Class Schedule

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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
AHA - PEARS Course (Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization)

The AHA’s PEARS (Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization) Course has been updated to reflect science in the 2015 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC. In this classroom-based, Instructor-led course, students learn how to use a systematic approach to quickly assess, recognize the cause, and stabilize a pediatric patient in an emergency situation.

During PEARS, students interact with real patient cases, and realistic simulations and animations to assess and stabilize pediatric patients experiencing respiratory and shock emergencies, and cardiopulmonary arrest. PEARS prepares students to provide appropriate lifesaving interventions within the initial minutes of response until a child can be transferred to an advanced life support provider.

 Who should take this course?

The AHA’s PEARS Course is designed for healthcare providers and others who might encounter pediatric emergency situations during their work, including:

  • Physicians and nurses not specializing in pediatrics
  • Nurse practitioners
  • Physician assistants
  • EMTs,
  • Respiratory therapists
  • Prehospital and in-facility healthcare providers (outside of critical-care areas)
  • Outpatient clinic staff
  • School-based providers
  • Any other healthcare provider who infrequently sees critically ill or injured infants and children

What does this course teach?

  • Systematic pediatric assessment
  • Recognition and stabilization of respiratory emergencies
  • Recognition and stabilization of shock emergencies
  • Recognition and stabilization of cardiopulmonary arrest
  • Resuscitation team concept

Course Completion Card

Students who successfully complete the PEARS Course will receive a PEARS Provider course completion card (print or eCard), valid for 2 years. Course completion requirements include:

  • Active participation in the case discussions
  • Active participation in the rescue breathing skills station and cardiac arrest case simulations
  • Pass the skills tests in 1- and 2-rescuer child BLS with AED and 1- and 2-rescuer infant BLS
  • Pass the video-based written exam with a minimum score of 84%

 

 
 
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
Corp - Heartsaver CPR and First Aid
Critical Care Refresher

This is an IBSC and CAPCE approved Critial Care Refresher Course for FP-C an CCP-C. Textbook is included in the cost of the course. This 2 day course consist of both didactive sessions as well as practical sessions in our SIM-Lab. You must attend both days to get credit for the course.

Satisfies IBSC requirement for approved refresher as part of your 100 hours of CEUs.

Emergency Services Leadership Bootcamp - Jon Politis

We are so excited to be able to offer this excellent course presented by Jon Politis.

Congratulations! You’ve been promoted to officer or supervisor…now what? Any experienced supervisor/officer will tell you that it takes years to learn the art of leading people. But first, you will need some skills to shorten your learning curve and survive! This acclaimed workshop has been presented to fire and EMS providers across the country and at many national conferences such as EMS Today and EMS World. It’s s a powerful and interactive program intended to ease the sometimes painful transition to leadership. Using “real world” experience and highly interactive case studies, this 16 hours of training for “boots on the ground” leaders that you can’t afford to miss... 

Day #1- Becoming an Effective Leader 

  • Evolving from “follower to leader” 
  • Common pitfalls 
  • Responsibilities of the “front line” leader 
  • Communication and conflict resolution 
  • Understanding personalities and generational differences 

Day #2 - Ethics, Coaching and Improving Performance 

  • Ethical issues in leadership 
  • Coaching and improving performance 
  • Understanding and using a Just Culture framework 
  • Non-destructive corrective action
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.

 

GEMS

NAEMT’s Geriatric Education for EMS course prepares prehospital practitioners to respond to, assess, and care for this fast-growing patient population. This third edition of the course strengthens and enhances practitioners’ ability to provide the best care for older adults in every community.

The GEMS course helps EMS practitioners learn to conduct a comprehensive assessment of geriatric patients. Be­cause the aging process affects all body systems, NAEMT’s course provides an overview of changes that occur as people age and describes how those changes can impact patient pre­sentation.  Incorporation of the GEMS Diamond (Geriatric, Environmental, Medical, and Social assessments) can help practitioners formulate a holistic diagnostic and treatment approach.

The third edition of GEMS addresses the following topics:

  • Changes with age and assessment of the older patient
  • Polypharmacy and Toxicity in Older Patients
  • Respiratory Emergencies
  • Cardiovascular Emergencies
  • Trauma
  • Other Medical Disorders
  • Neurologic Emergencies
  • Elder Maltreatment and Psychosocial Emergencies
  • End-of-Life and Palliative Care
  • Disaster Triage and Transporting Older Patients
  • Left Ventricular Assist Devices
  • Skin Disorders
  • Ventilators
  • Urinary Catheter and Colostomy Bag Care
  • Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

The 8-hour course is appropriate for EMTs, paramedics, emergency medical responders, nurses, physician assistants and physicians. GEMS is accredited by CAPCE and recognized by NREMT.

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
PALS (AHA Pediatric Advanced 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
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
PHTLS - Prehospital Trauma Life Support

Prehospital Trauma Life Support - 16 Hour In-person Class

Course Philosophy

NAEMT's Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) is recognized around the world as the leading continuing education program for prehospital emergency trauma care. The mission of PHTLS is to promote excellence in trauma patient management by all providers involved in the delivery of prehospital care. PHTLS is developed by NAEMT in cooperation with the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma. The Committee provides the medical direction and content oversight for the PHTLS program.

