Class Schedule

Click on a class below to begin the enrollment process:

ACLS (AHA Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)

The AHA’s ACLS course builds on the foundation of lifesaving BLS skills, emphasizing the importance of continuous, high-quality CPR. Reflects science and education from the American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC).

Who should take this course?

  • Healthcare professionals who either direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest or other cardiovascular emergencies and for personnel in emergency response
  • Attendees must have current BLS card.

What does this course teach?

  • Basic life support skills, including effective chest compressions, use of a bag-mask device, and use of an AED
  • Recognition and early management of respiratory and cardiac arrest
  • Recognition and early management of peri-arrest conditions such as symptomatic bradycardia
  • Airway management
  • Related pharmacology
  • Management of ACS and stroke
  • Effective communication as a member and leader of a resuscitation team
ACLS Renewal (AHA Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)

The AHA’s ACLS course builds on the foundation of lifesaving BLS skills, emphasizing the importance of continuous, high-quality CPR. Reflects science and education from the American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC).

Who should take this course?

  • Healthcare professionals who either direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest or other cardiovascular emergencies and for personnel in emergency response
  • Attendees must have current ACLS and BLS card.

What does this course teach?

  • Basic life support skills, including effective chest compressions, use of a bag-mask device, and use of an AED
  • Recognition and early management of respiratory and cardiac arrest
  • Recognition and early management of peri-arrest conditions such as symptomatic bradycardia
  • Airway management
  • Related pharmacology
  • Management of ACS and stroke
  • Effective communication as a member and leader of a resuscitation team
AMLS (NAEMT Advanced Medical Life Support)

Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS) remains the gold standard of education for emergency medical assessment and treatment. Endorsed by the National Association of EMS Physicians, AMLS emphasizes the use of the AMLS Assessment Pathway, a systematic tool for assessing and managing common medical conditions with urgent accuracy.

In the third edition of AMLS, students learn to recognize and manage common medical crises through realistic case-based scenarios that challenge students to apply their knowledge to highly critical patients.  The course emphasizes the use of scene size-up, first impression, history, interactive group discussion on differential diagnosis and potential treatment strategies, and physical exam to systematically rule out and consider possibilities and probabilities in treating patients’ medical crises. The third edition AMLS library of patient simulations offers students an opportunity to apply critical thinking skills to a variety of patient presentations. Additional features include patient simulation monitor images and ECGs provided by iSimulate, to enhance students’ experience.

The course utilizes the AMLS textbook and course manual, and covers the following topics:

  • Respiratory disorders
  • Cardiovascular disorders
  • Shock
  • Sepsis
  • Neurological disorders
  • Endocrine/Metabolic disorders
  • Environmental emergencies
  • Infectious disease
  • Abdominal disorders
  • Toxicological emergencies
  • Exposure to hazardous materials

AMLS is a 16-hour course for EMTs, paramedics, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and physicians. Upon successful completion of the course, students receive a certificate of completion, a wallet card recognizing them as AMLS providers for 4 years, and 16 hours of CAPCE credit. 

AMLS is accredited by CAPCE and recognized by NREMT.

BLS (AHA Basic Life Support for HCP)

The AHA’s BLS course trains participants to promptly recognize several life-threatening emergencies, give high-quality chest compressions, deliver appropriate ventilations and provide early use of an AED. Reflects science and education from the American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC).

 

Who should take this course?

  • The AHA’s BLS Course is designed for healthcare professionals and other personnel who need to know how to perform CPR and other basic cardiovascular life support skills in a wide variety of in-facility and prehospital settings.

What does this course teach?

  • High-quality CPR for adults, children, and infants
  • The AHA Chain of Survival, specifically the BLS components
  • Important early use of an AED
  • Effective ventilations using a barrier device
  • Importance of teams in multirescuer resuscitation and performance as an effective team member during multirescuer CPR
  • Relief of foreign-body airway obstruction (choking) for adults and infants
BLS Renewal (AHA Basic Life Support for HCP)

 

The AHA’s BLS course trains participants to promptly recognize several life-threatening emergencies, give high-quality chest compressions, deliver appropriate ventilations and provide early use of an AED. Reflects science and education from the American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC).

 Who should take this course?

  • The AHA’s BLS Course is designed for healthcare professionals and other personnel who need to know how to perform CPR and other basic cardiovascular life support skills in a wide variety of in-facility and prehospital settings.

What does this course teach?

