Emergency Medical Technology/Paramedic (Degree)
Program Description
The Paramedic AAS integrates the eleven (11) month paramedic certificate with general studies courses that enrich paramedic knowledge. We encourage students to complete the General Studies requirements before attending the Paramedic certificate program. Successful completion of the General Studies requirements gives students an academic foundation that improves success in the rigorous paramedic certificate program.
In 2018, The National Association of EMS Educators, the National EMS Management Association and the International Association of Flight and Critical Care Paramedics released a joint statement advocating for paramedics to obtain an associate degree.
According to the statement, the organizations believe the time has come for paramedics to “be trained through a formal education process that culminates with an associate degree.” While a degree is not yet a requirement for paramedics, many desirable employment opportunities and promotions are reserved for those who have degrees. For instance, the FBI exclusively higher paramedics with degrees.
See the Paramedic Certificate Program Description for additional details.
Program Pre-requisites:
- Current NYS certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). The EMT department does offer EMT courses.
- A high school diploma or GED.
- At least 10 months of full-time experience as an EMT or equivalent part-time experience.
Credentials
The following credentials are earned throughout the program:
- American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
- American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Provider
- American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)-Advanced Provider
Program Goal: To prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician, and/or Emergency Medical Responder levels.
Program Details
Pre-Admission Recommendations: Basic EMT Course
Basic EMT
- Individuals must be 18 17 years old to receive New York State Basic EMT certification.
- Basic EMT course is offered at North (Fall, Spring) and South campuses both fall and spring semesters, (Fall, Spring, Summer) campus, along with other program electives.
- Satisfactory completion of the Basic EMT certification and field experience does not guarantee admission into the paramedic degree or certificate program.
- In accordance with the requirements of 10 NYCRR Part 800, students must not have been convicted of any misdemeanors of felonies. Students with convictions will be individually reviewed by the New York State Department of Health and may not be automatically barred from certification. The New York State Department of Health will determine if the conviction is applicable under the provisions of Part 800.
Paramedic
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to be an active member of a volunteer, commercial or municipal EMS agency and attain as much EMT patient care field experience (in a non-driving role) as possible prior to entering the program. EMT faculty believes paramedic program success is heavily influenced by the amount of patient care experience the applicant brings with them into the program.
- Students must contact the Emergency Medical Technology Department at South Campus for an interview and preliminary advisement prior to registration.
- Graduation applications are required upon successful completion of the program.
Students must meet all of the following prerequisites:
- maintain a current New York State EMT certification beyond the end date of the paramedic program;
- hold a high school diploma or equivalent;
- for a student who previously attended ECC, he or she must be in good academic standing; and
- complete and Allied Health Physical examination with the appropriate immunizations signed by a physician verifying physical fitness to provide advanced life support.
Required Math & English Competencies
Students applying to the paramedic certificate program must demonstrate they are prepared
for college level English and Math. This can be achieved by the student taking the
SUNY Erie Math and English Pretest or may be waived based upon SUNY Erie Admissions
Department requirements
ECC Paramedic Outcomes 2021-2023
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| NYS Written Pass % | 98% | 98% | 100% |
| NYS Practical Pass % | 98% | 98% | 100% |
| Student Retention Rate | 88% | 75% | 87% |
| Employer Placement % | 96% | 98% | 100% |
"The Erie Community College Paramedic 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