FAQ's for Online EMS Classes -- ECA/First Responder through Paramedic
How does the online training classroom work?
What about written testing?
How are hands-on skills training sessions handled?
Where will rotations be made available?
What will I wear for rotations?
Will I be able to complete rotations at my place of employment if it is an EMS agency or hospital?
What is included in my tuition payment?
What computer and internet equipment do I need to take one of these courses?
When can I test for registration with National Registry?
I am from another state. Can I take an online class through TechPro Services, Inc. for registration/certification?
How does the online training classroom work?
All the initial training programs through TechPro Services, Inc. work basically the same way. All didactic training is done in an online format using web pages, powerpoint presentations, assignments, etc. Even skills training is begun in the online environment in the form of skills videos or documents and skills sheets, which are to be memorized prior to pre-scheduled live training sessions.
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What about written testing?
All written testing during the course is done in the form of “Research Exams”. These exams can be printed off from the site and answered by the student using all available resources including textbooks, other textbooks such as nursing textbooks or other Paramedic texts, online sources, etc. The student will then return to the online testbank and enter his/her answers and submit them electronically for grading. Most tests are graded immediately and a copy is sent back to the student at the e-mail address he/she lists prior to submitting the test. The instructor also sends a copy back to that same e-mail address whenever grades are posted.
It is not beneficial to the student to “cheat” or not do his/her own work. The final examination for the course is given in a proctored environment, typically in Abilene by the course instructor or his/her designee. Since the student must utilize all information learned during the course and the research exams to make sound critical thinking decisions to answer what is mostly a scenario-based exam, the student is highly encouraged to do anything and everything to learn and retain the course material.
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How are hands-on skills training sessions handled?
Each course level has prescheduled dates for skills practice/testing. The schedules are posted for the entire year in a link early in the list of links inside the course. Students are expected to thoroughly review all skills videos and memorize all skills sheets provided prior to attending the skills sessions. Students should also print all skills sheets to bring with them to the sessions.
For ECA’s and EMT-Basics, 3 day exit sessions are scheduled each quarter. To attend this session, students must have completed the entire online course and have prepared as listed in the prior paragraph. Students will take the proctored final exam, do skills practice and testing, scenario based testing with teams, extrication and LZ training. Basic students will also received clinical and field rotation information at the end of this session.
For Intermediate and Paramedic students, two-day sessions are scheduled monthly on a regular schedule unless otherwise notified by the course instructor. Students are to be prepared to practice all skills in the Skills section of the course at the first session. Testing will be at a later session and is dependent on the student’s readiness to test – the prepared students will be able to test much sooner than students who do not prepare adequately between sessions. No clinical or field rotations will be allowed until after all skills testing is complete and clinical information will be provided to the student at the student’s testing session. Final exams will be scheduled quarterly with an associated National Registry skills prep session on a separate day from regular skills practice/testing sessions.
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Where will rotations be made available?
TechPro attempts to make opportunities for clinical and field rotations as close to the students’ hometowns as possible. We currently have hospital and field sites in may areas of the state, but we are open to discussion on signing clinical affiliation agreements with more hospitals and EMS agencies to facilitate closer opportunities. Some students may have to drive for some rotations; there are no guarantees on rotation sites in your area. However, we attempt to keep significant travel to a minimum.
Some out of state students ask about pulling rotations in their home states. Currently, this is not possible. Students from other states would be required to come to Texas for skills practice, testing, and clinical and field rotations. However, it is possible to pre-plan by coordinating with the course instructor to pull chunks of instruction and clinical time to minimize travel as much as possible.
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What will I wear for rotations?
All information regarding rotations will be made available at one of the live training sessions where testing is completed. In advance of that session, students are expected to e-mail a jpeg image of their head and shoulders to the instructor for a nametag to be developed. The nametag will be given to the student at the clinical orientation information session.
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Will I be able to complete rotations at my place of employment if it is an EMS agency or hospital?
This is only allowed IF we have a signed clinical affiliation agreement with your employer and if you are in a 3rd person capacity being precepted by a certified or licensed person of the level you are seeking or higher, a nurse, or a physician. Other preceptors may include respiratory therapists, anesthesiologists, CRNA’s, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, ECG tech or others depending on the department or type of skill being precepted.
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What is included in my tuition payment?
Your tuition covers all costs of classroom and skills instruction sessions as long as they are accomplished during regularly scheduled session times and dates in Abilene, Texas. Malpractice insurance is also provided.
Students are responsible for ordering their own textbooks, classroom materials for study, clinical uniforms, stethoscopes, etc.
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What computer and internet equipment do I need to take one of these courses?
All students should have access to a Windows based computer with Windows 2000, XP, or higher base operating system. If the computer does not have Powerpoint or Adobe and the student does not wish to purchase these programs, free viewers can be easily downloaded from the internet.
Internet access with a minimum of 40 bps is necessary to view most of the course without excessive loading delays. Modem connections are not conducive to some of the videos in the advanced level courses, so if this occurs, the student can contact the course instructor for a CD of the videos to allow viewing. DSL, or other broadband access is preferred for best viewing purposes of all course components.
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When can I test for registration with National Registry?
Following successful completion of the course and submission and grading of all acceptable clinical and field documentations that meet or exceed standards set for students for completion of the course, students will receive a completion packet with course completion certificates and application forms with appropriate signatures and information completed by the program. Students will then be responsible for completion of the applications, scheduling examinations, and submission of all fees to National Registry and then to the state if indicated for certification.
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I am from another state. Can I take an online class through TechPro Services, Inc. for registration/certification?
TechPro cannot speak for your state, nor do we choose to apply for EMS program licensure in each state. We are approved in Texas only. However, students should contact their state EMS office to discuss whether or not that office will accept a course taken in Texas for eligibility for certification in their states. Some states will allow this and will allow testing in their home state. Others will allow students to take a Texas course but require that the students take the National Registry examination in Texas and then apply for reciprocity through their state reciprocity process. Other states will not acknowledge training taken in another state. It is up to the individual student to check with their state office to determine status of the ability to certify or license in his/her state prior to taking a course through TechPro. TechPro Services, Inc. does not and cannot guarantee that any student is eligible for certification upon successful course completion in any other state other than Texas. However, we have had successful stories with students who have come from other states and have achieved certification in their home states.
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