Columbia State Pins 41 New Emergency Medical Services Grads
Columbia State Community College recently recognized 13 emergency medical technicians and 28 advanced emergency medical technicians upon completion of their programs during the Fall 2025 EMS Pinning ceremony held in the Cherry Theater.
“The fall 2025 cohort earned every bit of this milestone,” said Greg Johnson, Columbia State EMS Academy program director. “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.”
Fall 2025 EMT completers achieved a 100% first-attempt pass rate for the national registry. Students seeking the accelerated certificate received a 100% first-attempt pass rate on the EMT national registry.
An EMT provides basic life support at the site of illnesses and injuries, assisting with transport to the hospital. The Advanced EMT provides basic and advanced life support at sites of illness and injury through transport to the hospital.
The accelerated AEMT path is an academy-style, technical certificate program designed to educate and train students to serve as vital members of a pre-hospital EMS team in a single semester. Students must complete 144 hours of clinical rotations to earn a technical certificate in AAEMT.
EMT certificate completers also have the option to pursue the General Technology Associate of Applied Science degree by combining coursework from two certificates with general education courses to complete a personalized degree program.
“EMS completers are vital members of the healthcare team who provide essential pre-hospital care to patients and families,” said Dr. Kae Fleming, Columbia State dean of the Health Sciences Division. “These new basic and advanced EMTs wisely chose Columbia State to take advantage of the best EMS education available in Tennessee!”
The program provides students with the necessary didactic and practical training to perform life-saving skills. Additionally, students learn to work alone, as well as in a squad-based (team) environment.
For more information about the EMS program, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/EMS or contact Johnson at 931.540.2792.
View more photos from the event on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/columbiastatecc.
Pictured (left to right): Bedford County advanced emergency medical technician graduates Faith Tucker and Raegan Haley.
Davidson County advanced emergency medical technician graduates Kristopher Nelson and Jacob Dilts.
Pictured (left to right, back row): Dickson County advanced emergency medical technician graduates Zachary Waller, Luke Littleton and Kenneth Bone. Pictured (left to right, front row): Brianna Gafford, Adelyne Alvarado and Alyssa Rhea.
Bedford County emergency medical technician graduate Shelby Flippo.
Giles County emergency medical technician graduate Owen Sumners.
Lawrence County emergency medical technician graduate Griffin Stutts.
