Earn your Emergency Medical Services Undergraduate Certificate or Emergency Services Operations A.A.S. through UVU's Online-Plus format and prepare for real-world work in prehospital care and emergency operations. You'll build the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for first responder, public safety, and disaster work, learning how to assess patients, manage trauma, and coordinate emergency response in the field. The Certificate is a fast, job-ready credential for anyone entering emergency services, and it stacks directly into the Emergency Services Operations A.A.S. for students who want to move into supervisory roles. Both programs combine online coursework with required in-person training, so you graduate ready to serve and protect your community.
A job-ready certificate for high school students, college students, and working adults seeking entry-level skills in emergency services. You'll gain fundamental knowledge of the EMS system and the prehospital care skills needed to work as an Emergency Medical Technician.
This degree builds on foundational EMS training and adds the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for first responder, public safety, security, and disaster work — preparing you to participate professionally up to the supervisory level in mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery from crises and disasters.
Online-PLUS programs enhance the student experience by combining online, flexible, and in-person learning formats. These programs may include online classes, live video sessions, field or clinical experiences, or a mix of these. Livestreamed sessions may have fixed times, and occasional, required on-campus activities forge stronger connections with instructors and peers. For more information, contact your Academic Advisor.
Emergency Services Online-Plus Requirements:
ESEC 1140 is currently delivered in a face-to-face format. The course teaches entry-level cognitive and hands-on (kinesthetic) skills — including medical and trauma assessment, basic pharmacology, and EMS operations — and prepares students to sit for Emergency Medical Technician-Basic certification through the Utah Bureau of EMS. UVU's EMT/AEMT program page notes that classes meet in person three days per week, with a small amount of coursework delivered online.
Because ESEC 1140 is required in both the Certificate and the A.A.S., students in either program should plan for in-person attendance to complete this course, in addition to their online coursework.
Credit for Prior Learning: If you already hold EMT certification or have relevant work experience, you may be able to reduce required coursework through UVU's Credit for Prior Learning process. Contact your Academic Advisor or visit the CPL office to find out if your experience qualifies.
UVU's Emergency Medical Services pathway is stackable, allowing students to build their education step by step while keeping credits aligned with larger career goals. Coursework in the EMS Undergraduate Certificate — including ESEC 1140 and ESFF 1000 — stacks directly into the Emergency Services Operations A.A.S., so you can earn a job-ready credential quickly and continue building toward a supervisory-level degree without losing progress.
19 Credits
60 Credits
Whether you're just entering the field or ready to move into leadership, Emergency Services offers three ways to study online:
A fast, job-ready credential for high school students, college students, and working adults seeking entry-level emergency services skills.
Builds on EMS training with supervisory-level skills across emergency response, public safety, and disaster management.
UVU Online provides a top-quality education for in-state and out-of-state students:
Fully online undergraduate students residing within the state of Utah while attending classes pay the same tuition rates as students attending in-person classes, as determined by their residency designation.
Fully online undergraduate students residing outside of the state of Utah while attending classes pay a flat tuition rate of $285 per credit.
(Must be residing within the United States. Non U.S. citizens residing internationally do not qualify for the flat tuition rate.)
UVU offers Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) to help students earn college credit for skills and knowledge they already have from work, training, or past education. This process recognizes prior learning and helps make college more affordable and accessible. Students complete an assessment to demonstrate their knowledge before credit is awarded. CPL saves time and money by matching real‑world experience to UVU college classes.
UVU's commitment to providing accessible and high-quality online education has earned it national recognition from respected publications. With a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, UVU offers students the flexibility they need to pursue their educational goals wherever they are!
No. This program is Online-Plus, meaning most coursework is online, but the required course ESEC 1140 (Emergency Medical Technician Basic) is currently delivered in person to meet hands-on skills training needed for Utah Bureau of EMS certification.
Yes. The A.A.S. is Online-Plus for the same reason as the certificate: it requires ESEC 1140, which includes in-person, hands-on EMT training. The remainder of the degree's coursework can be completed online.
Yes. Core courses completed for the Certificate, including ESEC 1140 and ESFF 1000, stack directly into the A.A.S., so credits are not lost if you continue your education.
ESEC 1140 prepares students for certification as an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic through the Utah Bureau of EMS, and UVU's EMT/AEMT program page notes that students prepare to take the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) exams. Contact the Emergency Services program for the most current certification requirements.
Tuition depends on your residency status. Out-of-state students pay a flat per-credit rate, while in-state students pay UVU's regular undergraduate tuition rates. See the “What Is My Tuition?” section above for current rates, or visit UVU Online's Tuition and Financial Aid page for the most up-to-date figures.
Possibly. UVU's Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) program allows students to earn college credit for relevant work experience, training, or prior certification through an assessment process. Visit UVU's CPL page to learn more.
