Emergency Medical Technology - Paramedic

Program Accreditation

Advocate Sherman Hospital (CoAEMSP 600695) and AMITA St. Joseph Hospital (CoAEMSP 600685) Paramedic Program are accredited through 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). This certification is designed to promote high-quality education and training. ABA representatives' intensive review process examines all aspects of the program for compliance with the ABA's Guidelines

What training is required to become certified as a paramedic?

A criminal background check, drug test, appropriate PSB-HOA test scores, and successfully passing the program's entrance exams are required. After completing your EMT certification, you'll continue learning skills most medical staff require. Paramedics receive training in pathophysiology, pharmacology, venous access, medication administration, and specific medical emergencies, including pulmonary, cardiology, neurology, endocrinology, toxicology, and hematology. To complete your degree, you'll need to study infectious and contagious diseases, allergies and anaphylaxis, obstetrics, neonatology, pediatrics, geriatrics, particular challenges, and home health care patients. After successfully completing your clinical experience and classroom requirements, you'll be allowed to sit for your National Registry Exam to become a Certified NREMT Paramedic.

Who should choose to be a paramedic as a career?

If you decide to pursue a paramedic career, you will find it to be a very rewarding career. Paramedics can make a difference through the many lives they can save. They are trained to provide care and treatment at the scene of an emergency. If helping others in times of need is something you would like to do, this career will give you that opportunity. Paramedics are an important part of your community and highly demand employment. A career as a paramedic also opens the door to other professions, including fire service, law enforcement, and other healthcare careers.

Are all firefighters also paramedics?

Not all firefighters are required to be paramedics, but most departments require you to be an EMT. However, many fire departments, particularly in the US, prioritize recruiting licensed paramedics and firefighters, and some departments do require it.

Is a paramedic and an EMT the same thing?

Paramedics provide more extensive pre-hospital care and do the work of an EMT. For example, a paramedic can give oral medications, set up an IV, interpret an EKG, or other complex medical devices. Emergency EMTs are trained to provide basic medical assistance with minimal equipment, such as banding a wound, visually assessing a condition, and communicating with doctors and nurses at the hospital. You may be asking yourself, what do paramedics do? As an EMT-P, you'll be able to do everything an EMT does, but with more complexity.

What is the difference between the EMT-B and the EMT-P program certificate?

You will need to complete the EMT-Basic as it is a prerequisite for meeting the minimum requirements to apply for the paramedic program (EMT-Paramedic). The paramedic program is taught at our two local partners, Advocate Sherman Hospital and Amita Health St Joseph Hospital. You will receive the lifelong skills to help you begin your career in this rewarding field.