Emergency Medical Services

DEGREES, CERTIFICATES & AWARDS

A.S.,  Paramedic
C.A.,  Paramedic
C.S.,  Emergency Medical Technician
C.S.,  Emergency Medical Technician Refresher

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DESCRIPTION

The Emergency Medical Services Program (EMS) trains students for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification and for Paramedic licensure. EMT Refresher courses and Hazardous Materials courses are also offered. Students are taught the fundamental principles and skills required to provide emergency medical care for the sick and injured at the scene of an emergency and/or during transport to a healthcare facility. Our training program prepares the graduate to function as a beginning practitioner according to national standards. Hands-on clinical and field internship experience is part of the training.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

An Associate Degree, depending on the focus of study, is designed to prepare students for transfer into upper division course work in a bachelor’s degree program, or, to prepare students to enter the workforce in a particular vocational field.  To qualify for an Associate’s Degree, a student must: 

1) complete each major-specific course required for the degree with at least a “C” grade or better,

2) complete all Cuesta College general education, graduation and residency requirements, and

3) achieve an overall grade point average of 2.0 for all courses attempted (major, general education, elective).

A Certificate Program is designed for students who desire specific training to meet an immediate occupational or personal goal, or for promotion or lateral transfer within their existing field of employment. To qualify for a Certificate of Achievement or a Certificate of Specialization, a student must

1) complete all courses required for the Certificate with an overall grade point average of 2.0.

Paramedic Program Admission Requirements

The Paramedic Program prepares graduates to take the Paramedic National Registry Examination (NREMTP) leading to licensure as a Paramedic.

Our goal is to prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician, and/or Emergency Medical Responder levels.

The Cuesta College Paramedic Program initially became accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and earned approval by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP) on July 25, 2008. 

Students interested in applying to the Paramedic Program are strongly urged to consult an academic counselor prior to registering in prerequisite coursework.

All persons who meet Cuesta College’s admission requirements, additional pre-paramedic program admission criteria, and submit a timely paramedic program application are eligible for consideration into the program.

The program starts each January.

Entrance requirements are subject to change. For most current information please refer to the Nursing and Allied Health Division webpage.

 

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