Paramedic Certificate
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Pierce College Paramedic Program
Answer the call and take your career in Emergency Medical Services to the next level with a Paramedic Certificate from Pierce College. This one-year program will prepare current EMTs to provide advanced emergency medical care in a fast-paced and rewarding environment.
Paramedic Program Applications
Applications for the 2027 Paramedic Program cohort will be open from August 1 through September 30, 2026.
The program application packet will be posted here for your review on July 1.
This cohort program runs annually from January to December. Students will connect with their community while placed in local agencies and hospitals for their clinical and field time.
Those interested in applying to the paramedic program are highly encouraged to meet with a paramedic program advisor in advance of submitting an application, but it is not required. Those seeking advising should email Paramedic@pierce.ctc.edu.
Paramedic Program Prerequisites
- Apply to Pierce College
- Current and valid EMT certificate. Either NREMT or a State Certification are required.
- One year minimum EMT experience in a pre-hospital setting
- Prospective students must possess an “American Heart Association BLS for the Healthcare Professional” card that will be valid for the duration of the cohort (January 2027 through December 2027)
- One letter of reference, from a chief or supervisor, recommending the applicant for
paramedic training and documenting at least one year of pre-hospital EMS experience,
practicing within the EMT-B scope of practice.
- This letter should also include a good-faith estimate for the number of patient contacts. An electronic call log report may also be submitted. We do not currently have a minimum patient contact requirement to apply to the program.
- Be fluent in the English language
- Posess the physical abilities and emotional stability to complete the program and perform under various stressful conditions
- Have completed, or have the pre-requisite courses in progress to be completed before the first day of instruction for the cohort.
- Submit a complete and accurate application packet, to include official or unofficial transcripts of any college courses completed and copies of all relevant professional credentials. For consideration, all courses must be complete with a 2.0 or higher grade.
- Applicants must successfully navigate our applicant testing process and establish a competitive score.
- EMS 150 - Medical Math and Terminology
- BIOL& 175 - Human Biology with Lab (A&P) or BIOL& 170 - Human Biology
- ENG& 101 - English Composition I
- MATH& 146 - Introduction to Statistics
Academic prerequisite courses may be in progress at the time of application; however, professional pre-hospital EMT work experience is mandatory for at least one year prior to application. Courses must be completed before the start of the incoming cohort (January 2, 2027), with the understanding that if a student is accepted to the program and fails to achieve the minimum 2.0 grade they will be dropped from the cohort, and a position will be offered to the next ranked student on the waiting list. Any student with courses in progress will be asked to sign an agreement verifying that they have been made aware of, and understand, this caveat.
Upon receipt of a complete application, applicants will be invited to sit for a 100-question BLS/EMT multiple choice written exam. The exam is based on the 12th edition of “Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured” (ISBN 9781284227222). Top performing applicants will be invited to participate in a psychomotor exam and oral panel interview.
There will be two psychomotor exam stations for the 2027 application cycle: NREMT EMT-B - Medical Assessment and - Long Bone Immobilization. Applicants must score an 80% on all psychomotor stations and not perform any critical fails.
The written exam is weighted at 30% of the overall score; the psychomotor stations are weighted at 30% of the overall score. The panel interview is worth 40% of the overall score. Candidates will be ranked and those selected will be notified within a week of the completion of the testing process.
Student Achievement Data
2025 Annual Report Results
| Total Program Performance | Cohort 1 Results | Cohort 2 Results |
|---|---|---|
| 15 students enrolled | 6 enrolled | 9 enrolled |
| 9 students completed the program | 4 completed | 5 completed |
| 60% student retention | 67% retention | 56% retention |
| 40% student attrition | 33% attrition | 44% attrition |
| 100% placed within 8 weeks of certificate completion | 100% placed within 8 weeks of certificate completion | 100% placed within 6 weeks of certificate completion |
Graduate Performance
National average: 75% first time pass rate; State average: 96% first time pass rate
Pierce College Paramedic Program Averages
- 9 students completed the Paramedic Certificate
- 100% NREMT-P passing rate, first attempt
- 100% Terminal Psychomotor Exam passing rate, first attempt
- 100% positive placement within eight weeks of certificate completion
The Pierce College College Paramedic program has been issued a Letter of Review by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). This letter is NOT a CAAHEP accreditation status, it is a status signifying that a program seeking initial accreditation has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the accreditation standards through the Letter of Review Self-Study Report (LSSR) and other documentation. Letter of Review is recognized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) for eligibility to take the National Registry's Paramedic credentialing examination(s). However, it is NOT a guarantee of eventual accreditation. To contact CoAEMSP: 214-703-8445, www.coaemsp.org