Advanced Life Support Programs Application

Advanced Life Support Programs Application

Advanced EMT, Intermediate, Paramedic

Rappahannock Community College

Pre-Admission Information

Thank you for your interest in the EMS Program at RCC. This packet will help you to be successful in your application process. If you need help with this process at any time, please contact the EMS program head.

Note: In this document, “program” refers specifically to the EMS program while “college” refers to Rappahannock Community College.
Acronyms in this document:

AEMT - Advanced Emergency Medical Technician certification.

AHA - American Heart Association

ALS - Advanced Life Support

BLS - Basic Life Support

CPR - Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation

EMS - Emergency Medical Services

EMT - Emergency Medical Technician

The EMS program at RCC is a restricted program, meaning that we have additional requirements for enrollment over and above those required by the college. Further, we have limited resources of space and faculty to support student learning needs. Thus, the application process is designed so that only the most qualified applicants are accepted. Submitting an application does not guarantee your acceptance into the program. Your application must be evaluated in comparison to all others received to determine eligibility.

Note: As soon as you decide to apply to the program, please notify Ms. Carr in the office of the dean of health sciences. Take college placement tests early and meet with one of the Student Development counselors who are available to help you determine what is required academically. A meeting with the EMS program head will provide further information specific to EMS.

Accreditation Information
The Rappahannock 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 NREMT’s Paramedic credentialing examination(s). However, it is NOT a guarantee of eventual accreditation.

To contact CAAHEP:

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158

Clearwater, FL 33763

www.caahep.org”

To contact CoAEMSP:

8301 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 111-312

Rowlett TX 75088

(214) 703-8445

FAX (214) 703-8992

www.coaemsp.org ”EMT, AEMT, and Intermediate programs are accredited by the Virginia Office of EMS: 1041 Technology Park Drive, Glen Allen, VA 23059, 800-523-6019
1-800-523-6019 (VA only) • 804-888-9100 (Main Office) 804-888-9120 (Training Office) • 804-371-3108 (Fax)

Application Dates

Applications may be submitted for the fall 2017 semester beginning March 15, 2017. Any applications received after August 1, 2017, will be considered pending review and space availability.

Mandatory Orientation Session Dates

There is an information/orientation session scheduled for Saturday, August 19, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. for late registrants. On the Glenns campus. These are important to smooth the transitions into the ALS programs. A breakout session will be offered to family members who wish to know what is expected in the program. Call Jennifer Carr at 804-758-6768 to register for the session.

Application Process

1)  Admission to the College

a)  New RCC students or students that have been separated from the college for more than three years must complete a separate application for admission to RCC before applying to the EMS Program. Applications may be obtained online at the RCC website: www.rappahannock.edu or from the admissions office at the college. Please be sure to indicate the Career Studies Certificates (AEMT, Intermediate, and/or Paramedic) in which you are interested, so that you will receive current information about the appropriate EMS program.

b)  Continuing students do not need to complete another application to the college. However, those students need to complete a Change of Curriculum form to proceed to the next certification level, if they have not done so before; this can be done at the Counseling Office.

c)  Financial Aid: Applicants seeking financial aid must make an appointment with the Financial Aid office as soon as possible.

2)  Completion of Academic Requirements

Students must have:

a)  Be a minimum of 18 years of age at the beginning of class.

b)  Graduated from high school or completed a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) by the time of application;

c)  Taken RCC placement tests in MTH and ENG;

d)  Completed all applicable developmental courses (MTT modules 1-3 completed and eligible to take MTH 126) and ENF 3 (eligible to take ENG 111.);

e)  Earned a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Supplemental requirements for students who have taken college courses and expect credit by transfer or will use courses to satisfy program requirements:

a)  Official transcripts from all colleges must be presented to the admissions and records office for review.

b)  Students are required to submit to criminal background checks and drug screens upon enrolling in the EMS programs. Results must be back before the drop date. In the event you have questions about your background, you are urged to contact www.castlebranch.com for a consultation. That phone number is (888) 723-4263. ALS students can sign up with Castlebranch using the code RP33. The package includes the documents tracker along with the background check and drug test. If you have enrolled in an RCC program previously, contact the program head to determine if your previous purchase is still functional.

3)  Application to the EMS Program

a)  Electronically or manually complete the application form below

b)  Print your application and hand initial it in the required spaces, then hand sign it at the bottom.

c)  Request an official copy of your high school transcript be sent to the admissions and records office. Official transcripts must be in a sealed envelope from the high school. Opened transcripts will not be accepted. Request official transcripts from all colleges previously attended and have them sent to Admissions and Records. Request a transcript evaluation in Admission and Records. You may have general education courses that will transfer in to satisfy curricular or developmental requirements.

d)  If a scanner is available for your use, scan your application and all other applicable documents:

i.  Diploma or GED

ii.  Unofficial transcripts if you have them

iii.  Government issued photo ID

iv.  Current healthcare provider CPR card (front and back)

v.  Current EMT certification card

e)  Using your official VCCS email, attach all documents to one message and send it to by the appropriate date; OR

f)  Bring your documents to Ms. Carr on the Glenns Campus for review and receipt. You may also send your document copies to her via inter-campus mail.

g)  Keep a hard copy of your application materials. Incomplete applications will be returned for you to revise.

h)  You will receive notification of your application receipt. Keep it handy.

i)  If you do not have all the components of the application completed at the time of submission, your application will be returned to you to complete. If all of the requirements are not met, your application will held and evaluated for later program admission pending space availability.

