EMT - Basic (Technical Certificate)

Award: Technical Certificate
Program of Study:  Emergency Medical Technician
Specialization: Basic
Program Code: 1631

About This Program . . .

The EMT-Basic represents the first component of the emergency medical technician system.  An EMT-B is trained to care for patients at the scene of an accident and while transporting patients by ambulance to the hospital under medical direction.  The EMT-B has the emergency skills to assess a patient’s condition and manage respiratory, cardiac, and trauma emergencies.  EMT-Basic coursework typically emphasizes emergency skills, such as patient assessment, managing respiratory, trauma, and cardiac emergencies.  Formal courses are combined with skills practice and time in an emergency room or ambulance for a total of 195 contact hours.  The program also provides instruction and practice in dealing with bleeding, fractures, airway obstruction, cardiac arrest, and emergency childbirth.  Students learn how to use and maintain common emergency equipment, such as backboards, suction devices, splints, oxygen delivery systems, and stretchers. Graduates of approved EMT-Basic training programs who pass a written and practical examination administered by the State certifying agency or the NREMT earn the title “Registered EMT-Basic.” 

For more information on what you can do with this major, visit WCCC's Programs of Study page.

All CMU/WCCC technical certificate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, communication fluency, and critical thinking. In addition to these campus‐wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate the theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the performance of patient assessment and develop a proper treatment plan. (Specialized Knowledge)
  2. Demonstrate skills practice according to NREMT standards in safety, professional behavior and ethical conduct. (Applied Learning)
  3. Apply standard of care skills and procedures to ensure the proper care and dosage of medications given to a patient. (Quantitative Fluency)
  4. Communicate courteously and effectively with Dispatch personnel, other health care professionals, patients and with the public. (Communication Fluency)
  5. Demonstrate error recognition and the ability to correctly interpret patient signs and symptoms, and establish a course of action to solve problems and improve patient outcome. (Critical Thinking)

Crosswalk Between CMU and CCCS EMT Curricula

Colorado Mesa University Curriculum Colorado Community College System Curriculum
EMTS 101 (3 credits) EMT 125 (9 credits)
EMTS 102 (3 Credits) EMT 170 (1 credit)
EMTS 103 (4 credits)

Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements. 

To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity. 

Institutional Certificate Requirements

The following institutional requirements apply to all CMU or WCCC Technical Certificates. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.

  • Consists of 5-59 semester hours.
  • Consists of 100-200 level courses.
  • At least fifty percent of the credit hours must be taken at CMU/WCCC.
  • 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU/WCCC coursework.
  • A grade lower than “C” will not be counted toward meeting the requirements.
  • A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
  • Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed twenty-five percent of the semester credit hours required for a technical certificate.
  • Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
  • Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Certificate Requirements.
  • The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and certificate requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
  • See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.

Program Specific Certificate Requirements

(10 semester hours, must maintain a 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher.)

EMTS 101Emergency Medical Technician - Basic I3
EMTS 102Emergency Medical Technician - Basic II3
EMTS 103Emergency Medical Technician - Basic III4
Total Semester Credit Hours10
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterSemester Credit Hours
EMTS 101 Emergency Medical Technician - Basic I 3
EMTS 102 Emergency Medical Technician - Basic II 3
EMTS 103 Emergency Medical Technician - Basic III 4
 Semester Credit Hours10
 Total Semester Credit Hours10

Advising Process and DegreeWorks

Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a certificate. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and discussing the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for her/his intended certificate.

DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a certificate and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.

Graduation Process

Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their certificate requirements (for one-semester certificates, complete in the first week of class):

  • Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
  • Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
  • Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
  • Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.

Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found at http://www.coloradomesa.edu/registrar/graduation.html.

If a student’s petition for graduation is denied, it will be her/his responsibility to consult the Registrar’s Office regarding next steps.