Schools
Being a Paramedic means that you are required to know all that is needed to be a good EMT, and have additional training as well. This additional training is gained through a minimum of 1 year prehospital work experience as an EMT (prerequisite for Paramedic school), and Paramedic school (9-12 months of training). Paramedics are responsible for drug administration, IV therapy, advanced cardiac monitoring, radio reports, patient transport and are ultimately the medical authority on any medical emergency they respond to.
General guidelines to become a Paramedic:
Are you an EMT?
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- To become an EMT, you must first earn a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate, and then pass a semester-long EMT course.
- You must work as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in the prehospital setting for one year before applying for Paramedic school.
- For more information on how to become an EMT, please visit EMT-Info
Have you completed the necessary pre-requisite coursework?
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- There are a number of required courses in order to apply for Paramedic school. The exact courses will vary depending on what school you attend. Please reference the chart below to get a glimpse into what you’ll need. For more specific info, contact those schools directly and they will provide you with exactly what you’ll need.
- There are many other things you’ll be asked to show proof of when applying to each respective Paramedic school – make sure you pay close attention to the details of the application packet.
Are you prepared for a commitment unlike any other you have experienced in your life?
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- A typical day for a Paramedic student includes 8 hours of class (including multiple tests, simulations and lecture) followed by 3-5 hours of study once back at home that evening. This schedule can be routine for up to 6 of the 9 months of a typical Paramedic program.
- It’s thus very difficult to hold a job while in Paramedic school – many students will move home to stay with parents or close relatives, or have a spouse that can support them both.
- Can you absorb the cost of going through a Paramedic program? Typical cost is at least $3000/year.
Can you handle the pressure of being THE medical authority once at the scene of an emergency? Once you become a certified Paramedic, you will be expected to take charge and make command decisions that directly affect the health and well-being of the patients you are called to help.
Prerequisite Info – Required in order to apply
* (does not include general college entrance requirements)
EMSTA
- 18 years old
- Documents
- High school diploma or GED
- Copy of Social Security Card
- Copy of valid Driver’s License
- Copy of (Firefighter exempt) DMV Driver’s License
- Copy of (Firefighter exempt) Medical Examiner Certificate
- Current EMT-B certificate
- Current CPR card – American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC)
- Current resume
- Coursework/Testing
- Completion of HOBET test with minimum score of 61
- Completion of Paramedic Prep class
- Completion of Anatomy & Physiology (A&P) course
- Work Experience
- One year of EMT-B work experience
IVC – Imperial Valley College
18 years old
Documents
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- Complete application packet
- High school diploma or GED
- Current EMT I or EMT II certification
- EMT Transcripts
- Current CPR card – American Heart Association (AHA)
- Coursework/Testing
- BIOL 090 Anatomy and Physiology for Healthcare Providers
- Math placement test
- Reading placement text
- Work Experience
- Minimum1 year’s experience as EMT I or EMT II
NCTI
- 18 years old
- Documents
- Complete application packet
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid email address
- Valid Driver’s license
- Copy of college diploma (if applicable)
- Current CPR card
- Possess a current, county-issued EMT-B or EMT-II certificate throughout the duration of the program
- Coursework/Testing
- Complete an NCTI Anatomy & Physiology Course or an approved Anatomy & Physiology course within the last 5 years
- Work Experience
- None
Palomar
- 18 years old
- Free from felony conviction
- Documents
- High school diploma or GED
- Letter from employer documenting necessary work experience
- Valid Driver’s license
- Valid EMT-B certificate
- Valid CPR card – American Heart Association (AHA)
- Three original, professional letter of reference; signed & dated
- Coursework/Testing
- Completion of Anatomy & Physiology (A&P) course (ZOO-145) or Intro Anatomy & Physiology – grade C or better
- Completion of Paramedic Prep (EME-175 & 175L) – grade B or better
- Qualification for English 50, Math 15 and Reading 110 as determined by a Palomar College Assessment Test. (Test is waived for those with B.A. degree or above)
- Work Experience
- One year full time paid experience (2080 hours)
Southwestern
- 18 years old
- Documents
- Official transcripts for any class required
- Letter from employer documenting necessary work experience
- Coursework/Testing
- Completion of 2 general Southwestern college placement exams: math & reading
- Basic match proficiency exam (EMT knowledge based)
- Medical Terminology (waived with proof of Medical Terminology course completion)
- Background check
- Work Experience
- One year full-time work experience as EMT-B. Full-time is: 10-24 hour shifts (2,880 hrs per year), 15-12 hour shifts (2,160 hrs per year) or other types of shift totaling a minimum of 2,100 hours.
Jobs
As a Paramedic you’ll have a number of choices when look for work in San Diego County. The list below includes the most common jobs for a PM:
- Ambulance company
- Hospital Emergency Room Technician (aka E.R. Tech)
- Event staffing
- Fire Departments – Single role PM
- Air ambulance
Please note that these career choices very closely mirror those of the EMT, another example of why being a PM is simply being a strong EMT, with extra training and experience. We have included the job opportunities that are available to the EMT with the PM list, as it will be an option to “work down” in scope to you if you choose. An example of this is working in an E.R. – you will not be able to work under the full scope of PM protocols while working as an E.R. tech, however, you can still be hired as an EMT, and work within those guidelines.
There are a small number of ambulance companies in San Diego County that will hire the single role PM – please see our PM Jobs listing for more information:
If the PM chooses to work down in scope, they are still eligible for E.R. Tech positions within San Diego county hospitals. Similarly, the PM can be hired at a venue or by an event-staffing firm as an EMT. These jobs offer a unique opportunity to see patients in different phases of a respective emergency – and in the case of event staffing, offer a chance to be the first responder who completes the initial assessment and turnover to the responding transport Paramedics.
A unique and exciting job opportunity that exists for the PM is working in an Air Ambulance, or helicopter, alongside a Critical Care Nurse. Air ambulance resources work under an expanded scope of medical authority – they are allowed to use more drugs and advanced emergency procedures than the PM’s in San Diego County. Air ambulance is a resource that is used for critical patients who either need care that cannot be provided by responding ground PM’s, or need to get to an appropriate emergency facility faster than ground transport will allow.
