Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics care for the sick or injured in emergency medical settings. People’s lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care provided by these workers. EMTs and paramedics respond to emergency calls, performing medical services and transporting patients to medical facilities.
Graduates are eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician’s exam to become certified or licensed as a paramedic. Students who complete the EMT Basic courses (EMSP-1501 Emergency Medical Technician & EMSP-1160 EMT Basic Clinical) are eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician’s exam to become certified as an EMT.
The EMS program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of the Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
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
Note: Criminal history may disqualify individuals from obtaining or maintaining EMS certifications.
The Texas Health & Human Services (Department) reviews an applicant’s and/or certified/licensed EMS personnel criminal background to determine eligibility for EMS certification. Certain offenses will prevent an individual from receiving an EMS certification in Texas or result in the revocation of an EMS certificate or license.
Any person that has been convicted of, placed on deferred adjudication community supervision, or deferred disposition for any of the criminal offenses listed on the TDSHS website (https://www.dshs.texas.gov/emstraumasystems/qicriminal.shtm) are not qualified to obtain or maintain an EMS certification.
To obtain a determination of certification eligibility based on a criminal background history, a petitioner should submit a fully completed Department Petition for EMS Criminal History Pre-Screening form for EMS personnel along with the required fee and completion of a Texas Fingerprint Service Code based background check. The Petition for EMS Criminal History Pre-Screening form and the Texas Fingerprint Service Code form are available at www.dshs.state.tx.us/emstraumasystems/formsresources.shtm. Most evaluations are completed within three to six months.
Questions regarding the criminal history review process should be directed to THHS criminal background investigators at (512) 834-6700.