Emergency Medical Technology

Specific Admission Requirements for Program
Applicants will be accepted into the Emergency Medical Technology program on a first qualified, first accepted basis.

• Students are required to be 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or GED.
• Criminal Background Check
• Urine Drug Screening
• Submit a Health Sciences Division Student Health Record Form indicating the candidate has the ability to perform the physical tasks required in the program.
• Complete and pass the General Hospital Orientation.
• Transfer students must meet the College transfer student admission requirements and transfer of EMT courses must show a current CPR certification.
• Other expenses may include, but are not limited to: purchasing scrubs and shoes, and gas and transportation to clinical sites.
• Second semester high school students interested in the EMT program, click here for further information.

Course Sequence and Progression Requirements
Earn a minimum grade of "C" in all general education, support and EMS courses. Failure of one required course will result in the student being dropped from the program with eligibility for readmission. A student who has a second failure in any one of the required courses, or failure in any two of the required courses will not be eligible for readmission to the EMT program. Failure is defined as receiving a grade below "C" in any course. Students may apply for readmission to EMT program after 2-year time period from 2nd course failure.

Students must pass a criminal background check and urine drug screening 30 days prior to starting clinical each semester.

Student Resources

• Program Cost
• Functional Job Analysis / Technical Standards

Forms

• Clinical Requirements
• Background Check

The Horry-Georgetown Technical College Paramedic 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 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, 727-210-2350;  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. 

For more information about HGTC's accreditations, click here.

EMTs are typically members of fire departments or ambulance services. Private services often do non-emergency work, such as taking elderly or chronically ill patients to doctors' appointments, dialysis, etc. Some private services have contracts with municipalities or other local governments to run their 911 response, as well. Many towns have their own ambulance; sometimes the fire department and EMS are one and the same. Other EMT services are owned and operated by the county, as opposed to a town or a private service.

• Horry County Fire/Rescue
• Myrtle Beach Fire/Rescue
• Marion County EMS
• Murrells Inlet Garden City Fire/Rescue
• Charleston County EMS

For more information about careers, visit O*Net Online for an overview of South Carolina and National earnings statistics, and Career Services for more employment, career, and professional development resources.

Program Effectiveness

Program Mission
To prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician, and/or Emergency Medical Responder levels.

PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY

The paramedic program is organized around the belief that the role of today’s paramedic is the careful delivery of advanced level pre-hospital care to the victims of sudden illness or injury, and to those with chronic illnesses, throughout their life span.

Paramedics today have more knowledge, skills and training, and thus responsibility than ever before. As a result, the general public has come to expect more and more from its emergency medical services providers. Paramedic education is the integration of the humanities and sciences, legal and ethical principles. The paramedic provides individualized care for the person as a member of a family, community and culture.

The curriculum is designed to support the personal and career development of students. The paramedic program values the diversity of students’ age, life experience and culture as this diversity reflects the society they will serve. It is the belief of the paramedic program faculty that students learn and develop their highest potential in a supportive and challenging environment.

The person with health care needs and the student with learning needs comprise the central focus for curriculum development. The goal of this program is to prepare the graduate to function as an entry level paramedic. With the rapidly changing health care system, students must develop an appreciation for life-long learning. For the associate degree graduate this will include further acquisition of skills and knowledge within the work setting and/or pursuit of additional formal paramedic education.

As an integral part of Horry-Georgetown Technical College, the faculty of the Emergency Medical Technology Program support the philosophy and objectives of the parent institution, specifically “to provide accessible, quality, post-secondary educational opportunities for the people of Horry and Georgetown counties to acquire the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary for success in achieving their career and educational goals, and to provide the employers in the area with the appropriate personnel to assure the continued economic growth of the region.”

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

PURPOSE: The goal of the Horry Georgetown Technical College EMT Program is to produce competent, entry level Paramedics to serve in career and volunteer positions in Horry and Georgetown counties.

Program Cognitive Objective:  At the completion of the program, the graduate of Horry Georgetown Technical College Paramedic Education Program will demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply, and evaluate the clinical information relative to his role as an entry level paramedic in Horry and Georgetown counties.

Program Psychomotor Objective:  At the completion of the program, the student will demonstrate technical proficiency in all skills necessary to fulfill the role of entry level paramedic in Horry and Georgetown counties.

Program Affective Objective:  At the completion of the program, the student will demonstrate personal behaviors consistent with professional and employer expectations for the entry level paramedic in Horry and Georgetown counties.

Applicants to the Emergency Medical Technician program should be aware a current, unrestricted license or certification may be required to practice in the state in which you intend to reside/practice. Each state is unique in its licensure requirements. Students are encouraged to reach out to the program chair for more information and assistance with understanding professional licensure.