Emergency Medical Technology: Paramedic, A.A.S.

Degree: A.A.S.
HEGIS Code: 5299
Curriculum Code: 1293.EMP
Health Sciences Division

Prerequisite: Basic EMT offered at: North, South

Program Description

The Emergency Medical Technology Paramedic Degree Program is designed for both the career and volunteer provider. This degree will require students to complete the SUNY general education courses which are available at all Erie Community College campuses. This degree will ensure the student completes core development courses in math, English, science, humanities, social science, EMT and other fields to be better rounded students and lifelong learners. The successful completion of the program will enable the student to receive an Associate of Applied Science Paramedic Degree.

The EMT-Paramedic Degree Program at the South Campus is CAAHEP Accredited, meets the national standard for paramedic education, making graduates eligible for the National Registry Examination.  The program’s primary objective is to prepare students to become certified paramedics delivering effective pre-hospital advanced life support.  Upon successful completion, many providers utilize this degree to move onto other roles in healthcare such as Physician, Physician Assistant and Respiratory Therapy.  Students considering careers in the military, law enforcement or the fire service, the paramedic degree is a relevant compliment to these professions.

The First Year: Fall; Students will take Basic EMT, English, Math, BioMedical Ethics.  Spring: Students will take Survey of A&P, English, History, Psychology.

The Second Year:  Semesters offerings: Fall: August through February  &  Spring: March through August.

The Paramedic Degree Program has Full-time Day and Evening Programs.  The Paramedic Program will follow a 53 week, 2 semester format. 

The Day Paramedic Program runs Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30am - 2:30pm.  The Evening Paramedic program runs Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4:30pm - 10:30pm.  The course offerings throughout the year will be a combination; lecture content followed by lab work interspersed throughout the program to reinforce the lecture content.  Corresponding hospital based clinical experiences will further augment the material students complete in the on campus lectures and labs. 

Starting in March of the spring semester, in addition to lectures, labs and hospital clinical, the ambulance field internship course will be incorporated.  The internship allows students to function in the role of paramedic under the direct supervision of certified paramedic preceptor.  Students will perform a minimum of 255 hour field internship, responding to non-emergent hospital transfer and 911 emergency calls.  The field internship will conclude with eligible students taking their final New York State Skills exam in July and the New York State written exam in August.

Accreditation

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is the largest programmatic accreditor in the Allied health sciences field.  Nationally recognized accreditation is available for EMS education through CAAHEP’s Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). Since 2013, the National Registry of EMT’s (NREMT) requires successful completion of an accredited program as an eligibility requirement for National EMS Certification at the paramedic level. Candidates that graduate from a CAAHEP accredited program retain the ability to apply for national EMS certification that will enhance the ability to apply for reciprocity in 44 states.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
1361 Park Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: 727-210-2350
Fax: 727-210-2354
www.caahep.org

Licensure Compliance Statement

SUNY Erie Community College Paramedic curriculum and its program of study meets the educational requirements by the Board of Regents in New York State to award an Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS) with a major in paramedicine.  Graduates meet the requirements for National Registry and New York State Department of Health Paramedic Licensure Exams.  Other states may have different educational requirements for program completion and Licensure requirements. SUNY Erie Paramedic Program has not made a determination of whether the curriculum meets the educational requirements for paramedic Licensure in states other than in New York. If seeking Licensure in a state other than New York, please review the requirement of that State’s Paramedic Licensure. To search a particular State’s Paramedic Licensure, go to the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians website at  
https://www.nremt.org/rwd/public/states/state‐ems‐agencies. 

Credentials

• American Heart Association Basic CPR credential
• New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, Basic Emergency Medical Technician
• American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider credential
• American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support credential
• American Academy of Emergency Physicians-International Trauma Life Support-Advanced Provider credential
• NYS Health Department Certification-EMT Paramedic
• State University of New York EMT Paramedic A.A.S. Degree

Special Admission Requirements/Prerequisites

Basic EMT

• Individuals must be 17 years old to receive New York State Basic EMT certification.
• Basic EMT course is offered at North (Fall, Spring) and South (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 SUNY Erie, 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

Program Competencies

Upon completion of EMT - paramedic courses, the graduate will prove competency in those skills pertinent to his/her level of training as indicated below:

1. Introduction Demonstrate a basic and advanced understanding of the content, ranging from but not limited to medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, and techniques for lifting and moving patients related to the Emergency Medical Technology services.
2. Airway Management Demonstrate basic and advanced didactic knowledge & technical competence to manage airway complications.
3. Patient Assessment Demonstrate basic and advanced didactic & technical competence for conducting a patient assessment.
4. Medicine Demonstrate basic and advanced didactic knowledge & technical competence to manage medical emergencies, to include but not limited to medication administration, cardiac defibrillation.
5. Trauma/Shock/Resuscitation Demonstrate basic and advanced didactic knowledge & technical competence to manage patients with traumatic injuries.
6. Special Patient Populations Demonstrate basic and advanced didactic knowledge & technical competence to manage special populations to include pediatrics, geriatrics, bariatric & technology dependent patients (ie. to include but not limited to ventilators, tracheostomies).
7. EMS Operations Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the role of EMS operations.

Curriculum

Total Degree Credits: 68.5