Emergency Medical Science, A.A.S.
The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program at ECC is designed to provide certification in a wide variety of emergency medical programs. It provides career and volunteer EMS agencies with the opportunity to develop cognitive knowledge as well as basic and advanced skills that are based on pre-hospital emergency situations. View the EMS Program information and application process.
A broad range of specialty classes, based on both department needs and new training standards, are offered during the year on the college campus or at various fire departments. Many of these classes are offered to interested citizens, however, Emergency Medical Service classes that require physical exertion and use specialized departmental equipment are offered to credentialed EMS personnel only.
Initial Certification Courses
Medical Responder
Medical Responder is designed for individuals working in industries in which they may be required to initially respond to emergencies (i.e. firefighters, construction workers, and factory workers).
This class is 110 hours and is a combination of in-person and online work. The following are the requirements to enroll.
- Must be at least 17 years of age by the last date of class.
- Must have a transcript showing completion of a minimum of 10th grade English or the completion of an equivalency exam showing proficiency at the 10th grade English level within one year.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
The EMT Program is designed for individuals looking to start their careers in Emergency Medical Services (EMS). This course is 288 hours which is a combination of classroom, lab, online, and field internship.
Minimum Expectations: To prepare Emergency Medical Technicians who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.
Enrollment Requirements
- Must be at least 17 years of age by the last day of class.
- Must show proof of completing an 11th grade English or higher or completion of an equivalency exam showing proficiency at the 11th grade English level or higher.
Offerings
- EMT Day Program (Class will meet from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Tuesdays and Thursdays)
- January 14, 2025 – April 3, 2025
- May 13, 2025 – July 31, 2025
- August 12, 2025 – November 6, 2025
- EMT Night Program (Class will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.)
- January 14, 2025 – May 1, 2025
- May 13, 2025 – August 28, 2025
- August 12, 2025 – December 4, 2025
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)
The AEMT Program is designed for individuals who are already an Emergency Medical Technician to advance their knowledge and ability to provide treatment as an EMS Provider. This program is 307 hours which is a combination of classroom, lab, online, clinical internship, and field internship.
Minimum Expectations: “To prepare Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.”
Enrollment Requirements
- Must be a North Carolina Certified EMT.
- Must show proof of completing college-level Math and English or completion of an equivalency exam showing proficiency at the college level in Math and English.
Offerings
The AEMT Program is on a Tues/Wed flip-flop schedule meaning students are only required to attend one of the two days of their choosing (meeting time is from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.)
- January 14, 2025 – May 7, 2025
- May 13, 2025 – September 3, 2025
- August 12, 2025 – December 10, 2025
Paramedic Program
The Paramedic Program is designed for individuals who are currently an Emergency Medical Technician or Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and looking to advance their knowledge and ability to provide treatment as an EMS provider. This program is 1071 hours which is a combination of classroom, lab, online, clinical internship, and field internship hours.
Minimum Expectations: “To prepare Paramedics who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.”
Enrollment Requirements
- Must be a North Carolina Certified EMT or AEMT.
- Must show proof of completing college-level Math and English or completion of an equivalency exam showing proficiency at the college level in Math and English.
- Complete one of the following before the start of the clinical rotation portion.
- EMS- 3163 Basic Anatomy and Physiology
- When the course meets all other requirements of these guidelines, including meeting SACSCOC standards for instructors of curriculum-level courses.
- BIO- 163: Basic Anatomy and Physiology
- BIO- 165 & 166: Anatomy and Physiology I & II (Must complete both sections)
- Equivalent CE courses will be accepted, when the course meets all other requirements of these guidelines, including meeting SACSCOC standards for instructors of curriculum-level courses.
- BIO- 168 & 169: Anatomy and Physiology I & II (Must complete both sections)
- Equivalent CE courses will be accepted, when the course meets all other requirements of these guidelines, including meeting SACSCOC standards for instructors of curriculum-level courses.
- EMS- 3163 Basic Anatomy and Physiology
Offerings
The next Paramedic Program will begin on January 13, 2026. This course is a Tuesday/Wednesday flip-flop course. Classes are held from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and students are only required to attend one the two days.
Accreditation Status
The Edgecombe Community College Paramedic program has been issued a Letter of Review by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). This letter is NOT a CAAHEP accreditation status, it is a status signifying that a program seeking initial accreditation has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the accreditation standards through the Letter of Review Self-Study Report (LSSR) and other documentation. Letter of Review is recognized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) for eligibility to take the National Registry’s Paramedic credentialing examination(s). However, it is NOT a guarantee of eventual accreditation.
Contact CoAEMSP:
(214) 703-8445
coaemsp.org
Paramedic Program Statistics
| Cohort | Retention Rate | NC Paramedic Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement |
| 2022 | No graduates during the 2022 reporting year. | ||
| 2023 | 60% | 100% | 100% |
Refresher Courses
EMT, AEMT, and Paramedic Refresher courses are designed for the following individuals.
- Individuals currently certified at the EMT, AEMT, or Paramedic level.
- Individuals previously certified as an EMT, AEMT, or Paramedic and looking to obtain their credential again (students looking for reentry will be required to attend an on-campus date to complete a Technical Scope of Practice).
- Individuals looking to obtain continuing education hours for recertification.
- These courses are offered four times a year.
American Heart Association Courses
- BLS CPR – This course is designed for those in the healthcare profession or looking the enter the profession. Courses will be held on the second Tuesday of every month January through November. The course fee is $70.00 and there is an additional card fee of $8.00.
- Heartsaver First-Aid, CPR, and AED – This course is designed for individuals not in healthcare. Classes are held the last Tuesday of every month January through November. The course fee is $70.00 and there is an additional card fee of $23.00.
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) – This course is designed for providers working in prehospital and clinical settings. Courses are held periodically and are scheduled on an as-needed basis.
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) – This course is designed for providers working in prehospital and clinical settings. Courses are held periodically and are scheduled on an as-needed basis.
Online Monthly CE: ALS and BLS
ALS and BLS online monthly CE courses are designed for providers who are certified at the Basic and Advanced provider level to obtain continuing education hours which go toward their recertification.
Steps to Register
Please complete and return the Public Safety Agency Affiliation Form to Edgecombe Community College prior to the start of your course. If you are not sure that you qualify for fee waiver status, view the Legislative Changes to Tuition and Registration Fee Waiver Statues.
Contact
Adam Culbertson
Fire and EMS Coordinator
culbertsona@edgecombe.edu
Office 320, Lamm Building, Rocky Mount Campus
(252) 618-6616
Some programs at Edgecombe Community College lead to a license and/or certification in North Carolina. Beginning July 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education regulations require disclosures for all programs leading to a license or certification. Disclosures will be provided for all states and will indicate whether the program meets licensure requirements, does not meet licensure requirements or has not yet been determined for each state.