Emergency Medical Services

Prospective Entry Level Students

Admission to the Emergency Medical Services Program is competitive, and the number of students is limited by the number of faculty and clinical facilities available. Meeting minimal requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Preference will be given to graduates/students of NWSCC EMT and AEMT Programs. Applicants will be notified by the EMS office of acceptance into the EMS program. The College reserves the right to adjust requirements or use additional criteria to determine admission.

General Course Schedule

Course schedule differ depending on the EMS career pathway:

• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) courses are offered during the Fall, Spring, & Summer semesters with day, evening, and hybrid options.
• Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) courses are offered during the Fall, Spring, & Summer semesters with hybrid options.
• Paramedic courses begin in the Summer semester.

Tuition Assistance

Tuition assistance is available in three primary sources for EMS students:

1. Students may apply for institutional or private scholarships.
2. Students enrolled in the AAS Emergency Medical Services degree option may be eligible for student financial aid.  Students may contact the Student Financial Aid office for more information regarding aid.
3. Alabama students who successfully complete the program and obtain certification/licensure may be eligible for tuition reimbursement through the Volunteer Rescue Student Tuition Program.  

General Admissions Requirements

Meeting minimal requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

• Unconditional admission to the College
• Good standing with the College
• Receipt of completed application for the Emergency Medical Services Program by specified deadline. (Late applications may be considered dependent upon faculty and clinical facilities that are available.)
• Be a high school graduate or hold a GED
• Complete the ACT or COMPASS/ASSET placement test
• Meet the Essential Functions for the Emergency Medical Services Program

Unconditional Admission to the EMT Program

In addition to General Admission Requirements, the student must:

• Submit EMS Program Application and receive approval by the EMS Program Director
• Successfully complete Background Check with no findings
• Complete ASSET/COMPASS/ACT testing
• Register and submit payment for courses
• Attend and complete EMS Program Orientation

Unconditional Admission to the AEMT Program

In addition to General Admission Requirements, the student must:

• Submit EMS Program Application and receive approval by the EMS Program Director
• Successfully complete Background Check with no findings
• Complete ASSET/COMPASS/ACT testing
• Register and submit payment for courses
• Complete EMT Program
• Successfully complete NREMT Examination
• Hold Alabama EMT licensure
• Attend and complete EMS Program Orientation

Unconditional Admission to the Paramedic Program

In addition to General Admission Requirements, the student must:

1. Submit EMS Program Application and receive approval by the EMS Program Director
2. Successfully complete Background Check with no findings
3. Complete ASSET/COMPASS/ACT testing
4. Register and submit payment for courses
5. Completed EMS 189 or BIO 201 with a grade of “C” or better
6. Hold Alabama EMT or AEMT licensure
7. Completed EMS Program Entrance Examination (Fee is associated with this examination)
8. Have a minimum of 2.0 for EMS coursework and required academic coursework for the last 24 hours
9. Attend and complete EMS Program Orientation
10. If applicable, completed any required remedial coursework for Math 100 and English 101

**Conditional Admission may be granted based upon the discretion of the EMS Program Director. Students allowed to enroll with conditional admission will be assigned to the current cohort for the date when all requirements have been met.**

Prospective Transfer Students

Meeting minimal requirements does not guarantee acceptance.
Students who wish to transfer must:

• • Meet general and unconditional admission and progression requirements for NWSCC and the EMS program.

• • Successfully complete the program:
    a. Within one year of initial entry for the EMT program (otherwise all EMT courses must be repeated).
    b. Within one year of initial entry for the Advanced EMT program (otherwise all EMT courses must be repeated).
    c. Within two years of initial entry for the Paramedic program (otherwise all Paramedic courses must be repeated).

• • Be a student in good standing with the previous institutions(s).

• • Have a Director of previously EMS program provide a letter of eligibility for progression in previous EMS program.

• • Complete skill validation requirements.

• • Provide clinical documentation (example: FISDAP or data on a signed EMS program letterhead of previous institution) for consideration.

• • Be accepted by clinical agencies for clinical experiences. Note: Northwest Shoals Community College reserves the right to remove from the program any student who is refused use of facilities by a clinical agency. A student who is refused use of a facility is considered refused by all agencies associated with the program. Therefore, the program is not required to find an alternative site.

The EMS Program does not have Advanced Placement or Experiential Learning opportunities for the paramedic program.

Program Outcomes

CAAHEP-accredited Paramedic educational programs and
CoAEMSP Letter of Review (LoR) Paramedic educational programs track and report
outcome measures annually to the Committee on Accreditation for the Emergency
Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

The most current CoAEMSP Annual Report was for the
calendar year 2025.

Note to Students Located Outside the State of Alabama:  The EMT, Advanced EMT, and Paramedic Programs at Northwest Shoals Community College meet the state education requirements for an EMT, Advanced EMT, and/or Paramedic license in the state of Alabama.  Northwest Shoals Community College has not determined if the EMT, Advanced EMT, and Paramedic programs at Northwest Shoals Community College meet the state education requirements in any other state, any U.S. Territory, or the District of Columbia.

For more information on the EMS program at NWSCC, contact Dr. Chris DeMorse, EMS Program Director, at cdemorse@nwscc.edu or 256-331-5336. 

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