General Information
The deadline for registering is January 10, 2019. The class is full as of 1/2/19; if you registered on or after 12/23/18 you are on the waitlist (see FAQ below for how this works).
An EMT-B certification opens the door to many opportunities. Many students who take our class want real clinical experience before pursuing higher education in the medical field. Often, they work as EMS volunteers or as paid EMS providers. Other students take our class for their own professional research purposes, or to increase their preparedness in case of an emergency. Some challenge the state Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) exam to pursue another certification and employment opportunities. The EMT-B certification is the first step for many.
We have been teaching at UNC for 14 years and enjoy teaching to the unique and driven population that the campus offers. We teach at a higher level than the US Department of Transportation requires, and the graduates of our program have a near 100% first-time pass rate on the North Carolina EMT-B Certification Exam and the National Registry EMT Exam.
Our EMS program provides clinical opportunities for our students. As a required part of the course, you will ride on a local ambulance or fire truck to apply the skills you learn in class. This allows our students to take their skills outside the classroom as well as network with local emergency response agencies. To be eligible to participate in the required clinical, you must pass a drug screen and criminal background check. These will be conducted confidentially through a third party and will require a nominal cost.
Current Course
We are gearing up for the Spring 2019 semester and hope to see you in our class!
Spring 2019
When: January 10, 2019 – April 27, 2019 //Tues and Thurs Nights (6 PM – 10 PM) and 4-5 Saturdays (Clinical extension through June 30, 2019)
Where: UNC Campus (Phillips Hall Room 265)
Cost: $600.00 + $105.00 (Criminal Background Check, Drug Screening, & Document Verification)
Click on the Register button start the registration process.
Prerequisites/Requirements
- High School Diploma OR GED
- Acceptable Documents
- Copy/Picture of High School Diploma
- Copy/Picture of Bachelor or Higher Diploma
- Copy of High School Transcript Showing Graduation
- Letter from High School Confirming Graduation Date
- Acceptable Documents
- ACERIP Photo Release
- ACERIP Liability Waiver
- Criminal Background Check & Drug Test
- Laptop Computer/Tablet w/ Access to the UNC Network
FAQs
Q: Are there any prerequisites for your program?
A: You do not have to have any prior medical experience or coursework in order to take our class. However, a course in Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL 252, PHYI 202, EXSS 175 and 276, or equivalent) would be very beneficial to have. The only requirement, per NC OEMS Standards, is having a High School or GED diploma. See the above list of Prerequisites/Requirements for the acceptables forms of this documentation.
Q: Do I have to be an actively enrolled UNC student to take this course?
A: No
Q: How much does the course cost?
A: The course costs $600.00. This covers tuition, supplies, liability insurance for clinical, uniform rental, ACERIP membership fee, and the American Heart Association CPR for Healthcare Providers certification. You will need to purchase the required textbooks on your own. As a non-affiliated teaching institution we are solely dependent on student tuition to maintain the program. After completion of our program, you will be able to take the North Carolina State Board exam for your EMT-B license.
Q: Is financial aid available?
A: ACERIP competitively offers full financial scholarships to students who meet the designated criteria. See the Scholarship Application for details. University financial aid is not applicable.
Q: Do I have to pay for the entire course at one time?
A: You can register for the course and hold off on payment, however, depending on interest, the course may quickly fill up. Students who have paid the full tuition and met all the other registration requirements are given first priority for seating. Once the course is filled, students with later or pending registrations are placed on a wait list for admission.
Q: Can I get a refund if I decide to drop the course after being admitted to the course?
A: Students dropping the course prior to the third scheduled class (weekends included) will receive a 100% refund of tuition and fees minus a $50 registration fee. After that, no refunds are issued for any reason. Students who are academically dismissed from class will not be eligible for a refund. They will be required to pay the full tuition and fees again if they choose to take the class at a later date.
Q: Why do I have to complete a background check and a drug test?
A: Many formal courses in healthcare involve a clinical education component. Sites where you complete this clinical education often require a criminal background check and drug screening before being able to interact with and assess live patients.
