Programs & Degrees
Emergency Medical Services

Emergency Medical Services

Programs & Degrees
Emergency Medical Services

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Boulder County Campus

Mark Johnson

Larimer Campus

Andrea Richards

Westminster Campus

Greg Russell

Paramedic Program

Jason Lucas

Learn to provide life-saving and supportive care to patients in pre-hospital emergency settings. At Front Range Community College, we offer two certificate programs that will prepare you for a career in emergency medical services in one year or less.

Choose from three stackable program options—an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate, a Clinical EMT certificate or a Paramedic Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. You can choose to complete any certificate or degree on its own, or you can build on your knowledge and start with the EMT certificate, then continue on to complete the Clinical EMT, and then stack your knowledge and credits into the Paramedic AAS.

Why Study Emergency Medical Services at Front Range Community College?

Get the hands-on experience you need to work in emergency medical services. At FRCC, you'll train under the supervision of our professional faculty. Practice using state-of-the-art equipment and mannequins and complete clinical internships with:

Ambulance services
Fire departments
Emergency departments

In this program, you'll learn through classroom practice and also gain firsthand experience working with ambulance and emergency department professionals and through our internships. And with stackable program options, you'll be able to gain you can gain job-ready skills with short-term certifications while building a flexible, cost-effective path toward a full degree over time.

Stackable Options

Stackable certificates and degrees are a flexible way to earn a college degree. You start by earning a short-term certificate that gives you job-ready skills. You can choose to enter the workforce with your newly gained skills, or you can choose to continue your education—and some or all of the credits you earned while in the short-term certificate(s) can then be applied toward a higher degree, like an associate degree. This means you build valuable qualifications over time that increase your employment and earning potential.

You can choose to complete any certificate or degree on its own, or you can build on your knowledge and start with the EMT certificate, then continue on to complete the Clinical EMT, and then stack your knowledge by pursuing a degree in Paramedicine.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certificate

Become an EMT in just one semester. In this 12-credit program, you'll learn through a mix of classroom and hands-on lab training. You'll also gain real-world experience during clinical rotations, working side-by-side with ambulance and emergency room professionals. By completing this program, you’ll be eligible to sit for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam, apply to the state for certification to work as an EMT, and to start your career.

Clinical EMT Certificate

Build your skills and increase your employability. The 24-credit Clinical EMT certificate can be completed in two semesters. Semester one students complete the EMT certificate and semester two complete additional courses in IV/IO Therapy, EKG interpretation, medical record terminology, and either completion of courses in behavioral health or required prerequisites for the Paramedic program. Upon completion of the EMT certificate courses, you will be ready to sit for the NREMT exam and apply to the state for certification to work as an EMT.

Paramedic AAS

Paramedics provide advanced emergency medical care performing life-saving procedures, and serve in leadership roles. Paramedics have a higher level of training and an increased scope of practice beyond the role of an EMT.

You will complete a five-semester, 64-credit program that provides you with in-depth training in critical patient care, advanced life support, medical and trauma emergencies, and advanced emergency pharmacology. You'll also gain extensive hands-on experience through extensive clinical rotations in hospitals and on ambulances. By completing the program, you will be ready to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Paramedic exam and apply to the state for certification to work as Paramedic.

Students can choose to advance their career and earning potential by stacking their knowledge and some of their credits toward completion of the Paramedic degree. It is recommended that students complete their EMT certificate to establish a strong foundation in emergency medical services. Students who hold an EMT certificate are well prepared to enter the Paramedic program.

Certificate Options

EMT

Program Location: Boulder County, Larimer, Westminster

Total Credits: 12 credits (1 semester)

Get the entry-level skills required for employment with:

Ambulance services
Fire departments
Hospital emergency departments
Disaster relief organizations

By completing this program, you'll be ready to sit for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) examination. After successfully completing the NREMT exam, you can apply to the state for certification to work as an EMT in Colorado.

