Emergency Medical Services--More About the Program

Emergency Medical Services 
The advent of pre-hospital emergency medical services has created a demand for professionally trained, highly qualified health care workers to deliver the specialized care necessary for the concept to succeed. Moraine Valley Community College’s Emergency Medical Services Program is for individuals who want to go into the public or private sector as emergency medical technicians. The purpose of EMS 101 and the EMT-P Programs are to prepare students to fill this vital role and meet the requirements of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for licensure. EMS-101 is the foundation for the next level of training known as EMT-P.

The program includes an Emergency Medical Technician course and a Paramedic Certificate Program. Before entering the Paramedic Certificate Program (EMT-P), students must complete the 8-credit hour EMS-101, Emergency Medical Technician course. The EMT-B/EMT-P credentials also can be an alternative career path for those presently in the fire science field.

Emergency Medical Technician Course (EMS-101)
EMS-101 includes 60 hours of clinical experience, including 24 hours in an emergency room, 8 hours in obstetrics, 24 hours in ambulance ‘ride time’, and 4 hours in dispatch. The sites used for the clinical component of EMS-101 are Little Company of Mary and Palos Community Hospitals. Upon successful completion of EMS-101, students are eligible to take either the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians examination for EMT-B licensure or the Illinois State Emergency Medical Technicians-Basic exam. After passing either examination, the student is licensed as an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, who is then able to provide basic life support care in Illinois.

Paramedic Certificate Program (EMT-P)
The 35-credit hour Paramedic Certificate Program (EMT-P) prepares the emergency medical technician (EMT-B) to meet licensure standards to function as an advanced life support provider (EMT-P) in accordance with the Illinois Department of Public Health Emergency Medical Services Act. The program is offered through Moraine Valley in cooperation with Advocate Christ Hospital and Medical Center. All EMS courses in the EMT-P program are taught at Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn. Upon successful completion of the EMS courses and final exam, students are eligible to take the State of Illinois Paramedic Examination. The exam must be passed in order to receive paramedic state licensure.

State Licensure Exams
Successful completion of the course prepares the student to take the Illinois Department of Public Health examination for EMT-B or EMT-P licensure.

EMT-B: After passing the examination, the student is licensed as an Emergency Medical Technician-B to provide basic life-support in accordance with the Illinois Department of Public Health Emergency Medical Services Act.

EMT-P: The 35-credit-hour program prepares an emergency medical technician (EMT-B) to meet licensure standards to function as an advanced life support provider (EMT-P) in accordance with the Illinois Department of Public Health Emergency Medical Services Act.