Degrees, Certificates, & Transfer Programs

Paramedic 2020-2021

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.

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.

Units Required

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.
-English proficiency: ENGL 1A, 1AH, 1S & 1T, or equivalent.
-Mathematics proficiency: MATH 105, 180, or any MATH course approved for Foothill GE Area V, Communication & Analytical Thinking.
A minimum of 90 units is required* 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 (76.5 units)

*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.

Additional Information:

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: foothill.edu/ems/paramedic/

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: www.ems.gov/pdf/education/National-EMS-Education-Standards-and-Instructional-Guidelines/Paramedic_Instructional_Guidelines.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.
MATH 105 or higher, or equivalent.
BIOL 40A or equivalent (1 semester of Anatomy & Physiology with laboratory).
One of the following: ENGL 1A, 1AH, or 1S & 1T.

Core Courses (76.5 units)

First Quarter
AHS 50A Introduction to Allied Health Programs (1.5 units)
AHS 60C Advanced Cardiac Life Support (2 units)
EMS 60A Paramedic Cognitive & Affective IA (9 units)
EMS 60B Paramedic Cognitive, Psychomotor & Affective IB (3 units)

Second Quarter
AHS 50B Interprofessional Patient Competencies (0.5 unit)
EMS 61A Paramedic Cognitive & Affective IIA (9 units)
EMS 61B Paramedic Cognitive, Affective & Psychomotor IIB (3 units)
EMS 63A Paramedic Hospital Specialty Rotations (2 units)

Third Quarter
AHS 60D Pediatric Advanced Life Support (AHA PALS) (2 units)
AHS 60F Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) (2 units)
EMS 62A Paramedic Cognitive & Affective IIIA (9 units)
EMS 62B Paramedic Cognitive, Affective & Psychomotor IIIB (3 units)

Fourth Quarter
EMS 63B* Paramedic Hospital Emergency Department Rotations (4.5 units)

Fifth Quarter
EMS 64A* Paramedic Ambulance Field Internship I (13 units)

Sixth Quarter
EMS 64B* Paramedic Ambulance Field Internship II (13 units)

* Students may have the option of completing the program in five quarters, by taking EMS 63B during the third quarter, 64A during the fourth quarter, and 64B during the fifth quarter. For more information, contact program staff.

Certificate Requirements

Certificate of Achievement in Paramedic

Units: 76.5

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.

Control Information:
2020-2021 | Status: Approved | Modified: 2020-04-27 14:04:31 | Dept Code: EMTP