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Paramedic

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses Faculty

Associate Degree

A.S. in Paramedic

Paramedicine is an allied health specialty whose practitioners respond to emergencies before a patient reaches a hospital, rendering basic and advanced medical treatment before and during transport to a medical facility. Classroom, clinical and field internship training prepares paramedics to assess and treat a wide variety of medical emergencies. The knowledge, skills and experience gained through the paramedic program allows students to meet the responsibilities outlined in the Department of Transportation's Emergency Medical Services Education Standards.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Degree Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
PMED 114 Preparatory 11
PMED 115 Clinical Behavior, Patient Assessment, and Airway Management 5
PMED 121 Prehospital Medicine and Clinical Internship 12.5
PMED 131 Trauma, Shock, EMS Operations, and Field Internship 17.5
Total Units: 46

The Paramedic Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus the local ARC General Education Requirement, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60-unit total. See ARC graduation requirements.

Enrollment Eligibility

To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:

  • Graduation from an accredited high school in the United States, or successful completion of General Education Development (GED) or the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE).
  • Students with a high school diploma from a school outside the United States must have transcripts evaluated by an approved independent agency. Such cases will be evaluated on an individual basis.
  • Current curriculum planning summary sheet within the semester in which the pre-enrollment packet is being submitted.
  • Completion of the program application (pre-enrollment packet) and submittal prior to the deadline.
  • Current certification as an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic and approximately one year verified EMS experience or a minimum of 280 verifiable EMS patient encounters acting as a team lead. See program website for examples of commonly acceptable experience and a patient encounter tracking form.

Enrollment Process

Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:

  • Pre-enrollment applications to the program may be obtained from the Health and Education Division office or at http://arc.losrios.edu/edhealth/paramed.html. Applications for Spring admission will be available in September and must be submitted to the division office no later than the first Friday in December by 4:00 p.m. Please refer to the Paramedic Information Sheet for the most current information.
  • Only students who meet the educational requirements and follow the pre-enrollment procedures will be considered for the program. Meeting all of these requirements does not guarantee enrollment in the program.
  • Class size is limited. If the pre-enrollment pool is greater than the program can accept, students are chosen based on a computerized random selection process from among the qualified candidates.
  • Students accepted into the Paramedic program are required to have a physical examination, approved immunizations, drug screen, background check, program uniform, required learning materials, and malpractice insurance prior to deadlines set by the program.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • synthesize pre-arrival information and initial assessment findings to classify patient acuity.
  • utilize support personnel and equipment to maximize scene and patient management.
  • diagnose patient conditions using auditory, tactile and visual senses.
  • correlate signs and symptoms of common diseases to emergency patients and their primary complaint.
  • formulate competent treatment plans for medical or trauma patients.
  • report assessment findings, diagnosis, and treatment plans to appropriate health professionals.
  • develop and implement strategies to strengthen personal empathy and sympathy for prehospital patients.
  • apply ethical practices during all phases of an emergency medical response.
  • demonstrate advanced life support skills competency as set by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
  • assess scene and personal safety before, during, and after each emergency response.
  • compose accurate, timely and specific patient care reports in accordance with local, regional, and state documentation standards.

Career Information

The ARC Paramedic program is designed to prepare the student for licensure as a paramedic, working for a fire department, rescue squad, private provider, industry, clinic or hospital.

Certificate of Achievement

Paramedic Certificate

Paramedicine is an allied health specialty whose practitioners respond to emergencies before a patient reaches a hospital, rendering basic and advanced medical treatment before and during transport to a medical facility. Classroom, clinical and field internship training prepares paramedics to assess and treat a wide variety of medical emergencies. The knowledge, skills and experience gained through the paramedic program allows students to meet the responsibilities outlined in the Department of Transportation's Emergency Medical Services Education Standards.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Certificate Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
PMED 114 Preparatory 11
PMED 115 Clinical Behavior, Patient Assessment, and Airway Management 5
PMED 121 Prehospital Medicine and Clinical Internship 12.5
PMED 131 Trauma, Shock, EMS Operations, and Field Internship 17.5
Total Units: 46

