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Emily Tate, a student at the University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology-McGehee (UAM-CTM), passed the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) basic exam on the first attempt on May 25.

Tate is the first concurrent-credit student of the UAM-CTM Allied Health Department to sit for the NREMT exam since Manda Leftwich-Tharp, director of EMT/Paramedic at UAM-CTM, began offering EMT classes to high school students. Tate graduated from McGehee High School in 2023.

She is now employed at Southern Paramedic Services, Inc. in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and plans to continue her studies this fall at UAM-CTM to pursue a Technical Certificate in paramedic and an Associate of Science in general technology degree.

The EMT program for concurrent students is a one-academic-year program offered to Dumas, Lakeside and McGehee High School students. Students who complete the program earn eight college credit hours and a certificate of proficiency in emergency medical technician. They are then eligible to continue their course of study at UAM-CTM and earn a technical certificate in paramedic as well as an Associate of Science in general technology degree. 

Emergency medical technicians provide out-of-hospital emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical services (EMS) system. These graduates have the basic knowledge and skills necessary to stabilize and safely transport patients ranging from non-emergency and routine medical transports to life-threatening emergencies. Graduates are equipped with the skills, knowledge and clinical experience required to provide safe and effective prehospital care.

The EMT program at UAM-CTM integrates classroom, laboratory and applied clinical practice following the National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards. The program works with local ambulance services and hospitals to provide medical and trauma training in prehospital settings, emergency departments and specialty rotations.

UAM-CTM is currently enrolling both concurrent students and high school graduates in the EMT program for the fall semester. High school graduates can complete the EMT program in one semester. Financial aid is available for high school graduates through the state of Arkansas for those completing the scholarship application at sams.adhe.edu. For more information about the program, how to enroll or financial aid options, please contact Jason Henry at 870-460-2130 or Paisley Owyoung at 870-460-2124.