Virginia Beach Schools with EMT Programs
Students in the Virginia Beach area only have a few school options for EMT training programs. They can study at two community colleges within a 45-minute drive of downtown. This article looks at those schools and the certificate and degree programs in emergency medicine they offer. All these programs meet state and national certification requirements. Also, check out a table of information about the schools, such as tuition, size and graduation rates, which could be useful to someone considering which school might be the best fit.
- Thomas Nelson Community College offers basic and intermediate-to-paramedic EMT certificate programs as well as an associate's degree in emergency medical services. This school is about 37 miles from downtown Virginia Beach.
- Just about 19 miles from Virginia Beach's city center, Tidewater Community College provides EMT-intermediate and EMT-paramedic certificate programs as well an associate's degree program in emergency medical services.
Comparison of Schools
This table provides information that can help individuals who are deciding on a school, presented in a way that makes it easy to compare the institutions.
| Thomas Nelson Community College | Tidewater Community College | |
|---|---|---|
| School Type | 2-year, public | 2- year, public |
| Total Enrollment (2021) | 5,832* | 16,797* |
| Campus Setting | Midsize city | Midsize city |
| Tuition and Fees (2022-2023) | $4,806 in-state; $10,809 out-of-state* | $5,561 in-state; $11,564 out-of-state* |
| % of First-Year Students Receiving Any Form of Aid (2020-2021) | 61%* | 63%* |
| Acceptance Rate (2021) | N/A - Open admission | N/A - Open admission |
| Retention Rate (Students Who Began Their Studies in Fall 2020 and Returned in Fall 2021) | 62% for full-time students; 40% for part-time students* | 57% for full-time students; 39% for part-time students* |
| Graduation Rate for Students Who Began in 2018 | 28% (14% transfer-out rate)* | 26% (14% transfer-out rate)* |
Source: *NCES College Navigator.
Thomas Nelson Community College
In addition to classroom-based training, some courses in the EMT programs provide laboratory components for hands-on skills development. All programs require students to participate in professional training through clinical work.
Emergency Medical Services: Basic Certificate
This program requires students to complete 9 credit hours of coursework. In addition to completing the EMT - Basic course and clinical requirement, students need to pass a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course. This program is tasked with preparing students for state and national EMT - Basic certification.
Emergency Medical Services: Intermediate to Paramedic Certificate
A minimum of 20 credit hours are needed to complete this program, which is intended for students who currently hold licensure as intermediate EMTs. Courses include advanced life support, pathophysiology, pharmacology and advanced patient assessment. This program was designed to prepare graduates to take the certification exams to become paramedics.
Associate in Applied Science in Emergency Medical Services
All of the courses found in the EMT certificate programs are required in this program. Students will need to complete 66 credit hours in total to finish this program. Those who enter the program already holding EMT certification can jump straight into the paramedic-level courses, while students without current certification will need to take a few basic EMT courses first.
Tidewater Community College
This school's EMT programs feature in-class training and corresponding laboratory course components. Additional clinical experience and internships are required for students to develop hands-on skills.
Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate Certificate
This program requires students to have EMT - Basic certification prior to enrollment. Students who graduate from this 19-credit-hour program can take national and state EMT - Intermediate certification exams. Courses include special populations, advanced life support, medical care, ECG recognition and trauma care.
Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic Certificate
Students enrolling in this program need to be EMT - Intermediate certified. This program covers topics in patient assessment techniques, operations, pharmacology, professional development, trauma care and special populations. This program requires 28 credit hours of coursework. After finishing this program, students can sit for the national EMT - Paramedic certification exam.
Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Medical Services
This program consists of the same courses featured in this school's EMT certificate programs. Students also need to pass general education courses to meet the 66-credit-hour requirement.
