Fire - Emergency Medical Services, Associate of Applied Science

This program is designed for individuals interested in entering the fire service to meet civil service entry requirements as a Firefighter I & 2-paramedic. Certification is provided through the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). The graduate may function as a firefighter and paramedic on the level required under Ohio Law to provided fire extinguishment and rescue services, basic and advanced medical care under the direction of a physician as well as provide supervision of operations in the fire - emergency services. A criminal background check must be completed through a program approved source prior to participation in clinical and field experiences in the EMT portion of the program. Tri-C is EMT Nationally Accredited (600596), State of Ohio EMS Accreditation (312) and holds a State of Ohio Fire Charter (003).

Note:  Completed courses from either the Associate of Applied Science degree in Fire Technology or the Associate of Applied Science degree in Emergency Medical Technology which meet the Fire - EMS degree requirements may be transferred.

Program contact: Learn more

Learn more about how certificate credits apply to the related degree.

Related Degrees and Certificates

• Emergency Medical Technology, Associate of Applied Science
• Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, Short-Term Certificate
• Paramedic, Certificate of Proficiency

Related Training and Credentials

• Fire Training Academy
• Advanced Fire Training

Program Admission Requirements

Application may be submitted to the Health Careers Enrollment Center after meeting the following requirements:

• High School Diploma/GED
• ENG-0985 Introduction to College Literacies or appropriate score on English Placement Test.
• MATH-0915 Basic Arithmetic and Pre-Algebra or qualified Math Placement.
• EMT-1401 Anatomy & Physiology for Paramedics
• 2.0 GPA

Other Information

• It does not matter whether the Firefighting Certification is completed in the first, second or final segment. Firefighting is not required to become a Paramedic.
• A criminal background check must be completed through a program approved source prior to participation in clinical and field experiences in the EMT portion of the program.
• EMT-Basic Certification and completion of EMT-1401 Anatomy & Physiology for Paramedics  or BIO-2331 Anatomy and Physiology I  and BIO-2341 Anatomy and Physiology II  are required to enter the Paramedic Certification program. Paramedic segment must be completed as 

  Course List

  Code	Title	Credit Hours
  EMT-2330	Paramedic Theory I	6
  EMT-2350	Paramedic Theory III	6
  EMT-2340	Paramedic Theory II	6
  EMT-2360	Paramedic Theory IV	6
  EMT-2371	Paramedic Capstone Course	5

• EMT-1401  is required for enrollment into EMT-2330 Paramedic Theory I .
• BIO-2331  and BIO-2341  together will be accepted in place of EMT-1401 .
• To enter the Fire Academy program:
  • Must be 18 years old and out of High School.
  • Must not be convicted of, under indictment for, pled guilty to, had a judicial finding of guilt of any of the following:
    • Fraud or material deception in applying for, or obtaining a certificate issued in accordance with this chapter.
    • A felony.
    • A misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.
    • A violation of any federal, state, county, or municipal narcotics law.
    • Any act committed in another state that, if committed in Ohio, would constitute a violation set forth in this paragraph.
  • Must not be adjudicated mentally incompetent by a court of law.
  • Must not be currently engaged in illegal use of controlled substances, alcohol, or other habit forming drugs or chemical substances to an extent that it impairs the ability to perform the duties of a firefighter or safety inspector.
  • Must not have a beard as prescribed in the Ohio Administrative Code, Chapter 4121:1 -- 21.
  • Must provide evidence of a physical exam as required by the Ohio Revised prior to the first class date.
  • Must wear all NFPAA approved turn out gear as prescribed by the Ohio Administrative Code, Chapter 4121:1 – 21.
  • Must use self-contained breathing apparatus as prescribed in the Ohio Administrative Code, Chapter 4121:1 - 21.
  • Unattached (not currently employed on a Fire Department) student must provide, prior to the first class date, a copy of Cuyahoga Community College's Firefighter's Physical Agility Certification or attached student must provide a letter from the Fire Chief (on Department Letterhead) stating that the student has passed the Department's Physical Agility Test.
  • Attached student must, prior to the first class date, provide an official letter from the appointing department authority accepting responsibility for all actions taken, injury, or liability incurred.
  • Must provide proof of health and accident insurance coverage prior to the first class date.
  • Must read and sign the attached waiver for liability (Assumption of Risk Form).
  • Call 1-847-688-6888 if a Selective Service number is required on the College Admission Application.
  • I. E. P. Acknowledgement Form.

Program Learning Outcomes

This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

1. Utilizing various verbal, non-verbal, written and electronic communication methods, one will be able to interact with and educate a diverse group of populations, which would include public administration, our colleagues and the community, to provide direction and information about patient care or an event that meets the goals/objectives of the organization, while adhering to federal privacy standards.
2. Exhibit professional, ethical and compassionate behavior which follows department, city, state and federal regulations when interacting with diverse groups of patients, their families, healthcare professionals and the community to promote sound physical, psychological, spiritual health and safety at all times.
3. Use strategic management and ethical decision making skills to recognize and apply practices of leadership in all aspects of department operations.
4. Assess the mechanism of injury and nature of illness, determine the best therapeutic modalities and evacuation means for the trauma and medical patient, and formulate and initiate the treatment plan needed to optimize the patient's outcome within a Paramedic Scope of Practice.
5. Perform pre-hospital and inter-facility assessments and treatments using advanced medical techniques and equipment available within a Paramedic Scope of Practice.
6. Respond to an incident, evaluate the situation, and implement safe appropriate strategies and tactics to save lives, protect property and the environment and mitigate the hazards in an effective and efficient manner.
7. Identify current and potential hazards and perform duties maintaining a safe environment for themselves, co-workers, patients and bystanders.
8. Apply critical thinking skills to identify risks, implement solutions, analyze outcomes, and adapt to change within the dynamic field of Fire and Emergency Medical Services.
9. Utilize organizational and leadership skills to effectively identify and resolve conflict, solve problems, and adapt to a fast-paced dynamic work setting.
10. Be prepared for the State of Ohio Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, and Firefighter 1 & 2 Certification Exams.

Suggested Semester Sequence

¹

BIO-2331 Anatomy and Physiology I and BIO-2341 Anatomy and Physiology II together will be accepted in place of EMT-1401 Anatomy & Physiology for Paramedics.

²

Consecutive eight-week course.

³

MATH-1100 Mathematical Explorations or MATH-1240 Contemporary Mathematics taken prior to Fall 2024 will be accepted to meet the mathematics requirement for this program.

MATH-1140, MATH-1141, MATH-1200, MATH-1270, and MATH-1280 can no longer count towards fulfilling the college-level mathematics requirement.  These courses were re-classified as developmental mathematics by the state of Ohio in 2016.  Tri-C established a 5-year transitioning window for students who had completed these courses prior to 2016 to apply them towards meeting graduation requirements, which expired in Summer 2021. It is highly recommended to see a counselor to determine the appropriate math required for your current major.