Paramedic
The Paramedic is the highest trained of all Emergency Medical Technicians. It is crucial to have a good foundation as an EMT or an Advanced EMT in order to be successful as a Paramedic. The Paramedic requires significantly more training than the EMT or the Advanced EMT, and represents the Advanced Life Support role in the pre-hospital setting.
The Paramedic program at CBC is 18 months long and will challenge you in many ways. Our students spend over two thousand hours in training which includes the classroom, skills labs and internships. Successful completion of the program will allow you to take the National Registry of EMT-Paramedic exam for national certification.
Two options are provided for the Paramedic pathway: a Paramedic Certificate and an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Paramedicine.
An application and entrance assessment are required as part of the acceptance process into the Paramedic Certificate or AAS degree program. It is strongly recommended that program prerequisites are completed prior to the entrance assessment as those skills will be assessed on the entrance exam. A student does not need to be accepted and enrolled in the Paramedic program to take major support, general education or prerequisite classes. The Paramedic program starts a new class every winter and summer quarter, providing frequent opportunities to start your EMS education. The Paramedic program is considered hybrid, which means most of the program material will be delivered online in an asynchronous fashion. All skills labs and internships will occur in person. Students will have weekly completion targets in order to stay on track in the program.
Individuals working towards the AAS and Certificate will require successful completion of the specified prerequisites before the program start date.
Minimum application requirements are as follows:
- The applicant must be a current student at CBC or apply for admission. If you are not currently a student at CBC you may apply on the CBC website by going to columbiabasin.edu/apply.
- The applicant must be at least 18 years old by the beginning of the course.
- Provide evidence of a high school diploma or equivalency.
- The Columbia Basin College Paramedic program is limited to only emergency medical personnel who can verify certification of one year EMT or equivalent as per WAC 246-976-0471.
- Proof of completion of one of the following options for an anatomy and physiology course(s), prior to the start of the program. You may be enrolled in a course during the application period as long as the course is completed prior to the start of the program. If a course is not complete before the application deadline, a written explanation of when you expect to be complete must be provided, as well as a current course grade at the time of application.
Option #1: Completion of the corexcel A&P online course with a grade of 2.0 or better. This course meets the minimum requirements for A&P entry into the Paramedic certificate program only. It will not provide college-level credit towards the AAS degree and should only be taken if you are applying for the Paramedic certificate program.
Option #2: In order to earn a degree, students must complete BIOL& 241 with lab and BIOL& 242 with lab at Columbia Basin College or an equivalent from another accredited institution. If seeking equivalent, a minimum of 10 credits of Anatomy & Physiology must be transferrable to CBC with a 2.0 GPA or greater. A copy of your unofficial transcript must be submitted with this application. The actual transfer of the credits does not have to be completed until full acceptance has been granted. - English: There is not a prerequisite for ENGL& 101 to gain entry into the certificate or the AAS Paramedicine program, however, completion of ENGL& 101 is strongly encouraged.
- Math: At minimum, completion of MATH 50 (previously known as MATH 94, MATH 95 or MATH 98) with a 2.0 or greater. If you have completed a higher level of math, that would be acceptable. Or, if you have completed an AAS or bachelor's degree that included a math course, that would be acceptable.
- Attendance of a mandatory paramedic information session.
Degrees and Certificates
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Paramedicine Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree 24-25 -
Paramedic One-Year Certificate 24-25
Courses
PMD 201: Paramedic I [RE]
Credits 6This course is intended to prepare the paramedic student in the areas of medical, legal, ethics, roles and responsibilities, principles of pathophysiology, pharmacology, intravenous access, and medication administration. This course follows the 2012 WA State EMS Education Standards for Paramedic as well as the National EMS Education Standard Instructional Guidelines for Paramedics. It is designed to give students the foundation to continue training to become eligible to take the National Registry EMT-Paramedic exam. $124 osmosis course fee. $11.40 lab fee.
Prerequisite
Acceptance into the Paramedic program at CBC. See program entrance requirements at columbiabasin.edu/paramedic.
PMD 202: Paramedic II [RE]
Credits 6This course is intended to train students in the areas of advanced airway management, physical assessment, fieldassessment, clinical decision-making, documentation, and the assessment and management of respiratory emergencies. This course follows the 2012 WA State EMS Education Standards for Paramedic as well as the National EMS Education Standard Instructional Guidelines for Paramedics, and is designed to give students the foundation to continue training to become eligible to take the National Registry EMT-Paramedic Exam.
Prerequisite
Acceptance into the Paramedic program at CBC. See program entrance requirements at columbiabasin.edu/paramedic.
PMD 203: Paramedic III [RE]
Credits 6This course in the Paramedic sequence provides skills and knowledge necessary to assess and manage medical emergencies specifically: cardiac, neurological, and endocrine emergencies as well as allergies and anaphylaxis. At the completion of this course, students are certified in ACLS. This course follows the 2012 WA State EMS Education Standards for Paramedic as well as the National EMS Education Standard Instructional Guidelines for Paramedics, and is designed to give students the foundation to continue training to become eligible to take the National Registry EMT-Paramedic Exam.
