Through the Certificate in Evidence- and Science-Based Care in the Emergency Medical Services, we combine the fundamentals of emergency medicine with evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning, thereby addressing the key requirements of modern pre-hospital care.
The focus is on how clinical decisions in the emergency medical services can be professionally justified, critically evaluated and aligned with the latest scientific findings. Across several modules, you will learn to critically evaluate research findings, apply them to your own practice and justify professional decisions in a transparent manner – always with the aim of equipping you as an expert to take on responsibility in care, teaching or professional development, and to play an active role in shaping the emergency medical services!
At the same time, you can transfer the certificate fully as part of the HSD Bachelor'sdegree programme in Emergency Medical Sciences, enabling you to integrate credits you have already earned into a subsequent degree programme.
Language of instruction: German
Type of continuing education: University certificate – Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS)
Start: Winter semester (from 1 September 2026) and summer semester
Duration: 2 semesters
Qualification: University certificate worth 18 ECTS (3 modules)
Credits: 6 ECTS credits per module
Number of students: maximum 20 per semester
Organisation: The university course is delivered entirely online.
Tuition fees: €2,100
If you have any questions regarding fees, discounts, funding or finance, please feel free to contact our Financial advisory serviceat any time.
ECTS transfer: Upon successful completion, the course concludes with a university certificate and the award of 18 ECTS credits.
Should a participant decide at a later date to undertake a degree programme, they may, subject to certain conditions and in consultation with the relevant department, transfer their ECTS credits towards a future degree programme.
The Certificate in Evidence- and Science-Based Care in the Emergency Medical Services comprises three interrelated modules: an introduction to the structure and subject areas of emergency medicine, an examination of the principles of evidence-based practice, and the application of clinical reasoning in complex care situations.
The courses are delivered via live online sessions, thereby enabling flexible participation whilst facilitating direct professional exchange. Scientific rigour and practical relevance are closely interlinked throughout the programme.
This module covers the fundamentals, objectives and approaches of evidence-based practice in healthcare. It focuses on the hierarchy of evidence, internal and external validity, bias and confounding, as well as the critical evaluation of different types of studies, guidelines and diagnostic tests. It also addresses how research findings, patients’ wishes and institutional and individual resources are incorporated into decision-making processes. The aim is to critically evaluate scientific findings and apply them effectively to everyday emergency medical service practice.
The module focuses on the professionalisation of clinical thinking and decision-making processes in the emergency medical services. Students explore various forms of reasoning, including ethical, procedural, interactive, prognostic, narrative and pragmatic reasoning. Using case studies, they learn to analyse emergency medical care situations, justify decisions and act in a patient-centred and resource-efficient manner. In addition, feedback and peer advisory are used as methods of self-reflection and professional development.
This module provides an introduction to emergency care sciences as a distinct discipline and covers its definitions, fields of research, theories, models and paradigms. Topics include emergency care education, leadership and management, systems and organisational structures, healthcare research, and the professionalisation of the emergency services. Furthermore, links to other health professional sciences are established, and the theoretical foundations of science relevant to emergency medical services are explored. The aim is to be able to reflectively contextualise the significance of emergency medical sciences for science, practice and professionalisation.
The following entry requirements apply for admission to the university certificate course in ‘Evidence- and Science-Based Care in the Emergency Medical Services’ at HSD Hochschule Döpfer:
- completed vocational training and two years’ professional experience
, or - a completed first degree (e.g. Bachelor’s, Diplom, Magister, Master’s, state examination)
The continuing professional development modules are also open to anyone who, for professional or personal reasons, wishes to take part in the certificate course but is not seeking an academic qualification. Upon completion of the module, participants will receive a certificate of attendance detailing the content covered.
General requirements
The entry requirements for our university courses are:
- the ability to undertake guided self-study,
- including a willingness to read specialist texts, including those in English,
- access to a suitable device with internet connection,
- a general interest in academic content at university level.