Description

The Paramedicine Associate of Applied Science is designed for students seeking a career in emergency medical services and/or the fire service industry. The program meets or exceeds the required technical skills and knowledge necessary for national and state licensure. It is challenging and will require participants to spend between 600 and 800 hours in clinical and field settings. The program contains certification requirements at the emergency medical technician (EMT) and paramedic levels; students need to satisfy a computer-based and practical hands-on test through the National Registry of EMTs to complete certification.

Paramedics work in a variety of settings, including fire departments, private and public ambulance services, hospital emergency departments, emergency communication systems, law enforcement agencies, search and rescue, recreation, the US Forest Service as smokejumpers, and some rural clinical environments. Paramedics provide many services to their communities and often work in teams where communication and technical skills are expected.

The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Apply paramedic industry standards in the areas of emergency medical services operations, trauma, general medical emergencies, airway management, and cardiac care.
2. Use medical communication effectively.
3. Develop professional client relationships.
4. Practice ethical and professional medical standards.
5. Perform advanced life support safely in diverse conditions.

Entrance Requirements

Academic Entrance Requirements

Required:

• Successfully complete the application process and be accepted into the program.

Recommended:

• It is strongly recommended that candidates planning to enroll in the program have a strong background in high school or college math and chemistry, which will enhance the student’s success in anatomy and physiology and college-level math.

Other Entrance Requirements

• Must have a high school diploma or GED.
• Students must be at least 18 years of age to begin any EMT class and to be eligible test for state and national exams.
• A current CPR for Health Care Providers card, which must remain current throughout EMT basic and paramedic classes, is required before placement into EMT or paramedic courses.
• Uploaded and verified required immunizations as set forth in clinical agreement with St. Charles hospital system, including hepatitis B, current TB, MMR, annual influenza, tetanus within previous 10 years, and varicella.
• Prerequisite courses and those used to calculate points for selection can be found on the Emergency Medical Service page.
• All students enrolled in an EMT or paramedic course and/or seeking agency affiliation requiring practical experience will have to pass a background check as a condition of their acceptance into a medical, fire, or other facility for training. Students who do not pass the background check may not be eligible to complete training at affiliated sites, to sit for licensure or certification exams, or to be hired for some professional positions. Students who believe their personal history may interfere with their ability to complete the program of study or to obtain licensure or certification in their chosen field should contact the appropriate state board and the paramedicine program director.
• Before entry into a health profession program, students must complete a 10-panel urine drug screen with Verified Credentials, Inc. With the exception of certain prescribed medications, students with a positive drug screen, which prevents them from attending clinical, will be disqualified from entering the program. See the Emergency Medical Services page and/or program handbook for more information.

Additional Program Costs (Beyond Standard Tuition/Fees and Textbooks)

Material Costs

• CPR for Healthcare Provider card: $99 
• Background check: $55
• Drug screen: $55
• Verified Credentials, Inc. immunization upload: $15
• My Clinical Exchange upload for St. Charles: $36.50
• Immunizations: $20 to $200
• Materials (stethoscope, field manual, uniforms, etc.): $50 to $250
• Testing fees, including National Registry computer exams, practical skills testing, fingerprint/background, and possible travel outside the area for paramedic testing: $250 to $1,000

Course Requirements

¹

Students planning to transfer should take MTH 105Z Math in Society or MTH 111Z Precalculus I: Functions

²

Student will have the option if affiliated with a transporting EMS agency to enroll in a 1 credit CWE course in the Winter and/or Spring terms. If a student completes a CWE in one or both of these terms, they will enroll in a two or three credit CWE for the Summer term in order to have a total of four credits worth of CWE. Summer CWE is required by the program as more than 50% of a student’s patient contacts needs to happen at the conclusion of all didactic and clinical experiences.

Advising Notes

Students should contact Admissions and Records for details about paramedic course selection and application process.

Speak with an advisor before registration for a list of recommended courses in categories, such as the general education requirement, that offer more than one option.

Speak with the program director to ensure understanding of state and national testing process for EMT and paramedic courses.

Performance Standards

• Academic Requirements:
  • Students must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA to earn a COCC certificate or degree.
  • All courses in the program must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
• Additional Requirements:
  • All students will undergo drug screening, background check and immunization verification with the vendor approved by Central Oregon Community College, prior to entrance into the EMT or Paramedic certification courses, at their expense. Students will be administratively withdrawn from the program and the seat given to an alternate student if requirements are not initiated with the specified vendor by the due date indicated by the Paramedicine program. Students with a positive urine drug screen will be disqualified from entering the EMT or Paramedic certification courses at Central Oregon Community College, with the exception of certain prescribed medications. The program director will notify the student of positive drug screens and their resulting disqualification from the program. Students have a right to appeal the decision.
  • State requirements: 85 percent attendance in EMT or Paramedic classes; 100 percent attendance for clinical and field rotations; and students must pass the overall EMT or Paramedic class at a minimum of 76 percent to sit for state and national registry testing and certification.
  • All prerequisite courses must be completed at an average of a 3.0 GPA or higher.
  • Students must maintain a minimum overall 2.7 GPA to maintain enrollment in the program; students falling below an overall 2.7 GPA during the Paramedicine program will have one term to correct the deficit. Students who fail to bring their grades up may not be allowed to register the following term and complete the program. They may reapply for the following year if they meet current requirements as set in Paramedic program readmission policy. Students applying for readmission who have failed a course will have to repeat the entire program sequence.
  • Upon completion of EMT 151 Emergency Medical Technician Part A and EMT 152 Emergency Medical Technician Part B, students must pass the National Registry exam and be certified in the state of Oregon before continuing in Paramedic courses. Currently certified students do not need to retake the courses for the degree but must hold a current Oregon EMT License or higher to enter the Paramedic course. License must remain current during entire program including CWE; failure to maintain current license and CPR card will result in student removal from the program.

Sample Plan