Admissions – Technical Standards

Admission Requirements

New Britain EMS Academy invites you to become familiar with our paramedic course admissions and technical standards.

  • A candidate must be able to read, write, and speak the English language.
  • A candidate must be 18 years of age by the start date of the program.
  • A candidate must be a high school graduate by the start date of the program.
  • A candidate must be free from all physical or mental impairments which would hamper his or her ability to complete all tasks assigned during the course of study.  Additional information on this matter may be viewed on the Technical Standards page.
  • A candidate must possess and maintain a current American Heart Association CPR Certification.
  • A candidate must possess and maintain a current CT Emergency Medical Technician Certification.
  • A candidate must submit to a background investigation.
  • A candidate must submit a Medical Documentation Form, completed by a physician, indicating the candidate is in good health and has up-to-date vaccines as required by Clinical Affiliates.
  • A candidate must provide a $75 Application Fee, complete the CCPEPC Online Application, and complete the CCPEPC Shadow Day Experience.

Technical Standards

Paramedic Role Review

There is nothing comparable to breaking the peaceful silence of the night with the unnerving sound of emergency sirens. Car accidents, heart attacks, childbirth, slips and falls, and gunshot wounds all require immediate medical attention. In these moments of crisis, emergency medical providers are prepared to provide necessary care and transport to the sick and injured.

Activation of emergency response begins with a phone call to a 911 dispatcher, who then relays the information to EMS. In some cases, fire or police may also be notified, as they may be responsible for assisting EMS with medical care or scene safety and security. Often working in pairs, EMTs and paramedics arrive to the location of the emergency and begin assessing the patient and the situation. They are trained in the preliminary management of all types of emergencies. EMS providers follow protocols and guidelines to maintain a standard of care that is consistent across services and locations. A physician at each local hospital provides medical direction and oversight, which may include online communication with EMS during an incident, as well as retrospective critique of decisions made during the emergency call. Once the patient is initially stabilized, he or she is transported by ambulance to a medical facility that has specific resources needed by that patient. Care is transferred to physicians and nurses in the emergency department. EMS providers are then required to provide written documentation regarding all aspects of that patient’s care.

Beyond these basic duties and expectations, responsibilities of EMS providers vary based on their level of training and qualification. The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) recognizes four different provider levels: Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), and Paramedic.

Paramedics, the highest-ranking emergency medical providers, assume the leadership role in the pre-hospital environment and have the largest scope of practice. In addition to fundamental care provided by all levels, paramedics can perform advanced airway management including endotracheal intubation, interpret electrocardiograms, administer oral and intravenous medications, and provide other life-saving interventions. The specific responsibilities of each paramedic vary by service, local medical direction, and state legislation.

Although the EMS profession has prestige and excitement, it is not without certain occupational hazards. EMTs and paramedics are at risk for exposure to communicable diseases such as Hepatitis B and AIDS, as well as violence from mentally unstable or combative patients. They must work in unfavorable conditions including poor weather and dim lighting. Physical injuries are probable, as there is considerable heavy lifting and moving of patients, as well as chronic exposure to loud noise. Finally, the emotional impact from dealing with distressed patients and life or death situations may be severe.

Many people find their place in healthcare in the streets of emergency medicine. The prospect of lending a helping hand to a lonely elderly man or saving the life of a child is remarkable. The profession is extremely rewarding, and as the educational expectations grow, the capabilities of paramedics are infinite.

References: US Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics – EMTs and Paramedics

Paramedic Role Essential Functions

The following information represents vital qualities and technical requirements for the paramedic student and entry-level paramedic graduate of the Central Connecticut Paramedic Education Program Consortium:

  1. Ability to demonstrate compassion and emotional support for patients experiencing extreme physical and/or mental illness.
  2. Ability to display respect for patients of all differing ages, ethnic or socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, and sexual orientations.
  3. Ability to interview patients, families, and bystanders to obtain information pertaining to illness and injury.
  4. Ability to demonstrate speaking skills necessary to explain procedures to patients, give orders, and relay information to others.
  5. Ability to aggregate, organize, and interpret all components of patient illness or injury, including a description of patient problem, additional health information available by healthcare facility record or home health record, and presenting physical findings.
  6. Ability to utilize interpersonal skills to coordinate care plans and extrication activities with partner or healthcare team.
  7. Ability to demonstrate problem-solving skills to adjust assessment and care plan for difficult or unforeseen circumstances.
  8. Ability to maintain composure and good judgment in stressful situations.
  9. Ability to converse by radio, phone, and in person with other healthcare professionals regarding status of a patient.
  10. Ability to read and comprehend healthcare information in English.
  11. Ability to document in English, by handwriting and typing, all relevant patient information in the form of a patient care report.
  12. Ability to perform all psychomotor skills requiring good manual dexterity and fine motor control.
  13. Ability to demonstrate physical strength to lift, carry, and balance patients of varying size and shape on ground level, uneven terrain, and stairs.
  14. Ability to function in a variety of environmental conditions including extreme heat, cold, and all forms of precipitation.
  15. Ability to conform to appropriate standards of dress, appearance, language, public behavior and all elements of professional demeanor.

