Prerequisites
There are several educational prerequisites that are necessary for admission into the EMS Education program. These prerequisites are essential for compliance with the Durham Tech EMS Education Plan approved by the North Carolina Office of EMS (NCOEMS) and NCOEMS pre/corequisite guidelines. All prerequisites MUST be completed AND approved prior to enrolling in any EMS Initial course. Courses are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Attend one of the mandatory information sessions. The session will provide you with an overview of all the remaining steps of the registration process including information about prerequisites and corequisites requirements.
- Students who wish to enroll in an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) course must be at least 16 years of age. However, to enroll in an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course, students must be 17 years old on or before the official end date of the EMT course.
- Driver's License
- Proof of Vaccinations: Documentation must be submitted to CastleBranch for EMT initial provider students and approved to secure a permanent seat in the course.
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Varicella (Chicken Pox): Two vaccinations or a positive antibody titer
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Hepatitis B: Three vaccinations or a positive antibody titer
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Tuberculosis (TB); Submit documentation of one of the following:
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Two-step TB skin test or
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Two consecutive annual TB skin tests (10-12 months between tests) or
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A negative quantiFERON Gold blood test (lab report required). If the results are positive, submit a copy of your clear chest X-Ray with physician report.
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Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis (Tdap): Submit documentation of a Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis (Tdap) vaccination, administered within the past 10 Years.
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Polio: Submit documentation of your primary Polio vaccination series (at least 3 vaccinations), or a positive Polio titer listing Polio I, Polio II, and Polio III (lab report required)
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Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): Proof of two vaccines or a positive antibody titer
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Influenza: Submit documentation of a flu vaccination administered during the current flu season (September - March)
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COVID-19 vaccination plus 1 booster
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- Basic Education Requirement: High School Diploma or high school equivalency or one of the following:
- College transcript showing successful completion of a college-level English Course (ENG 111) or higher or
- A placement test that places reading comprehension at the 11th grade level. View placement test schedule
Registration
Students are required to attend an information session (listed on the EMT Initial Provider home page) where they will learn more about the program and how to register. Please bring proof of prerequisites to the information session. If no information session is listed, please email ems@durhamtech.edu for information about upcoming courses. Registration must be completed no later than one week prior to the course start.
Fee Exemptions
North Carolina Public Safety Workers as defined by NC General Statute 115D-5 may be exempt from tuition for continuing education courses provided the training meets the member’s organization training needs.
Agency paid course and books
Please bring an intent to pay letter signed by the chief of the agency authorizing payment to registration .
Transcripts
A transcript does not need to be official. If you are getting a transcript from Durham Tech, please plan to receive it 48 hours before general registration. Students should be aware that official transcripts may be requested at any time during enrollment.
Grading and Dismissal
Students are tested by principles consistent with national standards. Examples of evaluations used to grade students in these courses include the following: quizzes; exams; evaluation of practical skills which require physical demonstration of techniques and procedures taught; and affective evaluations to monitor students on soft skills consistent with employment in EMS. If a student’s cumulative average drops below 70 percent, the student is dismissed and not allowed to continue in the course for the remainder of that semester. More information on grading and dismissal will be provided to you during your first class meeting.
State and National Registry Exams
Since EMS students register themselves through the Credentialing Information System (CIS) website for the NC Office of EMS (NC OEMS) exams, the location, date, and time of the exam varies depending on the individual’s specific selection. There is no cost for this exam for students who complete a course in North Carolina.
The National Registry exam is also scheduled based on student selection, however there is a cost associated with this exam. Please visit the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) website for further information.
Students wishing to take the National Registry exam must first create a profile on the NREMT website and then wait for approval by the EMS program director. Once the National Registry profile has been created, please send an email ems@durhamtech.edu to request successful course completion to be approved on the National Registry profile.
Successful completion of initial provider courses and refresher courses allows a student to be eligible to test with the NC State Office of EMS (NC OEMS) and the National Registry of EMT’s at all levels. Students have 90 days after the course completion date to take and successfully complete the NC OEMS state exam with up to two additional attempts. Students who do not successfully complete the exam within three attempts need to complete an approved refresher course. Students wishing to take the National Registry exam must register for the exam within two years after initial course completion.
Please note that course completion for all initial provider and refresher courses will not occur until all course documentation (including clinical documentation) has been returned to and reviewed by the EMS program administration.
If you still have questions, please email ems@durhamtech.edu.