
Emergency Medical ServicesCertificates
Aims offers several EMS certificates ranging from emergency medical responder through paramedic-level training. These certificates include:
- Emergency medical responder (for absolute beginners; see requirements below)
- Emergency medical technician (EMT)
- Advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT)
- Paramedic (also offered as an associate degree)
Note that the paramedic certificate and degree programs require certification as a basic EMT to apply for entry.
EMT - Emergency Medical Responder Certificate
Emergency medical responders are entry-level EMS providers. The emergency medical responder certificate combines classroom training and an internship to teach you basic emergency lifesaving interventions while awaiting an additional EMS response.
Row Groupings | Certificate Requirements: | Credits |
---|---|---|
required | EMS 115 - Emergency Medical ResponderProvides the student with core knowledge and skills to function in the capacity of a first responder arriving at the scene of an emergency, providing supportive care until advanced EMS help arrives. Prerequisite(s): Professional level CPR certification. Three credits. |
3 |
required | HPR 180 - InternshipProvides students with the opportunity to supplement coursework with practical work experience related to their educational program. Students work under the immediate supervision of experienced personnel at the business location with the guidance of the instructor. Zero to twelve credits. Course Prerequisites
Permission of instructor |
0 to 12 |
Internship Credits | (Students must take a 1 credit internship) |
Total Certificate Requirements | 4 |
---|
Emergency Medical Technician
This fifteen-week EMT certificate program prepares you to become a basic EMT. Learn anatomy and physiology and how to assess and treat medical and trauma emergencies.
Row Groupings | Certificate Requirements: | Credits |
---|---|---|
required | EMS 121 - EMT FundamentalsIntroduces the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) student to prehospital emergency care. The topics included in this course are Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems, well-being of the EMT, communications, documentation, anatomy, airway management, and patient assessment. Prerequisite(s): Professional level CPR certification. Three credits. |
3 |
required | EMS 122 - EMT Medical EmergenciesProvides the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) student with the knowledge and skills to effectively provide emergency care and transportation to a patient experiencing a medical emergency. This course focuses on the integration of the physical exam, medical history, and pathophysiology when assessing and treating the medical patient. Four credits. Course Prerequisites
Professional level CPR certification and EMS 121 with a grade of "C" or better Course Corequisites
EMS 123, EMS 124, and EMS 170
|
4 |
required | EMS 123 - EMT Trauma EmergenciesProvides the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) student with the knowledge and skills to provide appropriate emergency care and transportation of a patient who has suffered a traumatic injury. The concepts of kinematics and the biomechanics of trauma, along with pathophysiology and injury patterns will provide the student with the ability to assess and manage the trauma patient. Two credits. Course Prerequisites
Professional level CPR certification and EMS 121 with a grade of "C" or better. Course Corequisites
EMS 122, EMS 124, and EMS 170
|
2 |
required | EMS 124 - EMT Special ConsiderationsProvides the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) student with the knowledge and skills required to modify the assessment, treatment, and transportation of special patient populations and patients in special circumstances. This course also provides an overview of incident command, mass casualty incidents, vehicle extrication, air medical support, hazardous materials, and terrorism. Two credits. Course Prerequisites
Professional level CPR certification and EMS 121 with a grade of "C" or better. Course Corequisites
EMS 122, EMS 123, & EMS 170
|
2 |
required | EMS 170 - EMT ClinicalProvides the EMT student with the clinical experience required for initial certification and some renewal processes. Visit the Online Orientation at . One credit.https://www.aims.edu/academics/ems/start-today.phphttps://www.aims.edu/academics/ems/start-today.php Course Prerequisites
Current CPR certification, applicable immunizations and a background check Course Corequisites
EMS 121; EMS 122; EMS 123; EMS 124
|
1 |
Total Certificate Credits | 12 |
---|
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
The advanced emergency medical technician certificate program prepares you to become an advanced EMT (AEMT), a level of training in between EMT and paramedic. Study pharmacology, IV/IO therapy, special EMS considerations, and trauma assessment and treatments.
