SPRING 2024 aemt program

AEMT Program Application Period Closed Jan 31, 2024

What is an AEMT?

• The Advanced EMT (AEMT) is an EMS professional with an expanded scope of practice over EMTs. AEMTs provide care in volunteer or career roles. To obtain AEMT, you must be a current NREMT or state EMT.

• This education program meets the requirements of states that accept NREMT certification and license AEMTs. Not all states have AEMTs or accept NRAEMT for certification. If you are not in a NREMT state, you must check with the state EMS office where you intend to practice to determine if NR AEMT is acceptable for license or certification.

Please review all details and requirements before applying. Links for courses open to enrollment are at the bottom of this page.

CLASS OVERVIEW

Online Didactic: Online classroom officially opens March 1, 2024 and consists of recorded lectures and asynchronous study activities.  

Didactic & Lab Days: In-person class days include a portion of didactic review and majority of the time dedicated to peer-to-peer and evaluator/instructor-to-student skill or simulation performance.  Class meets each Tuesday, starting March 5, 2024 through June 25, 2024 from 08:00-15:00 (30 min lunch break).

Patient Care Experience: This time takes place at a VT-licensed ALS (AEMT or paramedic) transporting ambulance service or affiliated hospital.  This time is scheduled via the course I/C or their designee and may begin after cleared by the course I/C and has 3 parts:

1. Part 1 – Clinical Experience is a minimum of 24 hours in an emergency department to practice AEMT skills and assist with assessment & management of patients.

2. Part 2 – Field Experience is a minimum of 36 hours on an ALS ambulance with an ALS preceptor as a third crew member to perform AEMT skills, assessment, and management.

3. Part 3 – Field Capstone Experience occurs once the student is performing Phase 3 Simulations in class and cleared by the IC.  This is 2 or more 12-hour shifts, no maximum.  As a third rider, the student must successfully manage 5 ALS patients as evaluated by their ALS preceptor. 

VT EMS Course #: 24-12-AEMT-084 - Primary EMS Lab Skills Instructor: Katie Fox - Senior Instructor/Coordinator: Bill Camarda

AEMT course SCHEDULE

In-person EVERY Tuesday, 08:00-15:00 from March 5 - June 25, 2024.

Homework is due every Saturday by 23:59 hours.

REQUIREMENTS

Student Prerequisites

• 18 years of age by the time of course start.

• EMT with either NREMT certification and/or state EMT certificate or license.

• BLS Provider CPR (AHA or ARC) - NOTE: Certifications from National CPR, ACLS Medical Training, etc. often advertised as “fully online” without a skills component are not accepted.

• FEMA IS- 5 (or equivalent EMS HazMat Awareness or above), 100, 200, & 700. The links take you to the course if you do not have it already.

• VT Mandatory Reporter Training

• 1 year of experience as a licensed/certified EMT preferred.

• 1+ letters of recommendation(s) must be from:

  • AEMT or paramedic (preferred) the student practices with,

  • direct supervisor, training officer, or head of service,

  • agency medical director.

• Criminal history that would preclude the applicant from licensure or certification. Contact the state EMS office and NREMT if you need to discuss previous convictions prior to submitting an application for this program.

• Health requirements, on Bennington Rescue medical forms provided after course registration is completed:

  • Medical screening and attestation from your healthcare provider that you are healthy enough to participate in the physically and emotionally strenuous environment AEMTs encounter. This includes:

    • wearing constricting PPE such as a disposable respirator (N95 mask).

    • being able to lift over 50 pounds,

    • ability to kneel, squat, bend, get up off the floor independently, etc.

  • Proof of current immunizations - Only medical exemptions may be considered, on a case-by-case basis, with healthcare provider certification. No other exemptions are accepted. Required immunizations or titers to prove immunity include but are not limited to:

    • TB testing (2-step PPD - done twice or Quantiferon/T-spot testing),

    • MMR,

    • varicella,

    • influenza,

    • Tdap,

    • Hepatitis B,

    • COVID-19 initial series AND booster(s), etc.

    • Do NOT send immunization and health records.

Technology Requirements:

• Laptop computer - A laptop computer is required for proctored exams and you must bring your own. A cell phone is not acceptable. A tablet may work if you have a keyboard. Computers are required for certain class days to take unit exams and the final exam.

• Reliable internet connection is required.

• You must be able to sign, print, and scan online PDF documents.

• You must be comfortable with online learning and technology to participate in this course. We use a central learning management system known as Canvas, a study application, video & case reviews, Flipgrid, etc. (click on the hyperlinks for system requirements). If you find yourself saying things like “technology and I don’t get along,” “I learn better in person,” etc. then this is not the program for you.

• The function of your devices is your responsibility. We troubleshoot course components but our instructors cannot be tech support for your devices.

Other Course Requirements:

Math Skills - Successful students in this program must master these math skills. Previous preparation and training in these areas are critical for academic success in this program.

• Use of military time

• Fractions, decimals, and percentages

• Ratios and proportions

• Reading gauges

• Metric to standard conversion

• Basic math (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)

• Basic algebra (determining concentrations, dosages, etc.)

Uniform:

• Students must wear the AEMT class shirt for in-person class sessions. The class shirt is provided as part of the course fee.

