COLUMBIA — Columbia State Community College recognized 41 new emergency medical professionals during its Fall 2025 EMS Pinning ceremony at the Cherry Theater, celebrating 13 emergency medical technicians and 28 advanced emergency medical technicians who earned their certifications.
The cohort's achievement speaks to the rigor of the program and the students' dedication. All Fall 2025 EMT completers achieved a 100 percent first-attempt pass rate on the national registry examination, a testament to the quality of instruction and the students' preparation. Greg Johnson, Columbia State EMS Academy program director, praised the cohort's focus. "The fall 2025 cohort earned every bit of this milestone," he said. "They've trained hard, stayed focused and shown they're ready to serve. We're proud to welcome our new EMTs and AEMTs into the EMS profession."
EMTs provide basic life support at emergency sites, while Advanced EMTs deliver both basic and advanced care during transport. The accelerated AEMT technical certificate program is designed as an intensive, academy-style track completed in a single semester, requiring 144 hours of clinical rotations. Graduates can further their education by pursuing the General Technology Associate of Applied Science degree. For more information, contact Greg Johnson at 931.540.2792 or visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/EMS.