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    Florida State College at Jacksonville
   
 
  May 31, 2023
 
2022-2023 Catalog [Aug. 2022-Aug. 2023] 
  
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2022-2023 Catalog [Aug. 2022-Aug. 2023]

Emergency Medical Services (E.M.S.) (2251) (A.S.)


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Associate in Science

This is a Selective Access program.

Mission/Purpose

The mission of the Florida State College at Jacksonville Emergency Medical Services (E.M.S.) program is the advancement of E.M.S. through education. The faculty and stakeholders of the E.M.S. program strive to keep ahead of changing technology and look toward innovations in delivery of prehospital emergency medicine and educational theory. The E.M.S. Program is dedicated to develop diverse, timely, and informative programs that challenge students toward professional excellence.

The Program

This A.S. degree program in E.M.S. is a combination of general education and E.M.S. courses. Graduates of the program are prepared to function as entry-level paramedics. The program utilizes classroom instruction, hands-on skills labs, and field experiences to train students to respond to a variety of medical and trauma situations. The E.M.S. field requires specific physical capabilities. Contact any Services for Students with Disabilities Office if you have specific questions.

E.M.S. technology courses must be taken in sequence with the designated prerequisite and corequisite courses.

The Florida State College at Jacksonville’s E.M.S. programs are approved as EMT Training Programs and Paramedic Training Programs by the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Medical Services, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Tallahassee, FL, 32399, (850) 245-4440, floridahealth.gov/licensing-and-regulation/licensing-ems-education/.

A minimum grade of C or higher must be achieved in all professional coursework and elective coursework, BSC 2085C and BSC 2086C.

Embedded Certificate(s)

Two technical certificates are available within this degree program: Emergency Medical Technician (6394) (T.C.)  and Paramedic (6393) (T.C.) . Students may pursue the A.S. degree and earn technical certificates while completing the requirements for the degree, or pursue one or more certificates to develop or upgrade their skills in a particular field. Contact an advisor to determine the career education path that is best for you.

Please note that by being enrolled in this degree program you may automatically meet the requirements for one of the aforementioned technical certificates. If you meet the requirements for a technical certificate, as a result of being enrolled in this degree program, you may automatically be awarded the technical certificate(s) upon meeting their requirements as well. If you choose to opt out of this automatic awarding of a technical certificate, please contact an advisor to do so.

The Career

The number of jobs added to the field will be much faster than average, according to the Department of Labor. An emergency medical services system consists of many different components. Paramedic is the advanced level for work in the E.M.S. field. Paramedics provide advanced life support and transportation for the sick and injured. Attainment of the E.M.S. degree may help the graduate in career advancement opportunities.

Program Accreditation

The Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). 

CAAHEP contact information: 9355 113th St. N. #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, (727) 210-2350, or caahep.org.

CoAEMSP contact information: 8301 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 111-312, Rowlett, TX 75088, (214) 703-8445, fax (214) 703-8992, or coaemsp.org.

Application Procedure

To meet the minimum requirements for consideration for acceptance to the Emergency Medical Services program students must:

  1. Be at least 18 years of age.
  2. Meet the FSCJ requirements as a degree seeking student. Have a credit program application on file with academic plan 2251 selected.
  3. If not an EMT, complete the online EMT application by the published deadline.
  4. If completed an EMT program, complete the online Paramedic application by the published deadline.
  5. Applicants are required to submit official transcripts from both high school/GED® and any postsecondary education. Transcripts must be officially sealed and sent directly from the awarding institution via electronic delivery to studentrecords@fscj.edu or via mail to FSCJ Admissions Office, PO Box 40515, Jacksonville, FL 32203.

Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Contact the Health Career Advising for application deadline.

GED® and GED Testing Service® are registered trademarks of the American Council on Education (ACE). They may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of ACE or GED Testing Service® at ged.com. The GED® and GED Testing Service® brands are administered by GED Testing Service LLC® under license from the American Council on Education.

Note: Admissions preference is given to fully qualified candidates who have met all entrance criteria, including the satisfaction of prerequisite courses. Should seats remain available in the program cohort, applicants who fulfill admissions criteria prior to the start of the program will be considered next, followed by those with the highest number of completed prerequisite courses. Qualified applicants with pending prerequisite course requirements will receive a conditional acceptance letter outlining the remaining criteria for full program admission.

Application Deadline(s)

  • Fall Term deadline: May 15
  • Spring Term deadline: September 15
  • Summer Term deadline: February 15

Need More Information? Contact:

Health Career Advising (904) 713-4545 or hcic@fscj.edu.

More Information Online 

  • Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP): caahep.org
  • Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP): coaemsp.org

Curriculum


General Education Coursework

Credit Hours: 16

Professional Coursework

Credit Hours: 54

A minimum grade of C or higher is required in all Professional coursework.

Professional Elective Coursework

Minimum Credit Hours: 3

A minimum grade of C or higher is required in all Professional Elective coursework.

