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Area of Study

Paramedicine

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As a paramedic you'll be part of a team that is vital in an emergency situation.

Paramedics respond immediately to 911 emergency calls involving any type of accident, disaster or medical emergency. At the scene of the emergency, they quickly assess patients’ conditions and take action using recommended guidelines and procedures. You must have the ability to stay calm, identify and evaluate problems quickly, be physically fit, and communicate well.

The NPC Emergency Medical Services Department provides outstanding pre-hospital care education. The current NPC program has been revised and updated based on the most recent standards of the National Association of EMS Educators.

Classes are taught by experienced and knowledgeable emergency health care professionals. You'll be learning the most up-to-date, best practices available in this challenging field. You will satisfy paramedic certification requirements of both the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and the Arizona Department of Health Services.

For more information about this program, please contact an NPC Academic Adviser. Also see the current NPC College Catalog and class schedule.

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Once you become a paramedic, NPC offers continuing education courses to improve your knowledge and skills. The NPC EMS Department does not offer advanced placement, transfer for credit, or experiential learning.

Advanced Life Support (ALS) Refresher Course

Advanced Life Support (ALS) Refresher

EMT 241 Advanced Life Support (ALS) Refresher is the three-credit continuing education class that fulfills the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) and the state of Arizona requirements for both paramedic and intermediate EMT recertification. The ALS refresher course is offered two or three times per year. Intensive block classes are a mixture of 48-hours of lecture and Skills return demonstration.

Labs and Classrooms

Paramedic Training I (EMT 246) is a 20-credit hour course that meets two full days per week, generally during the fall semester.

The final course, Paramedic Training II (EMT 247), is 22 credit hours and spans the spring semester.

Lecture classes meet on the Show Low campus, and clinicals/vehiculars are scheduled with agencies throughout the state.

Entry Requirements

Applicants to NPC's Paramedicine program must:

be an Arizona-certified EMT-Basic with a minimum of one year of pre-hospital or emergency room experience;
meet NPC placement requirements for College Composition I (ENL 101) and Basic Technical Mathematics (MAT 101); and
have by the first day of class proof of MMR, TB (skin test before the start of the program), Hep B (or waiver), Tdap immunizations and a DPS fingerprint clearance card.

To begin the process, students must first enroll in Basic Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Pharmacology (EMT 240). Upon successful completion of the course, you must interview for acceptance into the Paramedicine program.

Work Environment

Most EMTs and paramedics work full-time, 24-48-hour shifts. Their work is physically strenuous and can be stressful, sometimes involving life-or-death situations. With additional certification, paramedics can work as a flight paramedic.

Job Outlook

Employment of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics is projected to grow 24 percent through 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. Emergencies, such as car crashes, natural disasters and acts of violence, will continue to create demand for EMTs and paramedics.

Potential Job Titles

Paramedic, ALS-Medic, flight medic

Accreditation/Affiliations

The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) provides national certification of EMTs and paramedics at three levels: EMT, Advanced EMT and Paramedic.

The NPC Paramedicine program is also certified by the Arizona Department of Health Services and by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

NPC's Paramedicine program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 727-210-2350 www.caahep.org To contact CoAEMSP: 214-703-8445 www.coaemsp.org.

The Paramedic program of Northland Pioneer College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) provides national certification of EMTs and paramedics at three levels: EMT, Advanced EMT, and Paramedic.