Paramedic, A.A.S.

The Paramedic Program is a 60 Credit Hour Associate of Applied Science Degree program that is designed for students who are interested in pursuing jobs in the out of hospital setting.

Prior to application to the Paramedic program, all students are required to have taken the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course and possess a current card, which meets the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Standard Curriculum for EMT.  The Paramedic Associate of Applied Science degree meets the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National EMS Education Standards for Paramedic.  Successful completion of the program qualifies the graduate to sit for the National Registry Examination for Paramedic.  The intention of the Paramedic Program is to prepare its graduates for a volunteer or paid career as a nationally certified Paramedic. The national Paramedic certification is a requirement for initial state licensure in all states except Montana, where it is optional, and New York and North Carolina, where alternate entry is available.

Admission to the Paramedic Program is made after admission to the College and successful completion of the “Pre-Entrance Exam” prior to enrollment in any of the advanced clinical level EMSP courses in the Paramedic Program (200-level EMSP courses), and the student must complete the following and submit to the EMS Program Coordinator:

1. An application to the Paramedic Program;
2. A photocopy of current CPR (Healthcare Provider Course) certification;
3. Current EMT card from either: National Registry, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, or Virginia.
4. Submission to the EMS Clinical Coordinator of a completed immunization record prior to participation in any EMS Practicum course;
5. Submission to the EMS Clinical Coordinator of annual PPD results (or chest X-ray, if appropriate).
6. Successfully complete a urine drug screen and a national criminal background check.

Students in the Paramedic Program are subject to Blue Ridge Community and Technical College’s requirements for admissions, basic skills testing, and appropriate course placement, including mandated developmental courses, which are not counted toward completion of the program.  Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Catalog requirements regarding academic standards, student conduct, and graduation procedures also apply.

Blue Ridge CTC Paramedic Program Goal

The goal of the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Paramedic is to prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

EMS TECHNICAL STANDARDS

The following activities are examples of the kind of activities in which a student in the Paramedic Program will be required to perform in order to successfully complete the program.

1. Critical Thinking: Paramedic students should possess critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment. For example, the paramedic student must be able to prioritize the care of the critically injured or ill patient.
2. Interpersonal Skills: Paramedic students shall possess interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, groups, etc. from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds. For example, the student shall establish rapport with clients/patients and health care team members.
3. Communication Skills: Paramedic students shall possess communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written forms. For example: providing verbal encode to medical direction from the field and documentation of patient care.
4. Mobility: Paramedic students shall possess physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room, maneuver in small spaces, stand and walk for extensive periods of time and lift average-size adults with help. For example: transferring patients on to stretchers, loading and unloading stretchers into the ambulance and moving about the scene to search and discover patients.
5. Motor Skills: Paramedic students shall possess gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective care. For example: calibrate and use designated equipment, insertion of tubes and initiation of intravenous and intraosseous infusions and administration of medications.
6. Hearing: Paramedic students shall possess auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs. For example: hear monitor alarms, emergency signals, and cries for help and auscultate breath and bowel sounds.
7. Visual: Paramedic students shall possess visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary for care. For example: observe patient/client responses to treatment, use of designated equipment and assessment of a patient.
8. Tactile: Paramedic students shall possess tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment. For example: perform palpation and percussion, assessment of skin vital signs.
9. Weight Bearing: Paramedic students shall possess the ability to lift and manipulate/move 45-50 pounds on a daily basis. For example position patients/clients, carry designated equipment.
10. Cognitive Abilities: Paramedic students shall possess an ability to be oriented to time, place and person and organize responsibilities, make decisions and function effectively in a critical situation. For example, a student shall assess client/patient complaints and implement appropriate plans for care.
11. Occupational Exposures: Paramedic students may be exposed to communicable diseases/ and or body fluids, toxic substances, medicinal preparations, and latex. Students shall use appropriate precautions at all times. For example, a student may be assigned a client/patient with a communicable disease and shall provide total care using universal precautions.
12. Driving Skills/Abilities: Paramedic students must have a valid Driver’s License in order to complete their coursework at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College.

Career Opportunities

Paramedics must be able to perform under pressure—in settings demanding excellent clinical, stress management, and communication skills. As a paramedic, you will provide pre-hospital care to patients, administering medication, interpreting EKGs, and operating equipment.

Accredited by both the State of West Virginia and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Program (click here for details), our graduates.

Paramedic Program Outcomes

CAAHEP Accredited Paramedic Programs and CoAEMSP Letter of Review (LoR) Programs track and report outcome measures annually to the Committee on Accreditation for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). 

The most current CoAEMSP Annual Report was for the calendar year 2019.

The most recent success rate for the National Registry of EMT Paramedic/State Cognitive exam for the on-campus cohort was 85.7%.

The most recent success rate for the National Registry of EMT Paramedic/State Cognitive exam for the off-campus cohort was 58.3%.

The most recent positive placement rate for graduates was 92.3%. Positive placement is defined by the CoAEMSP as ‘Employed full or part-time in a related field and/or continuing his/her education and/or serving in the military’. Positive placement is measured at the completion of the program.

The most recent retention rate for the on-campus cohort was 93.3%.

The most recent retention rate for the off-campus cohort was 80%.

Accreditation

The Blue Ridge Community and Technical College’s Paramedic Program is Accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of EMS Programs as part of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

It is through the assistance of the “Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions” (www.coaemsp.org) that the “Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs” (http://www.caahep.org/Find-An-Accredited-Program) grants our accreditation.