Total Credit Hours: 73

Record of Conviction of a Crime


Effective July 1, 2009, pursuant to Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, health care review boards shall refuse to renew a license, certificate or registration, issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant has been convicted or plead guilty or nolo contendere, regardless of adjudication, to a felony violation of: chapters 409, 817, or 893, Florida Statutes; or 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396, unless the sentence and any probation or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the application, terminated for cause from Florida Medicaid Program (unless the applicant has been in good standing for the most recent five years) or terminated for cause by any other State Medicaid Program or the Medicare Program (unless the termination was at least 20 years prior to the date of the application and the applicant has been in good standing with the program for the most recent five years). The Florida nursing or allied health licensure or certification application requires disclosure of any criminal history and the disposition of all cases prior to board review. Being convicted of, or having entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any of the listed felonies in Florida Statute 456.0635 or termination for cause from the statutorily-described Medicaid programs will preclude an applicant from obtaining a nursing or allied health license or certification in the state of Florida. Entry and acceptance into the nursing or allied health program does not guarantee licensure or certification in the state of Florida.

Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen


Most clinical agencies require students to undergo drug screen and criminal background checks prior to placement in the agencies for clinical experiences. Students whose drug screening and criminal background checks are deemed unsatisfactory may be denied access to clinical experiences by the clinical agencies. Failure to qualify for and meet clinical requirements at clinical sites may prevent completion of the program. Withdrawal from the program may be necessary if students cannot be placed for clinical experiences.

Some practice settings may have additional requirements including health insurance, a volunteer application, references, additional fingerprinting and background check (e.g. the Jessica Lunsford Act for school environments), drug testing, flu shot, Covid-19 testing/vaccine and/or an interview prior to the start of the clinical experience. The additional requirements are the responsibility of the student, including expenses.

The cost of the background check(s) and drug screen(s) is borne by the student. Additionally, it is the student’s responsibility to have all paperwork completed by the program’s published deadline.

Students who are unable to complete the clinical requirements after acceptance into Limited Access or Selective Access programs are not eligible for refunds of tuition and fees.

A physical examination will be required upon acceptance to the program.  It is the students’ responsibility to renew their annual physical examination as well as tuberculosis (TB) test.

Graduation Requirements


In order to be awarded the associate in science degree, students must have met the following requirements:

  1. Fulfill all academic requirements for the chosen program of study as outlined in the Florida State College at Jacksonville catalog and curriculum.
  2. Earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) at Florida State College at Jacksonville in courses eligible toward the Associate in Science degree programs, excluding developmental education courses (A.S. Florida State College at Jacksonville GPA).
  3. Earned an all-college cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) on a 4.0 scale on all courses attempted. This includes Florida State College at Jacksonville college-credit semester hours and transferred credits (excluding developmental education) in lower division courses (All college cumulative).
  4. Complete a minimum of 25 percent of the total hours required for the program in residence at Florida State College at Jacksonville. Credit by examination and credit for prior learning do not count toward this residency requirement.
  5. Complete the required semester hours, as specified by the degree, of which a minimum of 15 semester hours must be General Education requirements.
  6. Demonstrated competency in civic literacy in accordance with s. 1007.25, Florida Statutes (F.S.) at bit.ly/FS-gen-ed-courses and State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.02413, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) at bit.ly/FR-civic-lit-comp. Pursuant to guidelines established by Senate Bill 1108, competency is demonstrated by completion of one of two civic literacy courses (either AMH 2020  or POS 2041 ) with a grade of C or higher AND by achievement of the standard score on a state-approved assessment.
  7. Earned a grade of a C or higher in each course used to satisfy the general education requirements and any other area designated with a C or higher requirement.
  8. Fulfill all obligations, financial or otherwise, to the College before graduating.
Note: Students are cautioned to pay particular attention to the following statements.
  • A student’s graduation date will be the date of the end of the College term in which the student has fulfilled all academic requirements. (The removal of an incomplete grade does not affect students’ graduation dates since the grade change is effective at the end of the term in which the incomplete grade was assigned rather than the term in which the incomplete work was made up.)
  • Students who enter under the (2022/2023) catalog will be assigned to the degree or certificate requirements in effect during the 2022/2023 academic year. The student’s assigned catalog year will remain in effect as long as the student maintains continuous enrollment. Changes to requirements as mandated by law or by rule of the District Board of Trustees may supersede this provision.
  • Many courses in this catalog have prerequisite and/or corequisite courses which are listed in the course descriptions. Students are advised to be guided by these requirements.
  • Students who place into developmental education courses are required to complete designated developmental education courses with a grade of C or higher regardless of program of study.
     

Baccalaureate Transfer


The Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degree programs are intended primarily for students who desire to complete an Associate in Science degree or an Associate in Applied Science degree and become employed. Students who decide to pursue baccalaureate transfer study must meet certain course and test requirements. For details, visit the Transfer Services page at fscj.edu/transferservices or refer to the Baccalaureate Transfer Guide at fscj.edu/transferguide.

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