Graduates of the Paramedic College Credit Certificate (CCC) Program are prepared to become a licensed Paramedic in the field of emergency medical services. Upon successful completion of this program, the student will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Florida SouthWestern State College and the necessary instruction required to sit for the National Registry Paramedic (NRP) examination.
People’s lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics. Paramedics have additional advanced training to perform more difficult pre-hospital medical procedures. Incidents as varied as automobile accidents, heart attacks, drownings, childbirth, and gunshot wounds all require immediate medical attention. EMTs and paramedics provide this vital attention as they care for and transport the sick or injured to a medical facility.
Purchase of professional liability insurance is required and included in the program cost. Uniforms are required in all EMS classes and at the clinical sites. During the Paramedic Program, students will be required to complete clinical rotations in local hospital settings and internships with area EMS providers. These clinical rotations are in addition to scheduled lecture and laboratory hours. Students are responsible for transportation to and from the clinical and internship sites. The total Paramedic Certification Program length is four (4) semesters and 42 credit hours.
Current occupational employment and wages data for Paramedics are published by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292041.htm.
Accreditation
The Florida SouthWestern State College Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) 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
1361 Park Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
Office: (727) 210-2350
www.caahep.org
Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions
8301 Lakeview Parkway
Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
(214) 703-8445
Fax (214) 703-8992
www.coaemsp.org
Application Deadline
Fall Semester Start - Application due by June 30
Admission Requirements
The Paramedic Certificate Program has limited enrollment due to the rigorous clinical education requirements for the program. Acceptance to Florida SouthWestern State College does not imply acceptance into the Paramedic Certificate program. Each applicant must meet specific criteria which are listed in the admission policies. The Criteria for Admission Policies are available through the program office or through the School of Health Professions office at (239)489-9392. Admission applications are located at www.fsw.edu/academics/programs/certparamedic.
Admission requirements to the program include satisfactory completion of the following:
- Current Florida Emergency Medical Technician certification OR eligibility for EMT license if a new EMT graduate
- Must have Florida EMT license prior to enrolling in Paramedic Theory I
- College-approved criminal records check and drug testing at the applicant’s expense
- Proof of personal health insurance throughout enrollment in the program, naming the student and dates of coverage
- Immunization and health report
- Tuberculosis Screening Test
- Current Certification in American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Professionals (CPR and AED).
Academic Standards
- A grade of “C” or better is required in each course for progression in the Paramedic curriculum.
- Courses in the Paramedic curriculum may be repeated a maximum of two times. After a second unsuccessful attempt, the student must reapply and restart the curriculum.
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