  • High-quality CPR for adults, children, and infants
  • The AHA Chain of Survival, specifically the BLS components
  • Important early use of an AED
  • Effective ventilations using a barrier device
  • Importance of teams in multirescuer resuscitation and performance as an effective team member during multirescuer CPR
  • Relief of foreign-body airway obstruction (choking) for adults and infants
EMT (Emergency Medical Technician - Basic)

The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course prepares the student to provide prehospital assessment and care for patients of all ages with a variety of medical conditions and traumatic injuries. Areas of study include an introduction to emergency medical services systems, roles and responsibilities, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, medical emergencies, traumatic injuries, special considerations for working in the prehospital setting, and providing patient transportation

Course Objectives:

At the completion of this course the student shall be able to:

• Describe the role of EMS in the health care system.

• Demonstrate the professional attributes expected of EMTs.

• Perform the roles and responsibilities of an EMT regarding personal safety and wellness, as well as the safety of others.

• Perform the duties of an EMT with regard for medical-legal and ethical issues, including functioning under medical direction and within the scope of practice.

• Apply principles of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, life span development, and therapeutic communications to the assessment and management of patients.

• Identify the need for and perform immediately lifesaving interventions to manage a patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation.

• Assess and manage patients of all ages with a variety of complaints, medical conditions, and traumatic injuries.

• Apply principles of emergency medical services operations, including considerations in ambulance and air medical transportation, multiple-casualty incidents, gaining access to and extricating patients, hazardous materials incidents, and responding to situations involving weapons of mass destruction.

 

Heartsaver CPR for Community Members

The AHA’s Heartsaver CPR AED Course is designed for anyone with little or no medical training who needs a course completion card for their job, regulatory (e.g., OSHA), or other requirements, or anyone who wants to be prepared for an emergency in any setting.

Heartsaver First Aid and CPR for Community Members

The AHA’s Heartsaver (First Aid and/or CPR AED) Course is designed for anyone with little or no medical training who needs a course completion card for their job, regulatory (e.g., OSHA), or other requirements, or anyone who wants to be prepared for an emergency in any setting.

You will learn:

First Aid Module

  • First aid basics
  • Medical emergencies
  • Injury emergencies
  • Environmental emergencies
  • Preventing illness and injury
  • Opioid-associated life-threatening emergencies

CPR AED Module

  • Adult CPR and AED use
Heartsaver First Aid for Community Members

The Heartsaver First Aid course trains participants first aid basics for the most common first aid emergencies, including how to recognize them, how to call for help, and how to perform lifesaving skills. Reflects science and education from the American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) and the 2015 AHA/Red Cross Guidelines for First Aid.

Who should take this course?

The AHA Heartsaver First Aid Course is designed for anyone with limited or no medical training who needs a course completion card in first aid to meet job, regulatory, or other requirements.

What does this course teach?

  • First aid basics
  • Medical emergencies
  • Injury emergencies
  • Environmental emergencies
  • Preventing illness and injury
NAEMT - Emergency Pediatric Care (EPC)

The Emergency Pediatric Care (EPC) course focuses on critical pediatric physiology, illnesses, injuries and interventions to help EMS practitioners provide the best treatment for sick and injured children in the field.  The course stresses critical thinking skills to help practitioners make the best decisions for their young patients.

 

Topics covered include:

 

  • The pathophysiology of the most common critical pediatric emergency issues, and critical thinking skills to help practitioners make the best decisions for their patients.
  • Application of the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT), a tool to help EMS practitioners rapidly and accurately assess pediatric patients.
  • The importance of family-centered care.
  • Understanding and communicating with children.
  • Airway management, breathing and oxygenation.
  • Cardiac emergencies.
  • Recognizing child abuse and neglect.
  • Hypoperfusion and shock.
  • Newborn resuscitation.

 

EPC is appropriate for EMTs, paramedics, emergency medical responders, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians. EPC is accredited by CAPCE and recognized by NREMT.

NAEMT - EMS Safety

NAEMT’s 3rd edition EMS Safety course teaches students how to protect themselves and their patients while on the job. It promotes a culture of safety and helps reduce the number of on-the-job fatalities and injuries. EMS Safety is the only national, comprehensive safety course for EMS practitioners. Its interactive format features real-life case studies and compelling discussions on current safety issues, and provides students with a forum to share their own experiences. Course activities allow students to apply critical thinking and best safety practices to EMS scenarios. 

Students are taught to:

  • Identify and manage the hazards that can appear during daily tasks, from offensive drivers to violent encounters to chronic stress.
  • Describe and apply the principles of crew resource management in EMS.
  • Apply techniques to maintain safe vehicle operations.
  • List and assess strategies to apply in the field that improve patient safety.
  • Identify strategies to ensure practitioner safety.
  • Strengthen resilience skills and focus on personal health to combat both chronic and critical incident stress.

