Certificate in EMT Basic
(10 Credit Hours)

(Ineligible for Federal Financial Aid)

Short-Term Emergency Medical Technician Basic Certificate Program Description

Prepares an EMT-Basic to stay on the forefront of prehospital field techniques and the advancing knowledge base of prehospital care.

This program is designed in a short-term format featuring hands-on, skills- based learning techniques in the UNM-Gallup Health Sciences Lab followed by clinical skills training in various healthcare settings specific to each course. A UNM Certificate is awarded upon successful completion of this program.

Short-Term Certificate Program requirements

Emergency Medical Technician- Basic: Consists of three required sections for a total of 10 credit hours. This consists of 8 credit hours of coursework/lecture (EMS 113), 2 credit hours of lab (EMS 142), and field clinical rotations with local EMS & Fire agencies along with local Emergency Department rotations. Students must complete all the following requirements to be eligibility for clinical by the assigned deadline:

  • Current Driver’s License or State issued ID
  • Health Insurance
  • Current Healthcare provider CPR
  • 10-Panel Drug test
  • Background
  • Immunizations (MMR, Tdap or Td, Varicella or Chicken Pox, Hep B Vaccines, Influenza, Tuberculosis Testing, COVID vaccines and boosters)

Short-Term Certificate Career and Educational Advancement Opportunities

Students may enroll in any of the allied health programs offered at UNM-Gallup as they build on basic skills required for the provision of care at various levels in the healthcare field. For example, EMTs are in demand by agencies providing emergency services including ambulance services and fire departments. The basic skills learned in the EMT-Basic program are enhanced in the EMT-Intermediate classes and clinical settings and prepare students to sit for the New Mexico and National Registry exam and for emergency services agencies. Prospective paramedic students may be advised to take the EMT Basic and EMT-Intermediate programs prior to enrolling in the bachelor’s paramedic program. Students who intend to transfer to a four-year college or university may enroll in the associate of science in Emergency Medical Services which provides the academic core required for a bachelor’s program. For more information, students should confer with an advisor.

Short-Term Certificate Program Learning Goals

The health sciences programs provide students with quality instruction in preparation for successful employment in and entry-level health field. All course syllabi include course learning objectives indicating the skills and behaviors the student should know and be able to perform upon successful completion of each course in the program. Upon successful completion of the required courses for each health science program, our students will demonstrate:

  1. Workplace skills specific to healthcare careers.
  2. Knowledge of local, state, and federal guidelines that apply to the healthcare industry.
  3. Basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology.
  4. Knowledge of records documentation and basic medical terminology.
  5. Team-building and communications skills; the basics of a good work ethic; and successful job seeking strategies.
  6. Where applicable, students will be prepared for the certification exam specific to the course.

Emergency Medical Technician Basic: (10 Credits)

EMS 113EMT-Basic8
EMS 142EMT-Basic Lab2

Students must attend an EMS Information Session for permission to register for the courseStudents will also need to see an advisor to customize their educational plans.