About the CareerCERTIFICATE IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY - PARAMEDIC
About the CareerA paramedic is a certified emergency medical technologist (EMT), trained to respond quickly to trauma and medical emergencies and give competent care in pre-hospital settings. Paramedics perform medical emergency procedures, working as an ambulance crewmember in the absence of a physician. They are responsible for stabilizing a person’s condition from the time they arrive on the scene, during the transportation by ambulance, ground or air, and until they get the patient to a medical emergency facility. Along with basic training, a paramedic has advanced training in adult and pediatric trauma management, cardiac care, airway management, patient assessment, monitoring vital signs and pharmacology.
A paramedic works in many different settings, such as in hospitals, fire/rescue departments, industry, and private ambulance and emergency medical services. Advancement beyond the EMT-Paramedic level usually means leaving fieldwork to become a supervisor, operations manager, or executive director of emergency services. Some advanced paramedics discover a pathway into other areas or careers, e.g., instructors and physician assistants. Others return to school to become physicians or other health workers.
About the ProgramStudents entering the program must have existing EMT Level 1, Basic certification, current CPR certification, a crime-free criminal background check, a negative drug screen and meet the other specific program requirements of the Department of Health Sciences. The curriculum consists of 31 semester hours of coursework, clinical and internship training. Upon successful completion of the Certificate program, the graduate is eligible to apply and sit for the appropriate state exam and National Registry Examination.