PHTLS courses improve the quality of trauma care and decrease mortality. The program is based on a philosophy stressing the treatment of the multi-system trauma patient as a unique entity with specific needs. PHTLS promotes critical thinking as the foundation for providing quality care. It is based on the belief that, given a good fund of knowledge and key principles, EMS practitioners are capable of making reasoned decisions regarding patient care. The course utilizes the internationally recognized PHTLS textbook and covers the following topics:

• Physiology of life and death

• Scene assessment

• Patient assessment

• Airway

• Breathing, ventilation and oxygenation

• Circulation, hemorrhage and shock

• Patients with disabilities

• Patient simulations

PHTLS is the global gold standard in prehospital trauma education and is taught in 64 countries. PHTLS is appropriate for EMTs, paramedics, nurses, physician assistants, physicians, and other prehospital providers. PHTLS is accredited by CAPCE and recognized by NREMT.

Delivey Format

Provider Course: 16-hour course for EMTs, paramedics, nurses, physician assistants, physicians and other prehospital providers. Upon successful completion of the course, students receive a certificate of completion, a wallet card recognizing them as PHTLS providers for 4 years, and 16 hours of CAPCE credit.

Methodology

Teaching-learning methods in this course build upon cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains.

Course Textbook

PHTLS: Prehospital Trauma Life Support - Ninth Edition

Program Tuition

The program tuition is $300.00.

Class Size

The program is limited to 15 registrants. Priority will be given to applicants currently affiliated with a Vermont licensed EMS agency.

Program Location

All sessions unless otherwise denoted will occur at the following location: Vermont EMS Academy (VEMSA) 1096 Route 30, Newfane Vermont 05345

Program Schedule

A program syllabus is published embedded in this document which includes didactic, psychomotor, and testing activities scheduled throughout the program.

Course Equipment/Supplies

All materials will be provided to class participants at no charge.

Course Attendance Policy

Prompt arrival is expected at all class activities. It is the student’s responsibility to sign all attendance rosters. Student attendance is required at all didactic, psychomotor, and exam activities

Swiftwater Rescue Technician (SRT)

The SRT course is taught by experience instructors who not only teach but actively responded to rescues. This course provides rescuers with the fundamentals of survival in moving water. It's recommended for anyone who may respond to in-water rescues. Students will gain knowledge in hydrology and river classifications, size-up, site control and scene management. Practical skills for this course include self-rescue, swiftwater swimming and the fundamentals of shore, boat and in-water rescues. Students will also be introduced to basic boat handling and rope rescue.

Contact hours

24 hours

Prerequisites

  • Minimum age: 18
  • Confident Swimmer

Qualification valid for

3 years

 

TECC - Tactical Emergency Casualty Care

The 2nd edition of NAEMT's Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) course teaches EMS practitioners and other prehospital providers how to respond to and care for patients in a civilian tactical environment.

The course presents the three phases of tactical care and integrates parallel EMS nomenclature:

  • Hot Zone/Direct Threat Care that is rendered while under attack or in adverse conditions.
  • Warm Zone/Indirect Threat Care that is rendered while the threat has been suppressed but may resurface at any point.
  • Cold Zone/Evacuation Care that is rendered while the casualty is being evacuated from the incident site. 

The 16-hour classroom course includes all new patient simulations and covers the following topics:

  • Hemorrhage control including immediate action drills for tourniquet application throughout the course;
  • Complete coverage of the MARCH assessment;
  • Surgical airway control and needle decompression;
  • Strategies for treating wounded responders in threatening environments;
  • Caring for pediatric patients;
  • Techniques for dragging and carrying victims to safety; and
  • A final, mass-casualty/active shooter event simulation.

NAEMT's TECC course is endorsed by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, is consistent with the current guidelines established by the Committee on TECC (Co-TECC), and meets all of the updated National Tactical Emergency Medical Support Competency Domains. This course is accredited by CAPCE for 16 hours of continuing education credit, and recognized by NREMT.

 

***THIS PROGRAM WILL COVER CONTENT THAT CAN BE VERY SENSITIVE. THERE WILL BE OPEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT RESPONSES TO VARIOUS SHOOTING SENARIOS AS WELL AS PICTURES OF TRAUMATIC INJURIES***

VEFR (Vermont Emergency First Responder)

For the Vermont EMS First Responder (VEFR) certification, the scope of practice is based upon the American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid, CPR & AED course. The primary focus of the Vermont EMS First Responder is to initiate immediate lifesaving care to critical patients. This individual possesses 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. Vermont EMS First Responders function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight. Vermont EMS First Responders perform basic interventions with minimal equipment.

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

  • Describe the role of a VEFR in the health care system.
  • Demonstrate the professional attributes expected of a VEFR.
  • Perform the roles and responsibilities of a VEFR regarding personal safety and wellness, as well as the safety of others.
  • Perform the duties of a VEFR with regard for medical-legal and ethical issues, including functioning under medical direction and within the scope of practice.
  • Vermont EMS First Responders perform basic interventions with minimal equipment. 

In order to be certified as a Vermont EMS First Responder you must be affiliated with a Vermont EMS Agency. Please contact VEMSA with any questions reguarding this.

 

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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