Enrollment Eligibility

To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:

  • Graduation from an accredited high school in the United States, or successful completion of the General Education Development (GED or the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE).
  • Students with a high school diploma from a school outside the United States must have transcripts evaluated by an approved independent agency. Such cases will be evaluated on an individual basis.
  • Current curriculum planning summary sheet within the semester in which the pre-enrollment packet is being submitted.
  • Completion of the program application (pre-enrollment packet) and submittal prior to the deadline.
  • Current certification as an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic and approximately one year verified EMS experience or a minimum of 280 verifiable EMS patient encounters acting as a team lead. See program website for examples of commonly acceptable experience and a patient encounter tracking form.

Enrollment Process

Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:

  • Pre-enrollment applications to the program may be obtained from the Health and Education Division office or at http://arc.losrios.edu/edhealth/paramed.html. Applications for Spring admission will be available in September and must be submitted to the division office no later than the first Friday in December by 4:00 p.m. Please refer to the Paramedic Information Sheet for the most current information.
  • Only students who meet the educational requirements and follow the pre-enrollment procedures will be considered for the program. Meeting all of these requirements does not guarantee enrollment in the program.
  • Class size is limited. If the pre-enrollment pool is greater than the program can accept, students are chosen based on a computerized random selection process from among the qualified candidates.
  • Students accepted into the Paramedic program are required to have a physical examination, approved immunizations, drug screen, background check, program uniform, required learning materials, and malpractice insurance prior to deadlines set by the program.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • synthesize pre-arrival information and initial assessment findings to classify patient acuity.
  • utilize support personnel and equipment to maximize scene and patient management.
  • diagnose patient conditions using auditory, tactile and visual senses.
  • correlate signs and symptoms of common diseases to emergency patients and their primary complaint.
  • formulate competent treatment plans for medical or trauma patients.
  • report assessment findings, diagnosis, and treatment plans to appropriate health professionals.
  • develop and implement strategies to strengthen personal empathy and sympathy for prehospital patients.
  • apply ethical practices during all phases of an emergency medical response.
  • demonstrate advanced life support skills competency as set by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
  • assess scene and personal safety before, during, and after each emergency response.
  • compose accurate, timely and specific patient care reports in accordance with local, regional, and state documentation standards.

Career Information

The ARC Paramedic program is designed to prepare students for licensure as a paramedic, working for a fire department, rescue squad, private provider, industry, clinic, or hospital.

Certificate

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certificate

This program prepares students to function as certified Emergency Medical Technicians. Training topics include the skills necessary to provide emergency medical care at a basic life support level with a fire, ambulance, or other specialized service. This program is conducted in compliance with Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 2 of the California Code of Regulations and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). A "C" or better is required to obtain a course completion certificate.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Certificate Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
EMT 110 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Didactic 6
EMT 111 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practicum 1
Total Units: 7

Enrollment Eligibility

To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:

  • Documentation of current American Heart Association CPR Basic Life Support certification. No other form of CPR certification is accepted. Students must be present and provide a copy of the AHA CPR certification on the first day of the course. Not open to students with current NREMT or California State certification or licensure as an EMT, EMT-Basic, Advanced EMT or paramedic.

Enrollment Process

Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:

  • Verification of current American Heart Association Basic Life Support CPR certification. No other form of CPR certification is accepted. Students must be present and provide a copy of the AHA CPR certification on the first day of the course. Not open to students with current NREMT or California State certification or licensure as an EMT, EMT-Basic, Advanced EMT or paramedic.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • evaluate the nature and seriousness of the patient's condition or extent of injuries.
  • apply emergency medical care based on assessments and findings.
  • demonstrate proper procedures in lifting, moving, and positioning a patient to minimize discomfort and prevent further injury.
  • utilize communicating, transporting, and record keeping skills.

Career Information

Emergency Medical Technicians operate in a variety of settings from public emergency services, private industry and health care facilities. EMT employment varies from community to community and is considered a growing occupation within the Allied Health professions.