Emergency Medical Services

In Virginia there are multiple levels of certification within the Emergency Medical Services. The entry level is Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), followed by Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). The Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad hosts Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification courses. Those who certified as an EMT can take additional training to become an Advanced EMT (AEMT). With additional training one can also reach the highest certification, Paramedic.

The Virginia Department of Health has a number of resources for those interested in becoming an Emergency Medical Services provider in Virginia. There are details about the various levels of certification, student resources, classes offered, and information about the Virginia EMS Scholarship.

EMT Certification Course

The Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad hosts Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) initial certification courses each spring, summer, and fall. The course is four months long and involves classroom lectures, hands-on training, on-line learning, and ride-alongs on rescue calls. The course is to prepare candidates to sit for the National Registry Cognitive Exam. When a candidate passes the exam they will be issued a full National Registry certification and Virginia certification as an Emergency Medical Technician, able to provide Basic Life Support (BLS). After passing the exam, there may be additional requirements, depending on the agency you plan to work or volunteer with, to become a cleared provider. BVRS requires a probationary period after passing the exam with additional training to practice the skills learned in the course under the direction of a preceptor.

The courses offered by BVRS have two options — a class meeting weekly in person, either on Monday or Wednesday evenings, or a class that is primarily online with four required weekends for in-person skills training. Students must be motivated and self-disciplined.

Attendance Policy

Per Virginia Emergency Medical Services Regulations 12 VAC5-31-1501:

A. Students must complete a minimum of 85% of the didactic and lab aspects of the course. Students are only allowed to miss a total of seventeen (17) hours of class (excused or unexcused). Any student missing more than seventeen (17) hours of class will be dropped from the course.

*Each class may have it’s own separate rules and regulations that students must follow to be allowed to test.


OPTION ONE

Weekly in-person meeting

This course meets weekly — one group of 15 students meets every Monday from 6:00 - 10:00 PM, and the other meets every Wednesday from 6:00 - 10:00 PM. At least 4 hours per week in online study is also required.

Max: 30 students, split into two groups.

Cost (as of 7/2023): $650 plus MyBradyLab Access (approx. $100)*

*Scholarship funding may be available through the Virginia Office of EMS.

Spring Dates: January 17 - May 1, 2024

Applications are now closed.

OPTION TWO

Hybrid class, hosted primarily online with 2-day Skill Weekends

Max: 30 students

This option is approximately 80% online, with the in-person skills done over several weekends. There are weekly online assignments with the skills weekends which are listed below. Students are required to have access to a reliable computer or tablet that is compatible with Public Safety Groups Navigate 2 Platform (Tested on Android, Apple, and Windows Platforms). Access to a reliable internet connection is also required to access the course materials, assignments, and documents. All participants must be 16 years of age or older on the first day of class and must have a current CPR card prior to the clinical time and maintain it throughout the course. If you need help finding a CPR certification course, you can contact the instructor if selected for the EMT class.

Skills Weekends: You must attend Saturday & Sunday from 8 am - 8 pm on designated skill weekends. Typically, the weekend skills sessions are be held once a month during the class session with two weekends in the last month to prepare for the exam.

Cost (as of 1/2024): $700 Class Tuition + Public Safety Group Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured 12th Edition (estimated cost $394.00) + FISDAP Access $32.00

*Scholarship funding may be available through the Virginia Office of EMS.

Winter Dates: January 5 through April 28.

Applications are now closed.


Upcoming future Courses:

  • Summer 2024

  • Fall 2024

  • Spring 2025


Want to get notifications when the next class is announced?