ACADEMIC PLAN: 221-146-08
CIP CODE: 51.0904
AWARD: Career Studies Certificate
LENGTH: 1 Year
Purpose:
The Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Career Studies Certificate is designed for certified EMTs who want to advance their skills and knowledge to provide a higher level of pre-hospital care. This program builds on EMT training and introduces advanced procedures, medication administration, and patient assessment techniques.
This program is ideal for certified EMTs seeking to expand into advanced-level care, medication administration, and more complex patient management.
Students will complete classroom instruction, hands-on labs, and clinical experiences at local hospitals and EMS agencies.
Courses in this certificate may be applied toward the Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree.
Graduates who successfully complete all didactic coursework, labs, clinical rotations, field internships, and both the psychomotor and cognitive capstone exams will be eligible to take the National Registry AEMT exam.
Note: This program is G3 Eligible.
Admissions Requirements:
Applicants must meet the minimum standards established by the Virginia Office of EMS and Central Virginia Community College. Individual programs may require additional criteria beyond these minimums.
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Complete a program application by the due date.
- Hold a current Virginia EMT certification.
- A high school diploma or GED is required, and official transcripts must be submitted.
- Must pass the NAS 2 placement test or complete BIO 101 before enrolling in BIO 145 (Human Anatomy & Physiology).
- Students may not have been convicted of any disqualifying crime as mandated by the Virginia Office of EMS.
This program includes physically demanding tasks such as walking, bending, lifting/pulling, stair climbing, and patient movement. Students must be able to lift and carry at least 125 lbs and must have adequate motor coordination, vision, hearing, and communication ability for safe patient care in dynamic environments.
Additional requirements may include health screenings, immunizations, drug screening, and other testing as required by clinical affiliates.
Program Requirements:
To successfully complete the AEMT Career Studies Certificate, students must:
- Complete all required courses in the program pathway, including BIO 145 and AEMT-specific coursework.
- Successfully complete all clinical and skills competency requirements as established by the Virginia Office of EMS. Programs may set additional standards beyond the state minimum.
- Maintain compliance with program policies, including attendance and professional conduct standards.
- Submit an Application for Graduation during the final semester of coursework.
Students should consult the program advisor for guidance on prerequisites, course sequencing, and certification testing.
Completion of all program, clinical, field, and capstone exam requirements qualifies students to take the National Registry AEMT examination.
Courses:
The Program Pathway for the AEMT Career Studies Certificate outlines the recommended order for didactic coursework, labs, clinical rotations, and field internships. Students should use the chart below to follow course sequencing and ensure prerequisites are completed in the correct order.The recommended sequence for completing program courses.
Students must complete all coursework, clinical requirements, and both capstone examinations to be eligible for the National Registry AEMT exam.
Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an EMS program advisor to verify program planning and course sequencing.
