Vocational Program Handbook

Program Mission

The mission of the EMS Program is to prepare competent entry-level EMTs for certification, through examination, with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).

Program Overview

The TEEX EMS program was founded in 1994 within the TEEX Law Enforcement Division. The original mission of the program was to offer grant-funded basic EMS training to participants. In 2000, the EMS program relocated to Brayton Fire Training Field in College Station, Texas and transferred to the Emergency Services Training Institute (ESTI) division of TEEX. Currently, the EMS program is comprised of a combination of grant-funded classes, on field classes, and off field contracted classes at all levels.

TEEX offers participants two paths to complete the EMT program: a 9-week EMT program (EMT100) or a 5-week EMT academy (EMT101). Participants receive training that is approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) and is based on the National Standard Curriculum core competencies, which meet or exceed the minimum hours and content established by TDSHS. Participants successfully completing the didactic requirements (must pass all skills tests, unit exams, summative exams, and final exams) and clinical components of this program will be eligible to receive a course completion certificate and sit for the National Registry cognitive exam.

The 320 program hours include: 200 hours of classroom lecture and hands-on skills lab, 48 hours of clinical
internship, and 72 hours of field internship.

The maximum number of participants in the program is twenty-four. TEEX maintains a ratio of one instructor to twenty-four participants during the classroom lecture; one instructor to six participants in the skills lab; one preceptor to one participant during clinicals; and one preceptor to one participant during field experiences.

Course Cost

Below is the current information regarding upcoming class dates, locations, and when class is typically held. This is subject to change at any time. Please review the information in the course description on the TEEX website and/or information provided by the program for the most current information.

Enrollment Requirements and Process

To apply for this course, applicants must provide the following documents at the time of paying the application fee by uploading to the TEEX Student Portal:

• Completed and signed EMT Participant Enrollment Agreement or EMT Academy Participant Enrollment Agreement

Applicants will then have 15 business days (about 3 weeks) to upload all prerequisites into CastleBranch. See the EMT Registration Packet or EMT Academy Registration Packet for more details.

Applicants must set up an account at teex.castlebranch.com to submit the following documentation:

• A color copy of your valid driver’s license or a form of government-or state-issued identification (must be at least 17 years of age; 18 years of age to be certified by TDSHS)
• A high school diploma, GED completion certificate, or official college transcript
• Documentation of a current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification (Basic Life Support [BLS] Provider certification provided by American Heart Association or American Red Cross only).
• Health insurance card with participant name or letter of eligibility from insurance carrier.
• Technical Standards Acknowledgement Form
• A criminal background check covering the last seven years (initiated once your CastleBranch account has been created and payment has been made for the check)
• Proof of the following immunizations:
  • Measles (rubeola), mumps, and rubella: two vaccinations or positive titer
  • Varicella (chicken pox): two vaccinations or positive titer
  • Hepatitis B: three vaccinations or positive titer (series in process with two vaccinations complete will be accepted)
  • Tuberculosis (TB): one of the following within the last six months:
    • 1 step TB skin test
    • QuantiFERON Gold blood test
    • T-spot blood test
    • Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood test
    • Negative chest x-ray with physician documentation stating you are TB free
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap): vaccination within the last ten years
  • Flu: vaccination during the current flu season
  • Meningitis: proof within the past five years if under the age of twenty-two (additional information about meningitis)
  • Note: COVID immunizations are not required for entry into this course. However, they may be required for internship affiliation sites.

The TEEX EMS staff monitors participant uploads to CastleBranch and will communicate to the participant when
they have been cleared to enroll in the EMT program. Once the participant has been approved to register, they
will log into their Student Portal to pay the tuition. The tuition must be paid within 15 business days of paying the
application fee to avoid losing the seat in the class.

Note: See the Course Registration Process section of this document for more details. Failure to provide
documentation will prevent enrollment.

