BLS Training Opportunities
BLS training is conducted the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the Madison County Rescue Squad Building located at 1473 North Main Street in Madison. All are welcome and classes begin at 7:00 p.m. (1900 hours).
These classes offer all pre-hospital providers at the BLS level, a chance to earn continuing education units (CEU) towards recertification of your license. Courses are conducted by the training staff from the Thomas Jefferson EMS Council. Classes are not scheduled or conducted during the months of July or December of each year. Each April, we also hold a skills drill. Skills drills are mandatory each year.
For a list of the course to be offered each month by TJEMS for the BLS course at the MCRS building, please go to this calendar link.
Training Information
The Madison County Rescue Squad offers different types of training each month. We offer Advanced Life Support (ALS) training in addition to Basic Life Support (BLS) training each month. If you are interested in what it takes to become a First Responder or a Emergency Medical Technician Basic/Enhanced/Intermediate/Paramedic, please go to this link for a summary the "job qualifications" provided by VA OEMS: EMS Training Programs Summary
ALS Training Opportunities
ALS training is conducted the 1st Thursday of each month at the Madison County Rescue Squad Building located at 1473 North Main Street in Madison. All are welcome and classes begin at 7:00 p.m. (1900 hours).
These classes offer all pre-hospital providers at the ALS level, a chance to earn continuing education units (CEU) towards recertification of your license. Courses are conducted by the training staff from the Thomas Jefferson EMS Council. Classes are not scheduled or conducted during the months of July or December of each year. Each March, we also hold a skills drill or megacode. Skills drills/Megacode are mandatory each year.
For a list of the course to be offered each month by TJEMS for the ALS course at the MCRS building, please go to this calendar link.
Important requirements and information regarding anyone requesting exemption from the written recertification test within the TJEMS council
Anyone requesting exemption from the Virginia Office of EMS written recertification test needs to notify the TJEMS Training Specialist (BLS)/ UVa Prehospital Coordinators (ALS) at least ninety (90) days in advance of their expiration date (as listed on their certification card). This allows for completion of the necessary forms, verification of Continuing Education hours, notification and signature of the Operational Medical Director and delivery of the Virginia EMS Certification Application to the Office of EMS before the provider’s expiration date.
To be considered for exemption, BLS providers must meet the following criteria:
• Be a member of a licensed EMS agency
• Received an Eligibility Letter from the Office of EMS.
• ALS providers must complete all required hours for their level of certification (This may be completed by attending monthly continuing education classes or successful completion of a refresher course).
Regularly attend monthly ALS Continuing education classes. Must complete all required TJEMS/UVA Prehospital Program “Skills Drills” and “MegaCode” (Medic level) held during their certification period.
• BLS providers must attend 3 out of 10 continuing education classes provided by TJEMS Council staff and complete all required hours for their level of certification. Must also complete all required TJEMS “Skills Drills” held during their certification period.
• Have been in “good standing” during their certification period (suspensions of clinical privileges, corrective actions, etc.).
• Provide a current CPR certification with a completed application (OEMS approved courses).
The provider’s Operational Medical Director has the final disposition on exemption from testing.
In addition to training opportunities offered at the Madison County Rescue Squad building for CEUs, other avenues exist to capture CEUs for recertification. Those opportunities and links are below.
VAVRS - The Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads (VAVRS) offers multiple training courses from Emergency Vehicle
Operator’s Course (EVOC) to Search and Rescue. For a listing of training courses offered by VAVRS, please go to this link for a complete listing of courses offered: VAVRS Courses
Also in addition to VAVRS courses, the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services offers different opportunities via EMSAT and TRAIN Virginia
EMSAT is a monthly, one-hour training and information program for Virginia EMS and Fire personnel. EMSAT webcasts and DVDs offer required EMS topics at the ALS and BLS levels, and enrichment classes that may not be widely available throughout the state. Certified Virginia EMS providers may receive category I and 2 continuing education credit by viewing an EMSAT webcast at a designated state site. Providers may also receive category III continuing education credit for viewing EMSAT DVDs and taking a quiz. Further information regarding EMSAT can be found here: EMSAT
TRAINVirginia: TRAINVirginia allows the Office of EMS to offer Category 1 and Category 2 continuing education credits online to all EMS providers in the Commonwealth. Further information regarding TRAINVirginia can be found here: TRAINVirginia
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