Paramedic
Program Description
The Foothill College Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The Paramedic curriculum is a rigorous 15 to 18-month sequence of instruction. The program begins in the Fall Quarter, each year.
This program is for students who have worked as EMTs for at least three months at full-time capacity, or the equivalent part-time experience (480 hours), wishing to become paramedics. The first three quarters are didactic (classroom) instruction, meeting two days a week. During the second quarter of didactic instruction students will concurrently attend hospital specialty rotations (operating room, obstetrics, etc.). The final quarters include the emergency department hospital rotations and an ambulance field internship. The curriculum exceeds state law requirements by providing instruction based on the U.S. DOT National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards and the Paramedic Instructional Guidelines, Title 22 Chapter 4, Paramedic Basic Scope of Practice, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals, Prehospital Trauma Life Support, and studies of current nation-wide protocols and expanded practices. Students will be qualified to sit for the National Registry of EMTs paramedic examinations. This program has a 100% pass rate on the NREMT Written examination.
Graduates will be awarded a certificate of achievement and are qualified to apply to the State for paramedic licensure. Licensure is a legal requirement to work as a paramedic in California.
Learn more about the program on the Paramedic website.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Graduates will become knowledgeable in multiple areas of anatomy and pathophysiology of various illness and injury, which will help the paramedic to provide competent patient care.
- Graduates will have outstanding clinical assessment and skills.
- Graduates will meet or exceed the requirements for state licensure in California.
Career Opportunities
The program prepares students for employment as paramedics working for ambulance services, fire department agencies, air ambulance medical operations, and hospital emergency departments.
Award Type(s)
- AS = Associate in Science Degree
- CA = Certificate of Achievement
Units Required
- Major: 73.5
- Certificate(s): 73.5
Program Application
Admittance to this program is through an application process. Program information, admission criteria, and application to the program can be found on the Paramedic Program website.
Program Prerequisites
- High school diploma or GED certificate.
- Current BLS (CPR) AHA Healthcare Provider certification.
- Possess a current California State EMT Certification.
- A minimum of three months full-time OR equivalent part-time experience with an EMS provider agency (480 hrs) by the application deadline.
- Meet the National EMS Educational Technical Standards available at: https://www.ems.gov/assets/EMS_Education-Standards_2021_FNL.pdf
- Meet or exceed the National EMS Educational Standards as outlined by the National Association of EMS Educators.
- Meet or exceed the National Registry of EMT Standards.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Intermediate Algebra or equivalent | 5 | |
| BIOL 40A | HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY I (or equivalent [1 semester of Anatomy & Physiology with laboratory]) | 5 |
| ENGL 1A | COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| or ENGL 1AH | HONORS COMPOSITION & READING | |
| or ESLL 26 | ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING | |
Associate Degree Requirements
Optional Associate Degree Requirements:
Prospective paramedic employees have a much higher success rate of employment into the fire service and 9-1-1 service with an associate degree in paramedicine. We encourage prospective students to look into this option and consider long term career planning.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| English Proficiency | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| ENGL 1A | COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| ENGL 1AH | HONORS COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| ESLL 26 | ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| or equivalent | ||
| Ethnic Studies | ||
| Any course in the ETHN (Ethnic Studies) subject code, currently approved for Area F of CSU GE and Area 7 of IGETC | ||
| Mathematics Proficiency | ||
| College-level math course at or above the level of Intermediate Algebra | ||
A minimum of 90 units is required1 to include:
- Completion of one of the following general education patterns: Foothill General Education, CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
- Core courses (73.5 units)
- 1
Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.
Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a "C" or better in the recommended sequence.
Core and Support Courses
Core Courses
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Quarter | Units | |
| AHS 50A | INTRODUCTION TO ALLIED HEALTH PROGRAMS | 1.5 |
| EMS 60A | PARAMEDIC COGNITIVE & AFFECTIVE IA | 9 |
| EMS 60B | PARAMEDIC COGNITIVE, PSYCHOMOTOR & AFFECTIVE IB | 4 |
| Units | 14.5 | |
| Winter Quarter | ||
| AHS 50B | INTERPROFESSIONAL PATIENT COMPETENCIES | 0.5 |
| EMS 61A | PARAMEDIC COGNITIVE & AFFECTIVE IIA | 9 |
| EMS 61B | PARAMEDIC COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & PSYCHOMOTOR IIB | 4 |
| Units | 13.5 | |
| Spring Quarter | ||
| EMS 62A | PARAMEDIC COGNITIVE & AFFECTIVE IIIA | 9 |
| EMS 62B | PARAMEDIC COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & PSYCHOMOTOR IIIB | 4 |
| Units | 13 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer Session | ||
| EMS 63A | PARAMEDIC HOSPITAL SPECIALTY ROTATIONS | 2 |
| EMS 63B | PARAMEDIC HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ROTATIONS | 4.5 |
| Units | 6.5 | |
| Fall Quarter | ||
| EMS 64A | PARAMEDIC AMBULANCE FIELD INTERNSHIP I | 13 |
| Units | 13 | |
| Winter Quarter | ||
| EMS 64B | PARAMEDIC AMBULANCE FIELD INTERNSHIP II | 13 |
| Units | 13 | |
| Total Units | 73.5 | |
Certificate Requirements
Certificate of Achievement in Paramedic
- Units: 73.5
The certificate of achievement is awarded upon completion of the core courses. General education courses are not required; however, the program prerequisite requirements must be met.