Program Information

Paramedics are professional emergency care providers to acutely ill or injured patients. Our Paramedic Program provides students with the skills, knowledge, and clinical experience required to provide safe and effective pre-hospital care. Students may take courses leading to completion of the Associate of Applied Science degree or certificate options. This program integrates classroom, laboratory, and applied clinical practice following the national standard curriculum outlined by the Department of Transportation.

Our program collaborates with local fire/EMS departments, nationally recognized hospitals, interfacility transport companies, and emergency departments for medical, trauma, and specialty rotations. It is approved by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Service Systems and nationally by the Committee on Accreditation (CoAEMSP) through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Upon completing the program, graduates are eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) Paramedic examination.

Accreditation

Our Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions. It has also been approved by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems on behalf of the Maryland Emergency Medical Services Board.

Paramedic Program Goals

The Paramedic Program prepares competent entry-level Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. This program is in compliance with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education.

Program Outcomes

CAAHEP Accredited Paramedic programs track and report outcome measures annually to the Committee on Accreditation for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). The most current CoAEMSP annual report was for the calendar year 2022. PGCC PASS RATES for the National Registry of Emergency Technicians (NREMT) Paramedic level certification are listed below::

  • National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians - Written Licensing Exam: 83.3%
  • National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians - Practical Licensing Exam: 100%
  • Program Retention: 92.3%
  • Positive Placement - Paid and Volunteer Positions: 100%
Prerequisites

All applicants must meet the following requirements in order to petition the program:

  • Must be at least 18 years old.
  • Must possess a current valid Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license and have a minimum of one year of experience as an EMT with proof.
  • Must be eligible for English 1010 and Math 1250 based on your college placement test scores or must have a grade of C or higher in these courses.
  • Must have a minimum rating of "proficient" on the TEAS (explained at the end of the document)—everyone must take the TEAS and obtain this minimum rating.
  • Must have a grade of C or higher in BIO 2050 and BIO 2060 (Human A & P I and II—with face-to-face labs), with a minimum of 4 credits for each course, prior to applying to the paramedic program.
  • Must meet all physical requirements to safely and effectively perform the job of a paramedic and to provide excellent patient assessment and care. This may include the following:
    • "Normal" hearing (without an interpreter but may be with/without hearing improvement devices).
    • Able to speak clearly and at an audible conversation level.
    • Having "normal" vision (with or without the aid of corrective eyewear).
    • Able to sit, stand, bend, climb, kneel, squat, twist, and crawl without assistance for a prolonged period.
    • As part of a standard crew, able to lift a patient of average weight and the EMS equipment normally carried on a call.
  • Note: These requirements are being reviewed and will be updated as information becomes available to the program and prior to the petition deadline.
Class Schedule
1st Semester – Summer 2nd Semester – Fall 3rd Semester - Spring
PMD 1000 – Intro/Med Emergencies PMD 1030 – Cardiology PMD 2020 – Med Emergencies II
PMD 1010 – Advanced Airway Management PMD 2010 – Special Patient Populations PMD 2040 – Prep for Licensing Exam
PMD 1020 – Pharm, IV Therapy, MedMath PMD 2030 – Shock and Trauma PMD 2200 – Summative Clinical
PMD 1050 – Intro Clinical PMD 1100 – Clinical II  

An example of a typical schedule:

  • Week 1 — Class on Monday and Tuesday — Scheduled clinical for a minimum of 8-16 hours weekly in addition to, and outside of, this class time.
  • Week 2 — Class onTuesday and Wednesday — Clinical, same as above.
  • Week 3 — Class on Wednesday and Thursday — Clinical, same as above.
  • Week 4 — Class on Thursday and Friday — Clinical, same as above.
  • Repeat, starting at Week 1 example.
Tuition

Tuition is based on residency. Consult the catalog or website for current tuition information.

Note: The Paramedic Program is a designated Healthcare Manpower Shortage Program (HMSP) and as such, the College provides in-county tuition rates to accepted students who live in Maryland.

(If you live outside of Prince George’s County, you must live in Maryland to receive this benefit.)

Helpful Links
Accreditation Contact Information

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Phone: 727-210-2350
Email: www.caahep.org

Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions
Phone: 214-703-8445
Email: www.coaemsp.org
 
Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems
Phone: 800-762-7157
Email: www.miemss.org