Who Can Apply?
- Rising seniors
- Students with a high school GPA of 2.0 or higher
- No ACT score is required
- Students must be 18 years old by or within 6 months of completing the program
EMS Certification
Future Ready • Dual Enrollment • EMS
EMS Dual Enrollment Pathway
The Emergency Medical Technician (Basic) dual enrollment pathway gives Putnam County students the opportunity to begin preparing for a career in emergency medical services while still in high school. Through Volunteer State Community College, students complete college-level coursework, labs, clinical experiences, and field-based training that lead toward EMT certification and future healthcare opportunities.
At a Glance
This program is designed for rising seniors who are interested in healthcare, EMS, EMT, or paramedic careers. Students complete a full academic year of coursework split across fall and spring semesters and, upon successful completion, may be eligible to sit for the Tennessee EMT licensing examination.
Why Choose EMS?
- Start a healthcare pathway while still in high school
- Earn dual enrollment college credit through Vol State
- Complete lab, clinical, and field experiences
- Build toward EMT certification and future paramedic opportunities
- Develop skills in emergency response, patient care, communication, and medical operations
Students admitted to the EMS Basic program must commit to completing the full academic year, including coursework, labs, and clinical requirements. The program is divided across two semesters and uses six TSAC Dual Enrollment Grant courses.
Best Fit for the Program
- Students who want to become EMTs or paramedics
- Students interested in the healthcare field
- Students able to attend all classes and clinicals consistently
- Students willing to commit time outside of class for reading and preparation
Important Notes
- The cohort is capped at 12 students
- If more than 12 eligible students apply, a screening process will be used
- Preference is given to students who want to become EMTs and paramedics
- Students must be able to commute to campus and clinical sites
Program Details
The EMT certificate program prepares students for entry-level positions as professional medical care providers in a pre-hospital setting. The curriculum follows National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards and includes recognition, assessment, and management of medical, trauma, and environmental emergencies under the direction of medical control. Students who successfully complete the course work and clinical components may be eligible for the Tennessee EMT licensing examination.
Program Structure
- The EMS Basic program is divided into two semesters
- Half of the program is completed in the fall and half in the spring
- Students admitted to the cohort must commit to the full academic year
- Classes meet from 12:40 p.m. to 2:40 p.m., Monday through Thursday, at the Cookeville campus
Clinical & Transportation Expectations
- Students must commit to the Vol State Cookeville campus each day of the program
- Students must be able to travel to clinicals on certain days, including weekends, as arranged with potential clinical sites
- Transportation and food may be additional out-of-pocket costs
Career Pathway: After successful completion of the program and passage of the exam, students may be eligible to work as EMTs. Students who continue successfully may later apply to the Advanced EMT program, and then potentially to the Paramedic program at Vol State.
Course Sequence
| Semester | Course | Credit Hours | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | EMSB 1601 – EMT Medical Emergencies and EMS Operations | 6 | Introduces entry-level EMT knowledge, including emergency responder competencies, EMS operations, communication, documentation, safety, anatomy and physiology, patient assessment, airway management, respiratory and cardiovascular emergencies, diabetic emergencies, abdominal and gastrointestinal emergencies, urologic emergencies, anaphylaxis, and behavioral emergencies. |
| Fall | EMSB 1101 – EMT Medical Skills Lab | 1 | Laboratory-based course using scenarios to emphasize EMS operations, communication, documentation, airway management, emergency response skills, medication assistance, and patient assessment. |
| Fall | EMSB 1111 – EMT Clinical | 1 | Clinical course designed to help students meet psychomotor and affective outcomes for the clinical requirements of an EMT program while building on classroom learning. |
| Spring | EMSB 1602 – EMT Trauma and Medical Emergencies | 6 | Covers obstetrics and gynecology, neonatal care, pediatric and geriatric emergencies, environmental emergencies, special challenges, trauma and shock, bleeding, burns, soft tissue injuries, head and spine injuries, face and neck injuries, chest injuries, abdominal and genitourinary injuries, and orthopedic injuries. |
| Spring | EMSB 1102 – EMT Trauma and Medical Skills Lab | 1 | Laboratory-based course emphasizing trauma, neonatal and pediatric care, geriatric emergencies, environmental emergencies, and special patient challenges. |
| Spring | EMSB 1112 – EMT Field Internship | 1 | Field-based clinical course that allows students to meet psychomotor and affective outcomes while applying concepts learned in prior and concurrent EMT coursework. |
TSAC Dual Enrollment Grant
- The EMS program contains six courses and uses six of the ten TSAC Dual Enrollment Grant courses available to students
- Eligible students use the TSAC grant to cover the major portion of tuition costs
- If students take additional dual enrollment classes beyond available grant funding, some costs may become out-of-pocket
- Students who have lost eligibility for the TSAC grant would be fully responsible for all tuition costs
Sample Tuition Scenarios
- Student A: Takes only the EMS courses and has a small estimated tuition out-of-pocket amount tied to one partially covered spring course
- Student B: Takes EMS plus one additional dual enrollment class each semester and has higher out-of-pocket costs because more grant funding is used
- Additional non-EMS dual enrollment courses may also bring extra books and unique course fees
Estimated Program Costs
Cost information in the packet reflects estimated amounts and notes that some future fees may be subject to change. PCSS CTE funding helps cover selected program expenses, while the TSAC Dual Enrollment Grant covers a large portion of tuition for eligible students.
| Cost Area | Estimated Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total Estimated Program Cost | $4,511.75 | Combined estimate of tuition and additional program costs |
| Estimated Covered by TSAC Dual Enrollment Grant | $3,108.25 | For eligible students |
| Estimated Covered by PCSS CTE | $404 | Includes selected program costs such as EMS books and exam voucher support listed in the packet |
| Estimated Student Out-of-Pocket | $757.50 – $999.50 | Varies by student circumstances and additional costs |
Uniform Estimates:
Shirt about $32, safety vest about $10, black pants about $25, black shoes about $30, and black belt about $12. Full set estimate is about $109, with approximately $42 minimum if some items are already owned.
Shirt about $32, safety vest about $10, black pants about $25, black shoes about $30, and black belt about $12. Full set estimate is about $109, with approximately $42 minimum if some items are already owned.
Other Potential Costs:
Health sciences unique course fees, Platinum Planner, liability insurance, drug screen, background check, physical/examination, state licensure application, IdentiGo background, transportation, food, and other study materials or incurred costs.
Health sciences unique course fees, Platinum Planner, liability insurance, drug screen, background check, physical/examination, state licensure application, IdentiGo background, transportation, food, and other study materials or incurred costs.
Important Parent & Student Considerations
Commitment Level
- Attendance matters for class, labs, and clinicals
- Students should be ready for college-level responsibility
- Reading and preparation outside of class are expected
- Schedule and transportation planning are important for success
Physical Expectations
- Students should be physically able to perform heavy lifting or strenuous activity for extended periods of time
- Students must demonstrate the ability to perform these tasks during classroom and clinical periods
Informational Packet
Please review the full EMS informational packet for a detailed overview of the program, including eligibility requirements, course sequence, costs, expectations, and important student information.
Questions?
Volunteer State Office of K12 Partnerships: 1480 Nashville Pike, Gallatin, TN 37066
Phone: 615-230-3742
Email for dual enrollment questions: dualenrollment@volstate.edu
For local school support: Families may also contact Future Ready or their school counselor for guidance on enrollment and fit.
Program details, eligibility points, course sequence, and cost estimates on this page were compiled from the EMS packet and the uploaded Future Ready menu/page content. Cost figures and some fees are estimates and may be subject to change.