• Black, dark blue, or khaki colors are acceptable. Denim/jeans, leggings, shorts, etc. are not acceptable. Uniform-style pants are not provided and are the responsibility of the student.

• Sturdy footwear, such as black uniform boots, are strongly recommended but not required. Open-toe footwear is prohibited in the classroom and clinical experience.

• We provide gloves, hand sanitizer, handwashing facilities, and disinfectant wipes for in-person class sessions.

• A watch is required to take a pulse, count respiratory rates, calculate IV drip rates, etc. Smart watches are not the best option. An analog watch with second hand or digital with timer/stopwatch is highly recommended.

Students must achieve a course grade of 80 or higher PLUS passing scores on the written & simulation final exams to graduate. The course grading rubric is based off of 100 total points:

• 20 points: FISDAP AEMT Unit Exams - a score ≥60% is required with each unit exam to continue with the course

• 20 points: homework & quizzes

• 20 points: attendance - all classes must be attended

• 20 points: affective

• 20 points: final written exam - FISDAP Comprehensive AEMT Exam - a score ≥65% is required to pass the course

Course FEE

$1,800 which includes: course tuition, textbook & learning management system, AEMT study apps, and AEMT class shirts. $400 of the course fee is a non-refundable deposit.

Additional costs may include:

• Certification exam fees, see NREMT website for current fee (VT EMS personnel are eligible for exam fee coverage).

• Background check fees if required by the clinical site.

• Uniform or straight leg pants, boots/closed toe shoes, appropriate department/EMS outerwear, analog watch, etc.

• Any additional study aids, equipment, etc, the student chooses to purchase.

• Costs associated with medical screening, immunizations, background checks, etc.

AEMT FEE REFUND POLICY

• A refund minus a $400.00 deposit is available until the first day of the course. Written notice via email must be sent to the instructor/coordinator.

• The course fee is not transferrable.

How to start the enrollment process:

STEP 1 - File the online course application (applications closed Jan 30) and send your letter(s) of recommendation, current EMT card(s), and current BLS CPR card to training@brsvt.org by January 31, 2024.

STEP 2 - Pre-enrollment assessment - FISDAP Entrance Assessment ($25.25 cost). This is required and students must achieve a score of 65% or higher in all knowledge areas to qualify for enrollment (Math, Biology, Reading, EMT-level knowledge). Multiple attempts at this pre-enrollment assessment are not permitted. Affective scores are considered along with the entire application. Here are sample questions.

STEP 3 - If offered a seat, students must pay their $1800 course fee to reserve their seat or proof of VT EMS agency affiliation for grant funding.

STEP 4 - Ensure all prerequisites are ready for submission in the online classroom for the first week of the class.

Frequently Asked questions:

Q: Do you offer payment plans or financial aid?

Answer: Yes, financial aid is available through several sources! Bennington Rescue does not directly provide any payment plans or financial aid. Potential students may be eligible for local, regional, or other scholarship or grant programs. Bennington Rescue is a participating education provider for the VSAC Advancement Grant and the VT EMS Tuition Grant Program if belonging to a VT licensed EMS agency and sufficient funds are available from the state of Vermont.

Q: I already have obligations the same time as some class sessions, can I be excused and make up the work?

Answer: No. Do not sign up for the program if you know you already have a conflict. All class sessions must be attended on time for the entire time. Any time absent results in a deduction from the course grade. Missing class session(s) results in dismissal from the program. You may not be on call, actively working, etc. during class sessions.

Q: Does completing the education program certify me as an AEMT?

Answer: No, after course completion you must then successfully pass the NR AEMT examinations to obtain NR AEMT certification. As of April 2022, all NR AEMT cognitive testing must occur in-person at a PearsonVue testing center, click on this link to find out more. Psychomotor exams are offered in VT and neighboring NH on a regular basis. We schedule a psychomotor exam in the Bennington area coinciding with the end of the course.

Q: Are ADA accommodations available for learning disabilities?

Answer: Accommodations are addressed on a case-by-case basis. NREMT, the certifying body, typically only makes accommodations for the length of cognitive (computer/written) testing - see their information here. To support cognitive accommodations, documentation must be submitted. Contact the instructor/coordinator to discuss prior to enrolling in the course. Psychomotor accommodations are not available, students must be able to physically perform all skills.

Q: May I ride at my ambulance service or do time at my local ED?

Answer: It depends.

• AEMT Students are not permitted to perform any invasive AEMT skills outside of a Bennington Rescue authorized student experience.

• All ED time must be performed at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC).

• Any out-of-state personnel must ride at Bennington Rescue and complete ED time in VT at SVMC. This is a VT EMS education program and students may only participate in VT clinical sites affiliated with this program.

^If you are a VT EMT and affiliated with a VT EMS licensed ALS ambulance service it may be feasible to ride at your agency if it has:

1. Sufficient call volume (generally >1000 calls/year),

2. Ability for you to ride as a third rider for student time (not part of the licensed crew), and

3. Head of service will sign a clinical student agreement with Bennington Rescue.

You will need to do the leg work with the training officer and head of service that will host you to determine the details (which may include additional cost not covered by grant funding) and put them in contact with our primary instructor/coordinator at training@brsvt.org to arrange an agreement.

Please contact training@brsvt.org with any questions about AEMT programs. Subscribe to receive notification of future AEMT or other course announcements.