What is Emergency Medical Services?
The Paramedic program combines academic and laboratory courses with high technology clinical instruction. You’ll gain the necessary cognitive knowledge, psychomotor skills, and affective behaviors to succeed as a Paramedic. Program curriculum comes from the National EMS Education Standards set forth by the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS).
Graduates will be eligible to apply to take the National Registry Paramedic Exam and may earn a certificate upon completion of the program.
What are my career choices?
The paramedic primarily provides pre-hospital emergency care to acutely ill and/or injured individuals while working on an ambulance, mobile advanced life support unit, industrial on-site unit, fire departments, emergency departments and other agencies.
Job titles include ER Paramedic, SWAT Paramedic, Flight Paramedic, Cruise ship Paramedic, Oil Rig Paramedic, Overseas Contract Paramedic, Plasma donation Paramedic, Military Paramedic, Cardiac Stress Tech, EKG technician, Lab Assistant, etc.
What are my degree, diploma, or certificate options?
Certificates
*Offered at the Somerset South Campus and Clinton Center.
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| EMS 105 - Emergency Medical Technician | 6 |
| CPR 100 - CPR Healthcare Professionals | (1) |
| Total | 6-7 |
*Offered only at the Somerset South Campus and the Clinton Center.
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| EMS 120 - Seminar in Advanced Emergency Medical Technician | 4 |
| EMS 121 - Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Lab Skills | 2 |
| Total | 6 |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| EMS 125 - Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Clinical Experience | 3 |
| EMS 130 - Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Field Internship | 3 |
| Total | 6 |
Total credit hours for certification: 12
Applicants must be a certified KY EMT upon entering the first term. Offered only on the Somerset campus.
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| BIO 135 - Basic Anatomy and Physiology with Lab | 4 |
| or BIO 137 and BIO 139 | (8) |
| AHS 115 - Medical Terminology | 3 |
| Total | 7 (11) |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| EMS 201 - Principles of Paramedicine I | 6 |
| EMS 203 - Practicum I - Clinicals | 1 |
| EMS 204 - Paramedic Lab I | 2 |
| Total | 9 |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| EMS 202 - Principles of Paramedicine II | 5 |
| EMS 206 - Practicum II | 3 |
| EMS 207 - Paramedic Lab II | 1 |
| Total | 9 |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| EMS 205 - Principles of Paramedicine III | 6 |
| EMS 208 - Principles of Paramedicine IV | 6 |
| EMS 209 - Paramedic Lab III | 2 |
| Total | 14 |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| EMS 212 - Practicum III - Field | 4 |
| EMS 213 - Principles of Paramedicine V | 2 |
| Total | 6 |
Total credits for certificate: 45-49
Special notes: If BIO 135 has been completed, then BIO 137/BIO 139 is not necessary.
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Applicants must be a certified KY EMT upon entering the first term. Offered only on the Somerset campus.
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| BIO 135 Basic Anatomy & Physiology with Laboratory | 4 |
| OR BIO 137 and BIO 139 | (8) |
| AHS 115 - Medical Terminology | 3 |
| Total | 7 (11) |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| EMS 201 - Principles of Paramedicine I | 6 |
| EMS 203 - Practicum I – Clinicals | 1 |
| EMS 204 - Paramedic Lab I | 2 |
| ENG 101 - Writing I | 3 |
| MAT 110 - Applied Mathematics | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| EMS 202 - Principles of Paramedicine II | 5 |
| EMS 206 - Practicum II | 3 |
| EMS 207 - Paramedic Lab II | 1 |
| Oral Communications | 3 |
| Digital/Computer Literacy | 0-3 |
| Total | 12-15 |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| EMS 205 - Principles of Paramedicine III | 6 |
| EMS 208 - Principles of Paramedicine IV | 6 |
| EMS 209 - Paramedic Lab III | 2 |
| Total | 14 |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| EMS 212 - Practicum III – Field | 4 |
| EMS 213 - Principles of Paramedicine V | 2 |
| PSY 110 - General Psychology | 3 |
| Heritage/Humanities | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
Total credits for degree: 60-64
Paramedic Completion Program - Earn your Associates Degree
Current nationally certified paramedics can participate in our online degree completion program earning college credits for their paramedic training to earn an Associate in Applied Science Degree.
All transitional courses must be completed.
Unrestricted KY Paramedic or NRP certification required.
Licensed paramedics will be awarded thirty-eight (38) semester credit hours upon completion of:
- Applying to the college of choice
- Submitting a letter of intent and a copy of required licensure/certification to program coordinator with validation by the Registrar
- Completing at least nine (9) credit hours from the degree-granting institution
- Meeting the 25% residency requirement for the degree granting institution and completion of the following courses:
| Courses | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| BIO 135 - Basic Anatomy & Physiology with Laboratory OR | 4 |
| BIO 137 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I and BIO 139 - Human Anatomy & Physiology II | (8) |
| AHS 115 - Medical Terminology | 3 |
| ENG 101 - Writing I | 3 |
| Heritage OR Humanities | 3 |
| MAT 110 - Applied Mathematics or higher level math course | 3 |
| Oral Communications (COM 181 or COM 252) | 3 |
| PSY 110 - General Psychology | 3 |
| CIT 105 - Intro to Computers | 3 |
| Total credit hours | 25-29 |
How Do I Apply?
Paramedic Technology is a Selective Admissions program. Students must follow all Selective Admissions steps to be considered for the program.
- Apply to SCC.
- Attend a pre-admission conference.
- Candidate's questions can be addressed at pre-admission conferences. Therefore, each candidate must attend a pre-admission conference prior to applying to the Paramedic Technology Program. If you are unable to attend an in-person conference, please email Program Coordinator Samantha Feldman to request an online presentation.
- Complete the online application.
- Complete a background check and drug screen.
- Submit copies of all immunizations, AHA BLS CPR card, and driver's license.
- Failure to provide a background check, drug test, EMT certification, CPR card, and immunizations by the first day of class will result in dismissal from the Paramedic Program.
For further information, please email the program coordinator Samantha Feldman.
How Do I Pay for This?
For information on EMS and Paramedic scholarships, please visit College Scholarships for EMS and Paramedics.
Where is this program offered?
EMS - Paramedic
- Paramedic classes are held on the Somerset South campus.
- Somerset classes are hybrid.
- Students must be an EMT in order to enter the EMS - Paramedic program.
EMT
- EMT classes are held at the Somerset Campus and Clinton Center.
- The Advanced EMT program is offered at the Somerset Campus.
Accreditation
The Somerset Community College EMS-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
Length of Program
You can earn an associate in applied science degree in 17 months if you maintain full-time status. This is a year round program.
This information should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog. You should always choose classes in cooperation with your faculty advisor to ensure that you meet all degree requirements.