ADA Compliance and Reasonable Requests

New Britain EMS Academy (NBEMSA) complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws providing for nondiscrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities. NBEMSA also provides reasonable accommodations for such individuals in accordance with these laws.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 has implications that pertain to licensure or certification.

The law permits testing that requires the use of sensory, manual or speaking skills where the tests are intended to measure essential functions of the profession. For example, an applicant with reading difficulties is required to take a written exam since the ability to read is an essential function of EMS. Exams are designed at least in part to measure the student’s ability to read. A second example is one dealing with skills proficiency validations that must be performed within established time frames. Performing a skill within established time frames is required because speed of performance is an integral part of patient care.  Both the ability to read and the ability to perform skills within time frames are essential functions for an EMS provider. Therefore, in EMS, a person with a disability may not be denied the opportunity to take an examination, but this person shall be required to take a written exam and pass the skills proficiency validations within established criteria.

The following specific points pertain to those involved in EMS training and education programs:

  • Students cannot be discriminated against on the basis of a disability in the offering of educational programs or services.
  • There can be no accommodation during screening, evaluation or course examinations that will compromise or fundamentally alter the evaluation of skills that are required to function safely and efficiently in the profession.
  • Students who have received an accommodation during the course need to fully understand that there is a separate process for requesting an accommodation for the written licensure exam and eligibility for an accommodation is determined on a case-by-case basis.  In other words, just because a student was allowed an accommodation during the course does not guarantee an accommodation for the National Registry Paramedic Licensing Exam.  

There are accommodations that are not allowed at NBEMSA because they are not in compliance with the essential job functions of an EMT or Paramedic. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Students are not allowed additional time for skills with specific time frames.
  • Obviously patients would suffer due to life threatening conditions in emergency situations if treatment were delayed.
  • Students are not allowed unlimited time to complete a written exam.
  • This request is not considered reasonable because a candidate should be able to complete a test within a finite amount of time.
  • Students will be allowed a maximum of 1.5 times the normal duration to complete written exams.
  • Students are not allowed to have written exams given by an oral reader.
  • The ability to read and understand small English print is an essential function of the profession, and written exams are designed, at least in part, to measure that ability.
  • Student must take all exams during the scheduled time, as a member of the enrolled class.
  • The ability to utilize knowledge on the spur of the moment is an essential task for EMTs and paramedics.
  • Exams are given to elicit immediate recall and understanding of emergency situations.
  • Students will be permitted a private space to take the exam.
  • Refer to the Grades, Exams, Assignments section of the Student Handbook for information regarding missed exams due to absences.
  • Students must answer all written test questions as written by the test maker.  No explanation of the question can be provided by the test proctor or any other individual.
  • Additional descriptions of test questions would not be a reasonable accommodation because reading and understanding written English is an essential part of EMS communication.
  • Student must be able to understand and converse in medical terms appropriate to the profession.

Because of the critical nature of the tasks needed in emergency situations, accommodation requests are considered very carefully, on a case by case basis. The safety and welfare of the community must be insured while providing full protection of the certification applicant’s right. The main question to be considered is: with the accommodation being requested, can this individual perform the essential functions of the job safely and efficiently?

Qualified individuals with disabilities may make requests for reasonable accommodation to the Program Director. On receipt of an accommodation request, the Program Director will meet with the requesting individual to discuss and identify the precise limitations resulting from the disability and the potential accommodation that NBEMSA might make to help overcome those limitations.

The Program Director, in conjunction with the Program Dean, and if necessary, appropriate management representatives identified as having a need to know, will determine the feasibility of the requested accommodation. NBEMSA will inform the student of the final decision on the accommodation request or on how to make the accommodation.

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