EMS PROGRAM INFORMATION PACKET

The EMT-Basic Program takes one semester to complete. All deadlines (registration, financial aid, etc) are identical to those found in the COM Academic Calendar. Upon completion, students must take a national certification exam and apply for state certification to become eligible to work in the state of Texas.

Class Schedule:

  • Fall/Spring Day classes (16 weeks)
    • Mon 8am-12pm; Wed 8am-4pm for 16 weeks
  • Fall/Spring Night classes (16 weeks)
    • Tues/Thurs 6pm – 10pm & a total of 6 Saturdays 8am-5pm
  • Summer Day classes (10 weeks)
    • M/W 8am – 4pm; F 8am-12pm
  • Summer Night classes (10 weeks)
    • M/T/Th 6pm – 10 pm; 7 Saturdays 8am-5pm

Steps to Successful Admission into the Emergency Medical Services Program

  1. Apply to the College
    • Submit the necessary documents (transcripts, meningitis vaccination if under 22 and proof of Texas residency). About a week after your application is processed and approved, you will be issued a COM ID# and student email account.
  2. Download the EMS Program Information Packet.
  3. Complete the Background Check (refer to page 7 of the packet)
    • Before being admitted into the program you will need to complete a background check through SurScan and submit it no more than 30 days before the start of class and no less than one week before the start of the term you are applying for to be enrolled into the program.
    • BEFORE you begin the background, watch the SurPath Information Video.
    • Go to https://com.surpath.com/ to begin the background process.

  4. Once your background check has cleared, an Administrative Assistant for Public Service Careers will reach out to you to confirm which courses you will enroll in. A registration form will be sent to your new College of the Mainland email address. This form must be thoroughly looked over for errors in class scheduling and personal identifying information. If the form is correct, the student must approve it by electronically signing. Once submitted, the form will be sent to the Admissions department for entry into the system.

    Any delay in performing the steps above may prevent you from enrolling in your courses.

  5. Gather Pre-Clinical Requirements as listed in the packet (refer to page 13 of the packet)
    • All Pre-Clinical Requirements must be gathered before the beginning of classes except for the Drug Screen. (You must wait until class begins and are instructed to do so.)
    • AEMT/Paramedic applicants must also present a current NREMT/DSHS EMT Basic certification or eligibility.
  6. Attend MANDATORY Orientations
    • EMS students must attend a mandatory Program Information Session and Clinical Orientation on the prescribed date and time. The Program Information Session will be held at 9 a.m. the Saturday, two weeks before the start of classes. Clinical Orientation will be held at 9 a.m. the first Saturday after the start of classes.
  7. Classes begin

Curriculum

The COM Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)-Basic Program prepares competent entry-level EMT basics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains.

EMT-Basic didactic classes are approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services. They consist of 176 contact hours of training based on the NHTSA National EMS Scope of Practice and Education Standards, which includes classroom lectures and activities; hands-on, life-saving skills training; and scenario-based practice. The EMT-Basic Clinical class consists of 84 hours of hospital and field rotations.

The hands-on program prepares students to pass the National Registry EMT-Basic Certificate test.

Evening and daytime classes are available each semester. The curriculum is incorporated into the following courses:

  • EMSP 1501—Emergency Medical Technician—Basic
  • EMSP 1260—Emergency Medical Technician Clinical

Course Completion

Upon successful completion of required elements, students are authorized to test via the National Registry online system. Also, an initial application must be made to the Texas DSHS.

Financial Aid

In order to receive financial aid, students must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the COM Financial Aid Application, regardless of the type of financial aid sought. Veterans should contact the Financial Aid Office directly for additional guidance in Veterans Affairs.

Another possible source of funding is the COM Foundation. It is a nonprofit organization that distributes a wide variety of need and non-need-based scholarships. Look under the category Public Service Careers for those scholarships designated specifically for EMS candidates. The deadline to apply is generally in late July.

Students may also qualify to receive grants from Texas Public Education Grant. (Note: The FAFSA application determines eligibility for these grants.) The College for All Texans website may give additional suggestions such as veteran’s and Texas Workforce benefits. As always, contact the experts in the Financial Aid Office at 409-933-8274 for additional information.