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Aims EMS students

Emergency Medical Services

Earn an EMS degree at Aims

Do you want to explore a career in emergency medical services? Are you an EMT looking to advance your EMS career? The Aims EMS associate degree program gives you a strong career foundation that you can build upon to become a paramedic or firefighter. Take your desire to help people in your community and earn a degree that can make you more marketable to potential employers.

The Aims Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Medical Services is a two-year program that includes:

Commonly known as an EMT degree, the Aims emergency medical services degree goes beyond the basic EMT certificate program, giving you general education courses and more in-depth EMS and fire science training, including an IV/IO course that gives you training many employers want. 

In this rigorous hands-on degree program, you'll train using state-of-the-art equipment at the Aims Public Safety Institute on the Aims Windsor Campus (take a video tour of the PSI).

Your EMS training at the PSI will include: 

  • Comprehensive study of anatomy and physiology in the classroom and lab sessions using a high-tech Anatomage virtual cadaver table
  • An advanced EMS simulation studio with lifelike patient simulators
  • State-of-the-art lab equipment
  • Working ambulances for hands-on training

Many fire departments require EMT certification as a condition of hiring, and the EMS degree program prepares you for the NREMT certification exam required for licensing in Colorado.

Wherever you want to work in EMS, the Aims A.A.S. in Emergency Medical Services program will give you the hands-on training, education and industry knowledge from experienced faculty to help you build a career in this exciting and rewarding field. 

Get Hands-on Skills Training in the Aims Emergency Medical Services Degree Program

The Aims EMS program is rigorous and competitive, with high student expectations. 

In this EMS degree program, you’ll study and gain skills in:

This program also includes a five-hour EMS internship and general education courses that can also apply toward earning a 2-year paramedic degree.

Depending on where you want to take your career, you can also choose between​​ ​​​​two elective paths that include clinical hours. Specialize in either advanced EMT or fire science coursework for a total of 13 credits to deepen your knowledge in those subject areas.

Build Career Skills by Earning EMS Certificates at Aims

Develop your skills from the ground up with EMS certificates ranging from emergency medical responder through paramedic-level training.

The Aims EMT and paramedic certificate programs are popular and fill up quickly, and these programs have detailed entrance requirements.

Note: the paramedic certificate program is only available to certified EMTs. 

  • EMT - Emergency Medical Responder Certificate
  • Emergency Medical Technician
  • Paramedic Certificate

Launch Your Career and Make a Difference in Your Community with an EMS Associate Degree

After earning your EMS degree, you’ll be ready to take the national EMT certification exam (NREMT) as either a basic or advanced EMT, depending on your elective coursework. Becoming a licensed EMT is also a prerequisite for applying to the paramedic program at Aims. The internship opportunities available with this emergency medical services associate degree make you much more marketable after graduation. 

Today's employers view a degree with additional training as a plus when considering new candidates. The Aims EMS associate degree program supports multiple potential career paths in emergency medical services and healthcare:

  • EMTs and Paramedics - EMTs can get even more training and a degree that makes you more marketable by earning an EMS degree. If you'd like to go on to become a paramedic, you can apply your general education courses from the EMS associate degree program toward earning a paramedic associate degree, which can help you stand out as a job candidate.
  • Firefighters - In addition to requiring EMT certification, fire departments are beginning to require a two-year degree to either hire or promote firefighters.
  • Pre-med and healthcare students - If you're a pre-med student or interested in working in healthcare, the emergency medical services degree program gives you hands-on education and training to support these career goals. 

Start your EMS career and work for employers such as:

  • Ambulance agencies
  • Clinical care organizations
  • Fire departments
  • EMS staffing agencies