About the Program
The Paramedic is an allied health professional whose primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. This individual possesses the complex knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation. Paramedics function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight.
Students who successfully complete the paramedic program are eligible to sit for the National Registry exam and obtain their NRP. Additionally, students who wish to continue their education and work towards an Associate of Applied Science degree and who have current, unencumbered paramedic certification may be able to receive credits for the paramedic courses through credential assessment.
Program Requirements
Students must be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or GED, achieve minimal competency on the Cecil College Assessments, be affiliated with an Maryland ALS company in good standing, have EMT-B certification for at least one year or primary provider for a minimum of 150 calls, and successful completion of the NRP entry exam, offered in early spring. All students will be required to meet the following technical standards:
- Must be free of contagion and possess sufficient physical stamina with or without reasonable accommodations and mental stability to fulfill the requirements of the program and the customary requirements of the profession.
- Work for 8-12 hours performing physical tasks requiring physical energy without jeopardy to patient and student safety as, for example bending, lifting, turning, and ambulating patients.
- Perform fine movements and be able to manipulate instruments and equipment.
- Establish and work toward goals in a consistently responsible, realistic manner.
- Have auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.
- Have visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary for patient care.
- Be able to lift 50 lbs.
Additionally, the majority of healthcare facilities require a background and drug screen of all students who enter their facility; therefore all healthcare career students are required to successfully complete a background check and drug screen upon entering any health professions program.
Students who are not successfully cleared will be unable to complete the clinical portion of the health professions program and thus, will not be eligible to complete the health professions program.
Completion of a student health profile and certification in healthcare provider CPR (American Heart Association) is also required prior to clinical.
Required Courses
You are required to complete the following courses:
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HEM 210 | Paramedic - Preparatory Knowledge |
| HEM 211 | Paramedic - Patient Assessment |
| HEM 212 | Paramedic - Medical Emergencies |
| HEM 213 | Paramedic - Traumatic Emergencies |
| HEM 214 | Paramedic - Special Considerations |
| HEM 215 | Paramedic - Operations |
| HEM 216 | Clinical & Field Experience I |
| HEM 217 | Clinical & Field Experience II |
| HEM 218 | Clinical & Field Experience III |
| HEM 219 | Paramedic Capstone |
Program Learning Outcomes
The over-arching goal of the Paramedic program at Cecil College is to prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
In accordance with the requirements of Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP), the Paramedic program at Cecil College is pleased to report the following student/graduate achievement data in the tables below.
| Four-year Average | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retention Rate | 70.6% | No graduates during the 2020 reporting year | 63.2% | No Data | 78% |
| Four-year Average | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Registry/Practical Pass Rates | 100% | No graduates during the 2020 reporting year | 100% | No Data | 100% |
| National Registry/Written Pass Rates | 91.65% | No graduates during the 2020 reporting year | 83.3% | No Data | 100% |
| Four-year Average | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post Program Job Placement Rate | 100% | No graduates during the 2020 reporting year | 100% | No Data | 100% |
Estimated Program Costs for Paramedic Students
Cecil College offers the paramedic program in collaboration with the Cecil County Government Department of Emergency Services and with the ongoing support from the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Service Systems. The cost of the program includes both the program fees and tuition. If you have questions, please contact the Program Specialist for Healthcare Careers, LuAnn Williams, by email at rwilliams@nullcecil.edu.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Program Fees | |
| Entrance fee | $25.00 |
| Uniform polo shirt | $25.00 |
| CastleBranch | $147.00 |
| Textbooks (estimated) | $600.00 |
| Course fees and insurance | $1,449.00 |
| Tuition | |
| Tuition for in-county residents | $6,000.00 |
| Tuition for out-of-county residents | $7,500.00 |
| Tuition for out-of-state residents | $8,500.00 |
| Prerequisite Courses for Paramedic | |
| Non-credit A&P I and II courses (HCG 220 & HCG 221)* | $1,230.00 |
| A&P I and II textbook/workbook | $124.35 |
* Non-credit A&P I and II courses are required and are offered the summer before entering the Paramedic program at Cecil College. This requirement is waived for incoming students who have completed A&P I and II courses from Cecil College or an accredited institution with documentation.
Program Accreditation & Approval
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP)
The Cecil College Emergency Medical Technician-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 (CAAHEP)
9355 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
(727) 210-2350
mail@nullcaahep.org
Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP)
8301 Lakeview Parkway Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
(214) 703-8445
(214) 709-8992 (fax)
www.coaemsp.org
Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS)
The Paramedic program at Cecil College and Cecil County Department of Emergency Services is a unique partnership designed to meet the healthcare needs of Cecil County. The paramedic program is approved by Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS).
Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Service Systems
653 West Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
(800) 762-7157
www.miemss.org
National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)
Cecil College is approved by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) to offer distance education in the member states and territories. Student complaints relating to consumer protection laws offered under the terms and conditions of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), must first be filed with the institution to seek resolution. The student should begin the complaint process with the institution and if resolution is not found, the student would contact the Institution’s Home State SARA Portal Entity, Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). For more information, please refer to the SARA complaint process.
Supervised Clinical and Field Training Experiences
Through participation in NC-SARA and compliance with statutory regulations related to training in individual states, Cecil College is approved to offer limited, supervised clinical field experiences in 3 U.S. states to eligible students. The states include Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. These are the locations currently approved for student supervised clinical and field training. Individual state regulations are subject to change without prior notice and the College does not guarantee locations for clinical and field training experiences.
Licensure Requirements
The Paramedic program prepares the graduate to take the National Registry Paramedic (NRP) exam and meets the requirements in Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. The paramedic program prepares graduates to take the national exam that meets the requirements in all 50 states. Since requirements may change, prospective students should contact their state for information on the applicable licensing boards to determine whether the program meets requirements for licensure in the state where students are located.
Paramedic (Associate of Applied Science)
Students who wish to continue their education and work towards an Associate of Applied Science degree and who have current, unencumbered paramedic certification may be able to receive up to 28 credits for the EMT courses through credential assessment.
Please refer to the college catalog for a complete list of classes required for this degree.
For information about course fees, class times, and location, please visit the Continuing Education and Workforce Development Non-Credit Course Schedule.