic and lab components of this program, the student will be eligible to take the certification examination for EMT-Basic of the Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

  • List key developments in the history of EMS, the five types of services that provide emergency care, and discuss the role of the National Scope of Practice and the National EMS Education Standards as they relate to the levels of EMS education.
  • Understand the body’s topographic anatomy, including the anatomic position and the planes of the body, and the major structures of the respiratory system.
  • Explain how pharmacology relates to emergency medical technician clinical practice, and describe the regulatory measures affecting medications administered in the pre-hospital setting.
  • Describe how to determine the mechanism of injury or nature of illness at an emergency and the importance of differentiating trauma patients from medical patients; discuss some of the possible hazards that may be present at an emergency scene, ways to recognize them, and the precautions to protect personal safety.
  • Define the term trauma and explain its relationship to energy, kinetics, and biomechanics.
  • Discuss the importance of the American Heart Association’s five links of the Chain of Survival to a successful code; describe how progressive communities can improve survival of pre-hospital cardiac arrest patients.
  • Understand the normal changes that occur in the various body systems during pregnancy and the process of childbirth.
  • Summarize the medical equipment, safety equipment, and operations equipment carried on an ambulance; provide examples of some high-risk situations and hazards that may affect the safety of the ambulance and its passengers during both pre-transport and transport.
  • Perform CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) as instructed in the program.

Admissions Process:

Admissions inquiries should be directed to admissions@qcc.mass.edu. Prospective students may apply to the program of their choice by following the enrollment steps at www.QCC.edu/enrollment-steps.

Program Admissions Requirements:

Students should note that some first semester courses carry minimum prerequisites. Refer to the program grid.

  • High School Diploma or GED/HiSET.

CORI, SORI, Finger Printing & Drug Testing:

Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) checks are required in the program, either annually or every semester. An issue with CORI/SORI could result in dismissal from the program.

Additional Cost:

See the Program Fees page.

  • Didactic and lab uniforms: approximately $25.00; NREMT computerized exam: $160.00; NREMT psychomotor exam: $175.00; MA certification: $150.00.
  • CPR Certification Card: $10.00.
  • Personal stethoscope suggested: approximately $45.00.

Technical Performance Standards:

See the Technical Performance Standards page. (Note: Not all programs have technical performance standards).

Credit for Prior Learning:

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) allows students to use skills they already have towards a college degree or certificate. Work, life, volunteer and military experience may be translated into credit, allowing students to take fewer classes and earn their degree faster. CPL eliminates redundancies for students who have already earned credentials or mastered skills required for their program of study. Email experience@qcc.mass.edu for more information and eligibility.

Career Outlook:

Please consult the Massachusetts Career Information System at https://masscis.intocareers.org/ or the Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/ooh/ for specific occupational information. The CIP code for this program is 51.3902.

Transfer Articulations & Opportunities:

Prospective students may learn more about transfer articulation agreements at www.QCC.edu/agreements. More information regarding transfer opportunities is available at www.QCC.edu/transfer.

Additional Information:

  • This is a great opportunity for students to gain entry-level employment in the healthcare field prior to matriculating into a selective program.
Program Page

All our programs are accredited by the Office of Emergency Medical Systems.

You can find out more information about our educational programs and faculty by contacting our program coordinator at emt@qcc.mass.edu

Our Faculty

Ricci Hall, Paramedic, RN, M.Ed.

Program Director
rhall@qcc.mass.edu

Mr. Hall has been in EMS for over 25 years. In that time, he has served as an EMT and Paramedic Instructor as well as a field paramedic for the Oxford Fire Department. In addition to teaching many EMS related courses such as ACLS, PALS, EPC, GEMS, AMLS, and PHTLS, Mr. Hall has been active in teaching EMT courses for over 20 years. He joined QCC as the Program Director in January of 2021 and instructs courses in Special Populations, Trauma, and Neonatal/Pediatric. Mr. Hall is also a BLS Chief Examiner and an ALS Examiner for National Exams. Mr. Hall graduate from Clark University with a bachelor’s degree in History and a master’s degree in urban education. He also has advanced degrees in history and educational administration as well as an associate’s degree in nursing.

Marc C. Restuccia, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Medical Director
RestuccM@ummhc.org
Dr. Restuccia is an attending physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine and Medical Director for UMass Life Flight. He trained in Emergency Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and in Internal Medicine at St. Vincent's Hospital. He is board certified in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine.

Rich Nydam, EMT-P

Adjunct Instructor; Clinical & Field Coordinator, EMT-P program
rnydam@qcc.mass.edu

Jerry Jette, Paramedic, B.S. MA.

Specialty: EMS Field Operations and Clinical Assessment
jjette@qcc.mass.edu
Instructor Credentials: ACLS, PALS, Instruction/Coordinator

Karen Plant, EMT-B

Instructor Coordinator, EMT 101

Features

  • We have outstanding, experienced faculty and involved medical director
  • Small classes in newly renovated laboratory and classrooms
  • Over 90% first-try pass rate on State certification exam
  • Financial aid is available
  • Full student access to all QCC facilities including:
    • State-of-the-art library, tutoring services, computer labs and email accounts
    • Counseling and advising
    • A wide array of student and learning support services, including Student Accessibility Services
  • Paramedic Handbook