Topics covered include:

  • How safety impacts patients and practitioners, from maintaining a culture of safety in changing situations to communication and documentation strategies.
  • Crew resource management in EMS, modeling effective communication, maintaining situational awareness, and a being an effective member of a team.
  • Emergency vehicle safety including maintenance and inspection considerations, responsibilities of due regard, defensive driving techniques, and common causes of vehicle collisions and strategies to avoid them.
  • Safety in the roadway, including multi-agency pre-planning, vehicle and practitioner visibility techniques, and defensive staging practices.
  • Patient safety, strategies to identify and prevent common patient errors, just culture, and safe handling techniques for all patients.
  • Practitioner safety, situational awareness, and verbal, physical, and chemical techniques to deescalate potential threats.
  • Injury and infection prevention and control.
  • Practitioner personal health, resilience skills, and ensuring personal readiness for the daily challenges and hazards of working in the field.

EMS Safety is offered as an 8-hour classroom course and is appropriate for all levels of EMS practitioners, other medical professionals providing prehospital patient care, and EMS supervisors and administrators. Students who successfully complete the course receive a certificate of completion and a wallet card good for 4 years. EMS Safety is accredited by CAPCE and recognized by NREMT.

PALS Renewal (AHA Pediatric Advance Life Support)

PALS is geared towards healthcare providers who respond to emergencies in infants and children and for personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care and critical care units.

Who should take this course?

  • Healthcare professionals who either direct or participate in the management of emergencies in infants and children.
  • Attendees must have current BLS for HCP CPR card.

What does this course teach?

  • Includes realistic, clinical scenarios that encourage active participation – delivered through actual pediatric patient videos and lifelike simulations
  • Comprehensive and includes our systematic approach to assess and treat pediatric patients in emergency situations
  • Hands-on class format to reinforce skills proficiency
  • Co-branded with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
  • Basic life support skills, including effective chest compressions, use of a bag-mask device, and use of an AED
  • Recognition and early management of respiratory and cardiac arrest
  • Airway management
  • Related pharmacology
  • Effective communication as a member and leader of a resuscitation team
Paramedic Program Application

Paramedic Program Application - Applications due by September 1, 2026

 

This is your first step to applying for the Paramedic Program at VEMSA. Upon submitting this portion of the application your non-refundable application fee of $200 will be processed. Please note that applying does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Within 3 business days a member of our team will reach out to you and go over the next steps in the process. Below are our entrance requirements and required documentation that you'll need as we move through the application process.

 

Entrance Requirements

  • 18 years of age and;
  • Driver's License and;
  • Hold a high school diploma or equivalent and;
  • Meet the technical standards for Paramedic (listed below);
  • Currently certified National Registry EMT or AEMT and maintain throughout the length of the program. **If you are not currently an EMT please contact us at 802-246-1352 about our Summer Intensive EMT Program that will prepare you for enrollment in the fall paramedic program.**
  • AHA BLS CPR maintained throughout the length of the program
  • Read/write on a 12th-grade level

 

Technical Standards Required

This program is committed to providing an inclusive and supporting learning environment while ensuring all students meet the essential competencies required for safe and effective practice as paramedics. To successfully complete the program and enter the field, students must demonstrate the physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities necessary to meet the demands of emergency medical care.  

 

The following technical standards outline the abilities and skills required of all students entering the program as recommended by the US Department of Labor: 

 

·         Communication Skills – Paramedics must listen to patients describe their injuries and illnesses and to dispatchers and others conveying information. They also need to provide clear instruction and explain procedures. 

·         Compassion – Paramedics must be able to coordinate activities with other members of their team. They also interact with a variety of people when responding to calls for assistance. 

·         Interpersonal Skills – Paramedics must be able to coordinate activities with other members of their team. They also interact with a variety of people when responding to calls for assistance.  

·         Physical Strength – Paramedics must be comfortable bending, lifting, and kneeling over the course of their shift. 

·         Problem-Solving skills – Paramedics must evaluate patients' symptoms and determine the appropriate treatment.  

 

Required documents that will be needed as you move through the application process. This will be discussed more with you during the initial phone call:

  • High School Diploma/GED/High education certification
  • NREMT/AEMT Certification
  • AHA BLS CPR
  • ICS 100
  • ICS 200
  • ICS 700
  • Hazmat Awareness
  • Driver’s License
  • Two (2) professional letters of recommendation – head of service, supervisor, medical director, etc.
  • 50 patient contacts verified by your Head of Service

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Contact Us

Vermont EMS Academy (VEMSA)
 1096 VT Rt 30
Newfane, VT 05345

phone (802) 246-1352

Thank you for considering VEMSA for your next course. If you need to register using a PO or check please contact us at 802-246-1352 for assistance. 

 

 

 

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