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CTE Content Areas

Emergency Medical Services

IMPORTANT:

Any school that wishes to offer an emergency medical services program must first obtain operational approval through the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (NYS-BEMS) and have an approved sponsor’s agreement on file with NYS-BEMS. The agreement is developed between the sponsoring entities chief executive officer, course medical director, sponsor’s administrator AND the NYS-BEMS. The agreement, with its required attachments, is reviewed by the Regional EMS Council for their recommendation, then sent on to the BEMS area office and central office for final approval or denial. The length of the approval process for a new course sponsorship is dependent on many factors, but usually takes between 6 and 12 months.

EMS Policies, Laws and Regulations

EMS Education


Emergency Medical Services

Emergency Medical Services providers (Certified First Responders [CFRs] and Emergency Medical Technicians [EMTs]) are essential members of the emergency healthcare team.

CFRs possess the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide lifesaving interventions while awaiting additional EMS response and to assist higher level personnel at the scene and during transport. Certified first responders function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight. To work as a CFR in New York State, an individual must successfully complete an operationally approved course/program of study (see notice above) and pass the New York State Certified First Responder (CFR) examination. New York State requires a student of a CFR program be at least 16 years of age by the last day of the month of the scheduled NYS-BEMS exam.

EMTs conduct basic, non-invasive interventions to help save lives and reduce harm at emergency sites and may provide out-of-hospital care. Under medical oversight, EMTs use skills to transport patients safely, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), administer oxygen, administer glucose, and assist patients experiencing asthma attacks or allergic reactions. To work as an EMT in New York State, an individual must successfully complete an operationally approved course/program of study (see notice above) and pass the New York State Emergency Medical Technician  examination. New York State requires that a student of an EMT program be at least 17 years of age by the last day of the month of the scheduled NYS-BEMS exam.

 

Emergency Medical Services Program of Study

Emergency medical services programs of study prepare individuals to develop the skills necessary to become a member of the emergency medical services team. Under direction of the certified instructor coordinator, students learn to assist in provision of lifesaving support to patients in crisis situations. Students successfully completing this program of study will be prepared to sit for the CFR and EMT exams in New York State.

Program components may include patient assessment and triage, airway management, EMS operations, pharmacology, medical emergencies, shock/resuscitation and CPR, trauma management, medical terminology, and patient communication. The didactic learning combined with supervised clinical experience (see below) comprises a program of study.

Technical assessment and certification opportunities for this program of study are the New York State Certified First Responder (CFR) examination and New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) examination. 


Health sciences education prepares secondary and adult students for employment in the health care industry and for postsecondary education. The three integral components of all health sciences programs of study are a health science education core curriculum, content specific curriculum, and supervised clinical experience.

Health Sciences Core Curriculum

A health sciences education core curriculum serves as the foundation to prepare students for individual health sciences careers and must include Health Science Learning Standards.

The National Consortium for Health Science Education (NCHSE) Health Science Standards are acceptable learning standards on which to develop the Health Sciences Core as part of a Health Sciences program of study. 

Supervised Clinical Experience

  • Affiliation agreement(s) must be established (a written contract with partnering healthcare facilities).
  • Students may enter a clinical setting only after receiving prior program instruction, demonstrating related skill and knowledge, all under supervision by the school’s program instructor.
  • 108 hours (1 unit) of clinical experience must be conducted in a work setting as defined by the program of study.
  • Scopes of practice under various state licensures must be considered when developing hands-on activities in implementation of health sciences programs.