Mission Statement

The Emergency Services Department at Utah Valley University prepares practicing and future emergency service professionals through a program that balances technical skills, critical and ethical thinking, leadership, and effective communication. The department's programs address multiple emergency service educational needs, from professional certifications to degrees.

Degree programs and individual courses are designed to meet both state and national professional requirements, including those established by the Utah Fire Services Certification Council, the Utah Labor Commission, the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), the National Fire Academy (NFA), and the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG).

Emergency Services

• Department Chair: John Fisher
• Office: ES 202a
• Telephone: 801-863-7732
• Email:  john.fisher@uvu.edu

• Administrative Support: Patty Dewey
• Office: ES 202
• Telephone: 801-863-7753
• Email: patty.dewey@uvu.edu

• Recruit Candidate Academy: Andy Byrnes
• Office: ES 141
• Telephone: 801-863-7721
• Email:  byrnesan@uvu.edu

• Paramedic/EMT: Kevin McCarthy
• Office: ES 121a
• Telephone: 801-863-5689
• Email:  kmccarthy@uvu.edu

• Wildland Firefighting: Dan Cather
• Office: FS 205
• Telephone: 801-863-7423
• Email:  catherda@uvu.edu

• Institute for Emergency Services and Homeland Security: Gary Noll
• Office: ES 120
• Telephone: 801-863-7741
• Email:  Gary.Noll@uvu.edu

Advisors:

• Bonnie Lamb
•  
• Office: ES 217
• Telephone: 801-863-7793
• Email: Bonnie.Lamb@uvu.edu

• Mindy Swenson
• Office: ES 217
• Telephone: 801-863-5813
• Email:  swensomi@uvu.edu
•  

Web: www.uvu.edu/es

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

 Employment Outlook

Class Scheduling

Emergency Services classes are scheduled to meet the needs of traditional students and firefighters working various shift assignments. During each semester, classes are offered during the day, afternoons, evenings, weekends, and online. For more information, call (801) 863-7798, or check our web page at www.uvu.edu/es.

Firefighter Recruit Candidate Academy (RCA)

Program Requirements for Enrollment

Recruit Candidate Academy courses include ESFF 250A and 250B. Enrollment is done by means of a program application process. Prior to enrollment students must:

1. Complete all UVU admission requirements
2. Complete pre-requisite ESFF 1000 with a grade of C- or higher
3. Complete pre-requisite ESFF 1120 with a grade of C- or higher
4. Be NREMT certified or complete an EMT course through UVU or another recognized agency/institution
5. Demonstrate competency in English and math by one of the following: ACT, SAT, High School Transcript with AP classes, College Level courses (ENGH 1005 and MAT 0950 with C- grades or higher), degrees, the RCA entrance exam OR test into ENGL 1010 and MAT 1000 or higherBe at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s licen
6. Be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver's license
7. Complete online application found at uvu.edu/es/rca/

Certificate of Completion: Firefighter Recruit Candidate 

Complete the following courses with a minimum grade of C- or higher:

• ESEC 1140--Emergency Medical Technician – Basic (9.0 Credits)
• ESFF 1000 Introduction to Emergency Services and Ability Testing (4.0 Credits)
• ESFF 1120 Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Safety and Survival (3.0 Credits)
• ESFF 250A Recruit Candidate Academy I (8.0 Credits)
• ESFF 250B Recruit Candidate Academy II (8.0 Credits)

Must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0

CERTIFICATION: Upon completion of courses for the Recruit Candidate Academy certificate, students will be certified at the Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Hazardous Materials First Responder-Operations levels through the Utah Fire Service Certification System. Students are required to complete an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic level course. EMT certification is not required to register for RCA.

Paramedic

The Utah Valley University Paramedic program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 25400 US Highway 19 N., Suite 158 Clearwater, FL 33763 727-210-2350 www.caahep.org

To contact CoAEMSP: 8301 Lakeview Parkway Suite 111-312 Rowlett, TX 75088 214-703-8445 FAX 214-703-8992 www.coaemsp.org

Program Requirements for Enrollment

Paramedic Program Pre-requisites. The following pre-requisites must be completed prior to application deadline:

1. Complete all UVU admission requirements: https://www.uvu.edu/admissions/
2. Completion of Anatomy and Physiology with a grade of C or higher: ZOOL 1090 or ZOOL 2320 and 2420 with labs. See academic advisor for acceptable course work or transfer credit information
3. Completion of ENGH 1000 with a grade of C- or higher or testing into ENGH 1005 or higher. Completion of ENGH 1010 is highly recommended.
4. Completion of MAT 0950 with a grade of C- or higher or testing into MAT 1010. Completion of MAT 1010 is highly recommended
5. Certifications: UTAH EMT and current CPR certification. Your certifications cannot expire while enrolled in the program.
6. Be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license
7. Complete the UVU paramedic application process. (1-Application, 2- Written exam, and 3-Oral interview).

Once accepted into the paramedic program, you must provide documentation of the following:

1. Must pass criminal background check requirements of UCA 26-8a-310 for certification as a Paramedic in the State of Utah. Applicants cannot have any felony convictions or be on probation. See also National Registry - https://www.nremt.org/rwd/public/document/policy-criminal
2. Must pass required drug screening
3. Have current vaccinations as required by for the program and the Emergency Medical Services Bureau- https://www.uvu.edu/es/paramedic/current_students.html
4. Obtain a current physical examination supporting entrance into the Paramedic Program.

Certificate of Completion: Paramedic

Complete the following courses with a minimum grade of C- or higher:

• ESEC 3210 -PM I-Operations (3 Credits)
• ESEC 3220- PM II-Cardio/Respiratory (3 Credits)
• ESEC 3225- PM II Lab-Cardio/Resp (1 Credit)
• ESEC 3230-PM III-Trauma (3 Credits)
• ESEC 3235-PM III Lab-Trauma (1 Credit)
• ESEC 3240-PM IV-Medical (3 Credits)
• ESEC 3245- PM IV Lab-Medical (1 Credit)
• ESEC 3250-PM V-OB/Peds (3 Credits)
• ESEC 3255-PM V Lab-OB/Peds (1 Credit)
• ESEC 4210-PM VI-Research (2 Credits)
• ESEC 4220-PM-Clinical Phase I/II (4 Credits)
• ESEC 4230-Paramedic VIII-Practical Prep (3 Credits)
• ESEC 4240-PM Capstone (3 Credits)

Must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 for UVU graduation. Certification requirements and recommendation to the National Registry is separate from UVU graduation and addressed below.

Additional certifications offered: Upon successful completion of the paramedic program students have the opportunity to earn several certifications. These include:

• Certificate of Completion – UVU Paramedic,
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)
• Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS)
• Geriatric Education for EMS (GEMS)
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
• Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals (PEPP)
• Hazardous Materials Awareness (eligible for state testing)
• Law Enforcement First Responder (LEFR)
• Fundamentals of Airway

National Registry Certification

Students will NOT automatically be recommended for the National Registry psychomotor or written exams. Recommendation requires a minimum 2.7 GPA for all UVU paramedic courses and completion of program requirements as outlined in the program