Emergency Medical Services Certificate of Professional Preparation

When lives are on the line and time is of the essence, competent leadership and effective management are integral parts of a successful emergency response. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Certificate of Professional Preparation trains bachelor’s degree holders to become the confident leaders and educators with a background in emergency medicine that are needed to help shape the future of EMS. With a curriculum modeled on the federal Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) recommended course learning outcomes, this program prepares students for the real-world demands of EMS and provides opportunity for career advancement.

Related Programs

Getting Started: Fall Term

Aug. 19:  Application


Aug. 26:  Classes Begin

Other Important Dates »

Why Seminole State?

  • Unique program: One-of-a-kind degree for Central Florida geared to train future leaders across a variety of agencies
  • Industry-driven curriculum: Courses developed with input from the regional public safety community
  • Online degree: Degree offered 100% online, so you can study when and where you want 
  • Dedicated faculty: Quality instruction from faculty with industry experience as well as academic credentials
  • Affordable tuition: Significantly lower costs than Florida's universities
  • Small class sizes: most classes have fewer than 30 students.

Additional Information

Emergency Medical Services
Type: Certificate of Professional Preparation
Major Code: EMS-BC
CIP: 5556004120

Program Description

Available Course Course Not Offered Spring 2025
This course introduces the student to the risk management principles of an EMS agency. Students will focus on safety from the perspective of the field provider.
This course is for students interested in the practice and principles of emergency medical services systems management and the processes that contribute to the effectiveness of day-to-day operations within an EMS organization. This course introduces the EMS professional to topics that include government structure, strategic planning, injury prevention, risk management and safety, customer service, human resources management, financial management, fleet management, career development, quality management, data collection and research labor relations and special operations.
This course introduces the student to the value of quality management principles in an EMS agency. Included will be an introduction to the benefits of quality improvement, an overview of the history of quality in EMS and methods of measuring quality in EMS.
This course is for students interested in the legal, political and regulatory environment of EMS. This course introduces the EMS professional to the legal aspects of Emergency Medical Services. Students explore issues in malpractice, consent and refusal of treatment, OSHA, employment issues and risk management. EMS students gain insight into the legal liabilities in Emergency Medical Services.
This course is an overview of the design and operation of EMS systems, delivery of services, and the echelons of care. The history of EMS, the interface of public and private organizations and review of the various personnel who comprise these systems will be examined in relation to their impact on the healthcare delivery system.
This course introduces the Fire or EMS professional to the benefits of community information and community relations. Students explore issues in marketing, crafting the message, identifying the audience, developing programs and creating press releases. This course includes a theoretical framework for the understanding of the ethical, sociological, organizational, political and legal components of community risk reduction and a methodology for the development of a comprehensive community risk reduction plan.
This is an upper-level baccalaureate course for students interested in the theory and practice of EMS education.
Total Credits: 21

Your tuition shouldn’t go against your intuition.

Your pursuit of higher education is admirable. So why struggle with high tuition in the process? Here we make life’s next steps affordable. Whether you’re seeking a university transfer (A.A.) degree, a four-year bachelor’s, an Associate in Science degree or even earning a post-baccalaureate certificate, you’ll find reasonable tuition and payment plans that make sense.

Go For Less.

Tuition and Fees*


Seminole State
Tuition and Fees$1,799
Room and Board-0-
Books and Supplies$500
Total$2,299

For more information on Seminole State's tuition and fees, please see the current fee schedule.

* Tuition costs are based on 15 total credit hours for this program in the current term for in-state students. Book expenses are estimates and may vary by course. Lab fees and other fees that may assessed at the time of registration may be viewed in the College fee schedule. As Seminole State is a commuter college with no residence halls on its campuses, costs for room and board are not calculated.