4)  CPR Requirements for All Applicants

a)  Prospective students must have a current Office of EMS approved “CPR for the Professional” card upon application to the program. The student must have American Heart Association Basic Life Support in order to complete field and clinical applications. The EMS program head will verify the CPR certification and a copy will be placed in the student’s file. Online CPR courses are not acceptable.

b)  CPR must remain current throughout the program.

5)  EMTs Entering AEMT/Intermediate

c)  Must submit a current unrestricted Virginia and/or National Registry EMT-B or EMT certification card at time of application. A copy must accompany your student file during the program. That certification must remain current throughout the program unless replaced by a higher certification.

d)  Upon completion of EMS 151, EMS 152, and EMS 170 with the grade of “C” or better, the student will be eligible to test at the National Registry AEMT level and may advance to the next semester courses in the EMS sequence toward Intermediate Certification. Students are encouraged to take NAS 150 or the two course sequence of Anatomy and Physiology (BIO 141 and BIO 142).

6)  Virginia Enhanced or AEMT Providers Entering Intermediate

a)  Must submit current unrestricted Virginia Enhanced or Virginia AEMT certification card with application. In the fall semester such students will be given credit for EMS 151, but are still required to take EMS 152 and EMS 170.

b)  Upon completion of EMS 152 and EMS 170 with the grade of “C” or better, these students will advance to the next semester courses in the EMS sequence.

7)  National Registry AEMT Providers Entering Intermediate

By submitting a current unrestricted National Registry AEMT certification card with application, a student may enter the Intermediate program in the spring semester. A copy of that card must accompany your student file during the program. That certification must remain current throughout the program unless replaced by a higher certification. Upon successful completion of spring courses, the student can proceed to summer courses. Program applications must be submitted by December 1, 2017 and all requirements for Castlebranch (background check, drug test, and documents tracker) must be complete by the beginning of the spring semester. AEMT students entering the program mid-term will need to take an assessment test in order to identify strengths and weaknesses.

8)  Transfer students

Transfer students from other programs will only be admitted between semesters and will have transcripts reviewed. Meeting all program requirements, admission will be on a case-by-case basis with input from the Dean of Health Sciences, EMS program head, and program medical director(s). Official college transcripts must be submitted to Admissions and Records with a transcript evaluation request.

9)  Intermediate Providers Entering Year 2 - Paramedic (I to P Bridge Program)

a)  RCC students continuing to Paramedic must have completed all requirements for Intermediate, and must be cleared for testing at that level. Those students must successfully test for Intermediate before testing for Paramedic, and if they have not left the program, are considered as entering the second year of the Paramedic Program.

b)  Returning students as well as those entering the program must submit a current unrestricted Virginia Intermediate and/or National Registry I-99 certification card at time of application. A copy must accompany your student file during the program. That certification must remain current throughout the program.

c)  Before beginning the Paramedic Bridge Program, students are required to complete NAS 150, Human Biology or BIO 141, Anatomy and Physiology.

10)  References

a)  Two references (forms attached) must be included with your application before it can be considered. One is to be filled out by your agency medical director and the other by the training officer or captain in your primary agency.

b)  If you are currently not affiliated with an EMS agency, the two references should include a licensed member of the health care community who is aware of the work that ALS providers do, and a personal reference from someone who can attest to your character. It is preferred that the reference come from an ALS provider actively running with an agency who is certified at the level you plan to reach (Intermediate or Paramedic).

c)  Present the forms to your reference providers in opaque envelopes addressed to RCC EMS Program Director, and ask them to seal the envelopes and sign them over the seal. The application is not considered complete without these steps.

11)  Health Screenings and Background Checks

Prior to the beginning of the first semester in the EMS program and after receiving an admission offer, students must provide the following at their own expense (Instructions with requirements to be provided at orientation):

1.  Medical Release Form declaring that the student meets the health standards specified in the document, and signed by the health care provider

2.  Current Hepatitis B immunization series, with proof of immunity when completed

3.  A negative result on a current two-stage Tuberculosis skin test (Annual requirement)

4.  Criminal background check (see criminal background check policy. May be required annually by some clinical agencies)

5.  Drug screen (see drug and alcohol policy. May be required annually by some clinical agencies)

6.  Proof of student professional liability insurance (Annual requirement)

7.  Verification of seasonal influenza vaccination as needed. (Annual requirement)

8.  Other credentials, medical screenings and/or verifications as required by individual clinical agencies

NOTE: In addition to the mandatory orientation sessions described above, you are required to achieve specific milestones throughout the summer for completion of all mandatory health and background requirements as listed here:

August 31: Have completed health physical

September 1: Castlebranch purchase deadline (Code RP33)

September 10: Background check and Drug Screening completed. If the drug testing and/or background test result in dismissal from the program after the drop date (September 13), you will forfeit your tuition.

September 16: Medical documents loaded, evidence of Hepatitis B series in progress

Liability Insurance purchased, AHA CPR completed with card, and all items loaded in Certified Background

October 1 Have gotten current flu vaccine

Students are responsible for purchasing the complete 2-year package from www.castlebranch.com, and are further responsible for uploading these documents to their profiles, as well as maintaining all documents at current status throughout the EMS program.

Additional Information for Prospective EMS Students

1.  Requirements for Clinical Participation Policy

EMS, as a practice discipline, deals with cognitive, affective, and psychomotor functioning and performance. Students entering the EMS program need to advise the EMS faculty, EMS advisor, and the program head of any potential difficulties in meeting one or more of the essential performance standards so as to receive possible accommodation assistance and appropriate guidance.