About the Profession
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) assess injuries and illnesses and provide emergency medical care. They may also transport patients to medical facilities. EMTs work in a variety of environments including hospitals, fire departments, EMS services, urgent care facilities, and industrial settings. Some choose to further their education to pursue licensure as an Advanced EMT or a Paramedic. For more details about the profession, visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
About the Program
The Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) EMT Program is an on-site, 12-week program that combines classroom, lab, and clinical training. Coursework focuses on the most up-to-date pre-hospital patient care. Clinical rotations occur at sites across the VUMC enterprise and at local EMS organizations. Our program offers a well-rounded education that prepares graduates for entry into the field of emergency medical services and is approved by the Tennessee Department of Health Board of Emergency Medical Services. Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification exam.
Watch our brief video to learn more!
Program Structure
All class sizes are limited to 12 students.
The program consists of
- Coursework, lab, and clinical rotations
- Licensure test preparation
Admission Requirements
- Must be 18 years or older
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
Additional Programs
If you are already a licensed EMT, you may be interested in our AEMT Program.
If you are already a licensed Paramedic, you may be interested in our CCP Program.
For more information about the 10-week RN-to-EMT bridge program, email the Program Director (contact information below).
Application Process
Planning for our next cohort is currently underway. Cohort and application dates will be posted here once they have been confirmed.
A complete application includes the following:
- online application
- letter of recommendation from your employer
- professional resume
Finalists must also complete a critical care entrance exam and an in-person interview. These occur on the same day. Please allow two hours for the entrance exam and one hour for the interview. Candidates who do not complete these steps will be dismissed from the selection process.
Tuition and Fees
The CCP Program costs $1200. This amount covers course fees, book, uniform polo, and scrub top.
Fees not included:
- State testing fee ($80)
- Tennessee Critical Care Paramedic application fee ($90)
- IdentoGo Fingerprinting/background check ($39.15)
Students are also responsible for:
- Uniform and scrub pants
- On-campus parking (fees vary depending on available parking locations)
Prior to beginning any clinical training at VUMC, you must certify that you are compliant with measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, hepatitis B, and Tdap vaccines. If your clinical training is scheduled any day between October 1 and April 1, you must also certify that you are compliant with an annual influenza immunization.
Contact Us
To request information about upcoming classes, use this link.
Dana Knueven, MPH, PM-CC, I/C
Program Director
Email: dana.mcdonald@vumc.org