NOTE: Once you enrolled in the EMT program, within 30 days before the start of clinicals, you will be required to pass a drug screening coordinated through CastleBranch.

Required Supplies

Participants must provide the following items:

• Notebook paper (8½” × 11”)
• Pens/Pencils and markers
• Class uniform:
• Black uniform-style pants
• Closed-toe black shoes or boots that can be polished
• Black belt
• Watch

Curriculum Topics and Approximate Hours

EMS Code of Ethics

Professional status as an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Practitioner is maintained and enriched by the
willingness of the individual practitioner to accept and fulfill obligations to society, other medical professionals, and the EMS profession. As an EMS practitioner, I solemnly pledge myself to the following code of professional ethics:

• To conserve life, alleviate suffering, promote health, do no harm, and encourage the quality and equal availability of emergency medical care.
• To provide services based on human need, with compassion and respect for human dignity, unrestricted by consideration of nationality, race, creed, color, or status; to not judge the merits of the patient’s request for 36 service, nor allow the patient’s socioeconomic status to influence our demeanor or the care that we provide.
• To not use professional knowledge and skills in any enterprise detrimental to the public well being.
• To respect and hold in confidence all information of a confidential nature obtained in the course of professional service unless required by law to divulge such information.
• To use social media in a responsible and professional manner that does not discredit, dishonor, or embarrass an EMS organization, co-workers, other health care practitioners, patients, individuals or the community at large.
• To maintain professional competence, striving always for clinical excellence in the delivery of patient care.
• To assume responsibility in upholding standards of professional practice and education.
• To assume responsibility for individual professional actions and judgment, both in dependent and independent emergency functions, and to know and uphold the laws which affect the practice of EMS.
• To be aware of and participate in matters of legislation and regulation affecting EMS.
• To work cooperatively with EMS associates and other allied healthcare professionals in the best interest of our patients.
• To refuse participation in unethical procedures and assume the responsibility to expose incompetence or unethical conduct of others to the appropriate authority in a proper and professional manner.

Written by: Charles B. Gillespie M.D. Adopted by: NAEMT, 1978. Revised and adopted by NAEMT, June 14, 2013.

Participant Conduct Standards

Uniform and Grooming Standards

Uniforms

Participants must wear the following uniform during the course unless otherwise directed by the lead instructor and/or a clinical site. This includes travel to and from class, during class breaks, during EMS ride outs, and during clinical experiences. Participants cannot wear their uniform during off-site activities or while purchasing and/or consuming alcohol. Participants who do not show up to class and/or clinicals in their uniform will be sent home. Any participant that arrives at a field/clinical site out of uniform will be sent home and lose scheduled hours for that day. Lack of proper uniform is grounds for an immediate affective evaluation and performance improvement plan. Any further uniform violation will result in further disciplinary action up to and/or including dismissal from the program.

• Maroon polo with one of the following underneath:
  • Long-sleeved maroon T-shirt (classroom, clinicals, field internships)
  • Gray TEEX EMS Program T-shirt (simulations lab)
• TEEX/ESTI identification
• Full-length black uniform style pants (cannot be jeans, slender cut pants, or leggings)
• Solid black shoes/boots made of a non-porous material with a sturdy sole, closed toe, and closed heel
• Solid black or navy-blue socks (if visible)
• Black belt
• Stethoscope (clinicals and field internships only)
• Penlight (clinicals and field internships only)
• Watch capable of measuring seconds (preferably waterproof)

Participants must ensure their uniforms are not wrinkled, clean, and well-maintained throughout the course. If a piece of the uniform is lost or damaged, the participant is responsible for replacing it.

All shirts worn must be tucked in during the course and the TEEX/ESTI identification must be clipped to the right shoulder of their shirt. Outer clothing, such as sweaters, coats, or head coverings can be worn, but must be either solid dark navy blue or solid black. Logos and/or text on clothing are only permitted if it is TEEX approved. Caps are only permitted during EMS ride outs. Exceptions can be requested by contacting the training director.