Row Groupings | Certificate Requirements: | Credits |
---|---|---|
required | EMS 127 - AEMT Special ConsiderationsIntroduces the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) student to the fundamental knowledge of growth, development and aging considerations in the emergency patient. The student will learn to use assessment findings to provide basic and selected advanced emergency care and transportation for a patient with special needs. These include the obstetric patient, neonatal patient, pediatric patient, geriatric patient, and patients with special challenges. Learners will apply this knowledge to patient assessment and the development of a treatment plan in a simulated setting. This course also provides an overview of the principles of safe ground ambulance operations, incident management, multiple casualty incidents, air medical responses, vehicle extrication, hazardous material awareness and terrorism and disaster response. Learners will apply critical thinking skills to ensuring the safety of a scene and a plan for safe patient care and transportation. Two credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 129, EMS 131, EMS 133, EMS 135, & EMS 171
|
2 |
required | EMS 129 - AEMT PharmacologyProvides the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) student with a basis for making clinical decisions in the pharmacologic management of patients commonly encountered in the pre-hospital setting. Topics include the legal and ethical aspects of pharmacotherapy, roles, responsibilities and techniques associated with medication preparation and administration, the classification and naming of medications, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and medication calculations. In addition the mechanism of action, dose, route(s) of administration, therapeutic effects, adverse effects, and therapeutic indications for medications within the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician scope of practice are discussed in detail. One credit. Course Corequisites
EMS 127, EMS 131, EMS, 133, EMS 135, & EMS 171
|
1 |
required | EMS 131 - AEMT FundamentalsProvides the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) student with instruction in EMS systems, communications and documentation, pathophysiology, airway management, and the role of EMS in public health. Two credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 127, EMS 129, EMS 133, EMS 135, & EMS 171
|
2 |
required | EMS 132 - EMS IV / IO TherapyFocuses on cognitive and skill practice for the Colorado scope of practice for the IV / IO endorsement as outlined in the Intravenous / Intraosseous Therapy and Medication Administration course curriculum. Two credits. Course Corequisites
None
|
2 |
required | EMS 133 - AEMT Medical EmergenciesIntroduces the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) student to a fundamental knowledge of emergency care for the medical patient. This course provides instruction in the integration of physical exam findings, history findings, and pathophysiology when assessing and treating the medical patient. Topics addressed include neurology, immunology, infectious diseases, endocrine disorders, cardiovascular disorders, toxicology, respiratory emergencies, hematology, and renal disorders. Two credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 127; EMS 129; EMS 131; EMS 135; EMS 171
|
2 |
required | EMS 135 - AEMT Trauma EmergenciesIntroduces the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) student to a fundamental knowledge of emergency care for the trauma patient. The student will learn how to utilize assessment findings to provide basic and selected advanced emergency care and transportation for the trauma patient. Two credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 127, EMS 129, EMS 131, EMS 133, & EMS 171
|
2 |
required | EMS 171 - AEMT Clinical InternshipBuilds on the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) student's fundamental knowledge of patient care in the clinical and field setting. The student will perform patient assessments through physical examination, and patient interviews of health history and current illness. The student will then use those assessment findings to develop and carry out a patient treatment plan. This will include pediatric, geriatric and adult patients with a variety of presentations. The student will also survey each field scene for safety considerations and scene management. Two credits. Course Prerequisites
Current Colorado EMT Certification, CPR Certification, applicable immunizations, and a background check. Course Corequisites
EMS 127, EMS 129, EMS 131, EMS 133, & EMS 135
|
2 |
Total Certificate Requirements | 13 |
---|
Paramedic Certificate
If you are an EMT or AEMT, the paramedic certificate program prepares you to become a paramedic who provides advanced emergency medical care to EMS patients. Study paramedic fundamentals and special considerations, advanced pharmacology and cardiology, and medical and trauma emergencies.
