Paramedic Certificate Program

Paramedic
The Department’s Paramedic certificate program prepares students for careers in pre-hospital emergency medicine and enables graduates to be employed as field paramedics in a variety of settings, such as fire-rescue departments, private ambulance services and aero-medical services, to name a few.  The program can be completed in four to five semesters, depending on the student’s desired course load.  EMT Basic certification and Medical Terminology are pre-requisites to the program.  Other information pertinent to this program is described below.     
Accreditation     

The Department’s Paramedic certificate program is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions (CoEMSP).

Admission     

Criteria for general admission of paramedic students to the University are the same as those for all students.  Please consult with the University’s admission’s office for more information about admission policies and procedures at (251) 460-6141, or you may visit their web site at www.southalabama.edu/admissions/contact.html.

Curriculum     
Paramedic
The basis for the curriculum is the current Department of Transportation’s (DOT) National Standard curriculum for Paramedic education (1999). Click here for EMS Curriculum Brochure.

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Pre-requisites

EMT 200:  Basic Emergency Care    EMT 205:  Basic Clinicals    EMT 206:  Basic Skills Lab    EMT 210:  Medical Terminology    Paramedic Certificate Program     

Program of Study – Normal Track (5 Semesters)

1st Semester
EMT 310:  Human Systems *    EMT 335:  Essentials of Paramedicine    EMT 340:  EMS Cardiology    2nd Semester
EMT 315:  EMS Pharmacology I    EMT 345:  EMS Pharmacology II    EMT 375:  Women and Children    3rd Semester
EMT 355:  Emergency Care I    EMT 455:  Paramedic Skills Lab    EMT 465:  Paramedic Clinical I    4th Semester
EMT 350:  Patient Assessment    EMT 466:  Paramedic Clinical II    EMT 425:  Emergency Care II    5th Semester
EMT 475:  Field Internship    EMT 495:  Comp. Review/Exam   

*Students planning to pursue the Bachelor’s degree in EMS should take Anatomy and Physiology I and II in lieu of EMT 310.

Paramedic Certificate Program     

Program of Study –Accelerated Track (4 Semesters)

1st Semester
EMT 310:  Human Systems *    EMT 335:  Essentials of Paramedicine    EMT 340:  EMS Cardiology    EMT 350:  Patient Assessment    2nd Semester
EMT 315:  EMS Pharmacology I    EMT 345:  EMS Pharmacology II    EMT 375:  Women and Children    EMT 355:  Emergency Care I    3rd Semester
EMT 455:  Paramedic Skills Lab    EMT 465:  Paramedic Clinical I    EMT 466:  Paramedic Clinical II    EMT 425:  Emergency Care II    4th Semester
EMT 475:  Field Internship    EMT 495:  Comp. Review/Exam   

*Students planning to pursue the Bachelor’s degree in EMS should take Anatomy and Physiology I and II in lieu of EMT 310.

Course Descriptions      
Course descriptions for all courses throughout the program of study can be viewed here: EMT Course Descriptions.     
Progression and Completion Policies     

To progress throughout the program of study, a minimum final grade of 80% must be achieved in each course.  Students will be allowed to repeat a course only one time.  Students unable to satisfactorily complete the final comprehensive examination in EMT 495 will be required to repeat this course the following semester.

The State of Alabama mandates the National Registry of EMT’s examination at both the EMT Basic and Paramedic levels of practice.  Only those students who have met all academic requirements of the program will be eligible to sit for the National Registry examination. 

In accordance with State EMS regulations, each student must be a state licensed EMT Basic prior to beginning his or her second semester of paramedic instruction.  All other criteria for progression and completion will be listed in each course syllabus and will be mandatory.     
Attendance     
Attendance is mandatory.  Those students who have conflicts regarding attendance to classes or clinical internships will be asked to transfer to programs more suited to their schedules.     
Expenses     

Students are responsible for payment of all tuition and fees.  Tuition and fees are set by the University of South Alabama, upon approval of the Board of Trustees.  For current information on tuition and fees, please refer to the University’s admission’s office or click here http://www.southalabama.edu/admissions/expenses.html

Students are responsible for all personal health care expenses, including those resulting from injury or illness, while engaged in learning experiences required by the department.  Students will be required to show proof of health insurance or a signed waiver while in the program.  Students must show proof of all required immunizations. 

Students are responsible for all travel expenses to and from clinical and field internship sites.  Students are responsible for the purchase of uniforms and required clinical equipment and supplies for their internships.  Students must maintain current Healthcare Provider (CPR) certification throughout the program of study.     
Financial Aid     
The department’s Paramedic certificate program is an academic credit program of the University.  Successful completion of the program provides the student with 41 semester hours of credit.  Students who take academic credit coursework at the University may be eligible for financial assistance (i.e., Pell grant, student loans, etc.).  For more information on financial aid, please contact the University’s Financial Aid office at (251) 460-6231 or visit their web site at http://www.southalabama.edu/finaid/.     
Contact Information      

University of South Alabama
Department of EMS Education
Attn:  Gary Varner, Program Director
2002 Old Bay Front Drive
Mobile, AL  36615
gvarner@usouthal.edu

(251) 431-6418
Paramedic Program Advisor
lcurry@usouthal.edu