Q: If I am a full-time student, how do I balance this class with my other classes?
A: Treat this class as a 4 credit hour UNC course (class + lab). Add that to your normal semester workload in order to see if you go above the overload threshold (18 credit hours). This course is Pass/Fail, but you need to maintain an 80% cumulative average throughout the class in order to stay enrolled. This course does not count towards University graduation requirements and is not printed on your transcript.
Q: I got waitlisted. What are the chances I’ll get in?
A: It varies but on average approximately 5-10% of students who were initially approved, opt not to take the course by the third scheduled class. Waitlisted students will be offered spots in the order in which they initially registered. To be eligible for a slot, waitlisted students must attend the first 2 classes and will be notified of acceptance as spots become available.
Q: Are my tuition and other associated costs (e.g. background check/drug screen) refundable if I am waitlisted and do not get into the course?
A: Tuition is fully refundable. Other costs are not refundable.
Q: What is the course schedule?
A: This course follows the UNC schedule; meaning, the course will be in session for the duration of the UNC semester. We will not hold class on University holidays or breaks. The course meets Tuesday and Thursday evening (6 PM – 10 PM) and occasionally on weekends (4-5 per semester); for summer courses, we reduce the number of weekends by meeting Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. We will not hold class if the university closes for inclement weather or other circumstances, but due to the State Office of EMS requirements, any missed hours will have to be rescheduled and made up.
Q: Do I have to be present for the clinical extension period?
A: The course includes a clinical extension period that extends after the didactic/classroom portion of the class has ended. During the clinical extension period, students will continue to attend clinical shifts to meet their clinical requirements. Residency in the Chapel Hill area for the clinical extension period is mandatory. Given the state requirements for when clinicals can commence, it is highly unlikely that students will be able to complete the clinical component by the conclusion of the didactic portion of the course.
Q: How do I become a certified provider in NC or elsewhere?
A: After successful completion of the course, you will be eligible to take the North Carolina EMS State Certification exam and/or the National Registry exam for additional costs. All state exams are computer-based and scheduled at a third party testing site through Castle Worldwide. You will receive an email from Castle Worldwide once you have been graded in the state Continuum system. Current cost for the NC state certification exam is $64.00.
Currently, students who do not pass the state exam in their first 3 attempts, may take a refresher course and scope of practice test giving them 3 additional attempts at the state exam. All attempts must be completed within 18 months from their course-graded date in Continuum.
Instructions and fees for scheduling a National Registry exam can be accessed at the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians website, nremt.org Students wishing to take the National Registry exam may take the exam within two years from their course graded date in the state certification site, Continuum. Be aware, however, that the Technical Scope of Practice conducted during your EMT course is only good for one year. Students who take the National Registry exam after the 1 year window will need to retake a registry approved scope of practice test in order to obtain registry certification. This may be arranged through ACERIP for a $100 testing fee
Students wishing to take the National Registry exam must first create a profile on the NREMT website and then wait for approval by the EMS program director. Please send an email to the ACERIP Program Director to request approval to test once your profile has been completed. Once your successful course completion has been verified, you will be able to schedule an exam date.
It is recommended that all students take the NC OEMS state exam. Students who wish to practice outside of NC are encouraged to review the reciprocity requirements of the particular state in which they wish to practice. Every state has their own requirements. Many states accept successful completion of the National Registry Exam for reciprocal certification in that state. Additionally, National Registry certification may enhance your application for an EMS position. Note that NC certification is good for 4 years while NREMT is limited to 2 years.
Q: How do I Maintain my Certification?
A: North Carolina requires that certified EMTs complete a specific number of continuing education hours covering specific topics in order to renew their credential. For students who are not affiliated with an EMS agency, this can be difficult. ACERIP currently offers con ed at a reduced cost to ACERIP graduates on a monthly basis. This enables our students to meet all or some of the continuing education requirements for renewal depending on how many and which sessions are attended.