Row Groupings | Certificate Program: | Credits |
---|---|---|
required | EMS 225 - Paramedic PracticeIntroduces the paramedic student to the advanced practice of prehospital care. This course covers professional behavior, medical ethics, legal issues, patient assessment, therapeutic communication, clinical decision making, and basic and advanced airway management. This course discusses EMS 's role in the healthcare continuum, professional communication, patient care documentation, IV fluid therapy and resuscitation, and the application of evidence based medicine. A brief overview of human anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology is included. Three credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 226
|
3 |
required | EMS 226 - Paramedic Practice - LabTeaches the skills necessary for the paramedic to apply professional behavior, medical ethics, legal issues, patient assessment, therapeutic communication, clinical decision making, and airway management. Serves as the companion course to Fundamentals of Paramedic Practice. Two credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 225
|
2 |
required | EMS 227 - Paramedic Spec ConsiderationsIntroduces the paramedic student to concepts in assessing and meeting the emergency care needs of the neonate, pediatric, geriatric and special needs patient. This course focuses on epidemiology, pathophysiology, assessment and treatment of these patient groups. Common medical and traumatic presentations are addressed. Relevant psychosocial and ethno cultural concepts and legal and ethical implications are integrated throughout. Three credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 228
|
3 |
required | EMS 228 - Special Considerations LabTeaches the skills necessary for the paramedic to effectively assess and treat neonatal, pediatric, geriatric, and special needs patients utilizing skills and simulation scenarios. Serves as the companion course to Paramedic Special Considerations. Two credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 227
|
2 |
required | EMS 229 - Paramedic PharmacologyIntroduces the paramedic student to advanced emergency pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. This course will include laws affecting the use and distribution of medications, medication dosing, clinical calculations, routes of administration and discussion of common medication classifications to include indications, contraindications and side effects. Three credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 230
|
3 |
required | EMS 230 - Paramedic Pharmacology LabTeaches the skills necessary for the paramedic to safely and effectively administer emergency medications. Serves as the companion course to Paramedic Pharmacology. Two credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 229
|
2 |
required | EMS 231 - Paramedic CardiologyIntroduces the paramedic student to cardiovascular emergencies and the care of patients presenting with cardiovascular emergencies. Topics will include assessment of the cardiovascular system, ECG acquisition and interpretation both single lead and 12 lead, pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease and treatments indicated for a given disease. Five credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 232
|
5 |
required | EMS 232 - Paramedic Cardiology LabTeaches the skills necessary for the paramedic to effectively assess and treat patients presenting with cardiovascular emergencies utilizing skills and simulation scenarios. Serves as the companion course to Paramedic Cardiology. One credit. Course Corequisites
EMS 231
|
1 |
required | EMS 233 - Paramedic Medical EmergenciesExpands on the paramedic student's knowledge of medical emergencies with the Integration of assessment findings in formulating a field impression and implementing a treatment plan. This course will cover principles of epidemiology and pathophysiology related to common medical emergencies including: neurological, abdominal and gastrointestinal disorders, immunological, infectious diseases, endocrine disorders, psychiatric disorders, toxicological, respiratory, hematological, genitourinary, gynecological, non-traumatic musculoskeletal disorders, and diseases of the eyes, ears, nose, and throat. Four credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 234
|
4 |
required | EMS 234 - Medical Emergencies LabTeaches the skills necessary for the paramedic to effectively assess and treat patients with a variety of medical emergencies utilizing skills and simulation scenarios. Serves as the companion course to Paramedic Medical Emergencies. One credit. Course Corequisites
EMS 233
|
1 |
required | EMS 235 - Paramedic Trauma EmergenciesExpands on the paramedic student's knowledge of trauma emergencies with the integration of assessment findings in formulating a field impression and implementing a treatment plan for an acutely injured patient. The course will provide an in depth evaluation of trauma to include: categorization of trauma patients, incidence of trauma, trauma systems, types of injury, trauma assessment, documentation in trauma, trauma scoring scales, trauma center designations, and transfer of patients. Four credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 236
|
4 |
required | EMS 236 - Trauma Emergencies LabTeaches the skills necessary for the paramedic to effectively assess and treat patients with a variety of traumatic emergencies utilizing skills and simulation scenarios. Serves as the companion lab course for Paramedic Trauma Emergencies. One credit. Course Corequisites
EMS 235
|
1 |
required | EMS 237 - Paramedic Internship PrepReviews concepts and techniques used in the prehospital setting. Two credits. |
2 |
Credits Required | Students must take 6 credits in each of the following courses (for a total of 18 credits): | |
required | EMS 273 - Paramedic ClinicalOffers laboratory/clinical requirement for students enrolled in EMS 238 and/or EMS 240. Students will participate in clinical rotations at local hospitals where they will apply the Advanced Life Support skills taught in the related didactic courses. Students must be enrolled in EMS 238 and/or EMS 240 when taking this course. Zero to twelve credits. Course Prerequisites
Current CPR certification, applicable immunizations and a background check |
0 to 12 |
required | EMS 280 - Internship I: ParamedicServes as the preceptor/internship program for paramedic students. Zero to 12 credits. Course Prerequisites
Current CPR certification, applicable immunizations, and a background check |
0 to 12 |
required | EMS 281 - Paramedic Internship IIServes as the continuation of EMS 280, preceptor program for paramedic students. Zero to 12 credits. Course Prerequisites
Current CPR certification, applicable immunizations, and a background check |
0 to 12 |
Total Credits for Certificate | 51 |
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