View Program Details See Admission Requirements

Clinical EMT

Program Location: Boulder County, Larimer, Westminster

Total Credits: 24 credits (2 semesters)

The Clinical EMT certificate provides additional knowledge and training beyond the EMT certificate courses. The certificate consists of two parts:

Part 1: Complete the EMT certificate. Upon completion of the EMT certificate courses, you will be ready to sit for the NREMT exam and apply to the state for certification to work as an EMT, AND you will have completed half of the Clinical EMT certificate.

Part 2: Gain additional knowledge to advance your career by completing courses in IV/IO Therapy, Basic EKG Interpretation and Medical Record Terminology. Plus, students choose courses from two paths:

- Students interested in applying for the Paramedic Program at Front Range Community College take:
  - Basic Anatomy & Physiology
  - EMT Clinical Internship OR Advanced ECG Interpretations

- Students who are interested in behavioral health take:
  - Introduction to Behavioral Healthcare and Wellness
  - Mental Health Crisis and Intervention: Preparedness and Empathy

*Students successfully completing the behavioral health path will also earn the Behavioral Health Plus certificate.

View Program Details See EMT Program Admission Requirements

Degree Option

Paramedic AAS

Location: Larimer Campus

Total Credits: 64 (4 semesters)

In this program, you'll receive in-depth training in critical patient care, emergency pharmacology and advanced life support. You'll gain extensive hands-on experience through clinical rotations in hospitals and on ambulances.

By completing the program, you will be eligible to apply to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Paramedic exam and begin your career as a key part of an emergency response team.

Students start their journey by completing the required prerequisite courses and then apply for entry into the program. The courses you need to take to be eligible to apply for acceptance into the Paramedic program are:

BIO 1006 Anatomy & Physiology
MAT 1140 Career Math or Higher
General Education Course: Human Nutrition (HWE 1050), Any Communication (COM) Course, Any World Language Course (1001 or higher), or Any Guaranteed Transfer (GT) Pathways Course
HPR 1045 Medical Record Terminology
One of the Following Courses: HPR 1050 Basic EKG Interpretation, EMS 1132 EMS IV/IO Therapy, or EMS 1080 EMT Clinical Internship

There are two paths to get started with the Paramedic program:

Students who have not completed the EMT Clinical program start by enrolling in prerequisite coursework required to be eligible to apply to the program.
Students who stacked their credentials and have completed the Clinical EMT certificates Paramedic path courses will already have completed 3 of the 5 required prerequisite courses to be eligible to apply for the Paramedic program.
- Students who have earned their Clinical EMT certificate at FRCC receive extra points on the application ranking scale, increasing their likelihood of acceptance into the program.

Students who hold a current NREMT certification in good standing also receive additional points on the application ranking scale.

View Program Details View Admissions Requirements

Fulfill EMT Continuing Education Requirements

Emergency medicine professionals and other healthcare professionals can fulfill their continuing education requirements and advance their careers by taking standalone healthcare courses at FRCC.

Courses are offered in CPR for Professionals, basic and advanced EKG Interpretation, EMS IV/IO therapy, health professional courses, behavioral health courses, and more.

Transfer Options

Many emergency medical services students continue their education to earn bachelor’s degrees in pre-medicine majors.

With the clinical experience gained in the EMT certificate, clinical EMT certificate and Paramedic AAS programs, you’ll also gain excellent patient care experience, further boosting your physician assistant or medical school applications.

Careers & Outcomes

Your degree or certificate program can open doors for a career in a variety of healthcare-related fields. Although some careers may require bachelor's and graduate degrees, you'll get a strong foundation with a degree from FRCC.

EMT Professional Licensure Disclosure

Successful completion of the EMT program makes the students eligible to sit for the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT). Successful completion of the NREMT, at the specific provider level, makes the students eligible for certification in the states or U.S. Territories listed below. Other certification requirements may exist for a state. If a student is considering seeking certification in a state other than Colorado, the student is encouraged to contact that state EMS office directly by clicking the link for the state or U.S. Territory below.

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and U.S. Territories of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Alaska, New York, and American Samoa have identified “alternative methods” of certification, so our program does not meet requirements. Students should contact the state or U.S. territory for additional information.