Prerequisite
Acceptance into the Paramedic program at CBC. See program entrance requirements at columbiabasin.edu/paramedic.
PMD 204: Paramedic IV [RE]
Credits 6This course in the Paramedic sequence provides skills and knowledge necessary to assess and manage trauma emergencies, specifically: mechanism of injury, soft tissue and burn injuries, as well as head, neck, chest, abdominal, and other musculoskeletal trauma. At the successful completion of this course, students are certified in PHTLS. This course follows the 2012 WA State EMS Education Standards for Paramedic as well as the National EMS Education Standard Instructional Guidelines for Paramedics, and is designed to give students the foundation to continue training to become eligible to take the National Registry EMT-Paramedic Exam. At the end of this course, the areas of neonate and pediatric care will begin, with completion in PMD 205.
Prerequisite
Acceptance into the Paramedic program at CBC. See program entrance requirements at columbiabasin.edu/paramedic.
PMD 205: Paramedic V [RE]
Credits 6This course in the Paramedic sequence provides skills and knowledge necessary to assess and manage special emergencies with neonates, pediatrics, childbirth, geriatrics, behavioral emergencies, as well as abuse, and assault. At the completion of this course, students are certified in PALS. This course follows the 2012 WA State EMS Education Standards for Paramedic as well as the National EMS Education Standard Instructional Guidelines for Paramedics, and is designed to give students the foundation to continue training to become eligible to take the National Registry EMT-Paramedic Exam.
Prerequisite
Acceptance into the Paramedic program at CBC. See program entrance requirements at columbiabasin.edu/paramedic.
PMD 206: Paramedic VI [RE]
Credits 6This course provides skills and knowledge necessary to assess and manage emergencies of a gastrointestinal, urological, toxicological, or environmental nature. It additionally reviews special considerations of mass casualty, hazardous materials, rescue, and crime scene awareness. At the completion of this course, students complete a term paper and oral presentation. This course follows the 2012 WA State EMS Education Standards for Paramedic as well as the National EMS Education Standard Instructional Guidelines for Paramedics, and is designed to give students the foundation to continue training to become eligible to take the National Registry EMT-Paramedic Exam. Students continue the field/ambulance clinical competencies.
Prerequisite
Acceptance into the Paramedic program at CBC. See program entrance requirements at columbiabasin.edu/paramedic.
PMD 210: Paramedic I Lab [RE]
Credits 2Lab to be taken concurrently with PMD 201. Introduces students to the policies and procedures of the field and hospital internship sites where students begin in same-day surgery performing IVs on patients preparing for surgical procedures. $10.72 per quarter malpractice insurance fee. $11.40 lab fee.
PMD 220: Paramedic II Lab [RE]
Credits 3Lab to be taken concurrently with PMD 202. The lab portion of the course introduces students to the policies and procedures of the field and hospital internship sites where they continue to work on their minim um competencies in same-day surgery, operating room, emergency department, as well as beginning their field/ambulance experience. $10.72 per quarter malpractice insurance fee. $11.40 lab fee.
PMD 230: Paramedic III Lab [RE]
Credits 3Lab to be taken concurrently with PMD 203. The lab portion of this course introduces students to the policies and procedures of the field and hospital internship sites where they continue to work on their minimum competencies in the operating room, emergency department, respiratory therapy, cardiac catheterization lab, and the intensive care units. Students continue the field/ambulance clinical competencies. $10.72 per quarter malpractice insurance fee. $11.40 lab fee.
PMD 240: Paramedic IV Lab [RE]
Credits 3Lab to be taken concurrently with PMD 204. The lab portion of this course introduces students to the policies and procedures of the field and hospital internship sites where they continue to work on their minimum competencies in the emergency department, respiratory therapy, cardiac catheterization lab, and the intensive care units. Students continue the field/ambulance clinical competencies. $10.72 per quarter malpractice insurance fee. $11.40 lab fee.
PMD 250: Paramedic V Lab [RE]
Credits 3Lab to be taken concurrently with PMD 205. The lab portion of this course introduces the students to the policies and procedures of the field and hospital internship sites where they continue to work on their minimum competencies in the emergency department, respiratory therapy, cardiac catheterization lab, intensive care units, pediatrics, neonate intensive care unit, obstetrics unit, and psychiatric rotations. Students continue the field/ambulance clinical competencies. $10.72 per quarter malpractice insurance fee. $11.40 lab fee.
PMD 260: Paramedic VI Lab [RE]
Credits 3Lab to be taken concurrently with PMD 206. The lab portion of the course focuses on the completion of hospital internship where students continue to work on their minimum competencies in the emergency department, respiratory therapy, cardiac catheterization lab, intensive care units, pediatrics, neonate intensive care unit, obstetrics unit, psychiatric rotations, and field internship. $10.72 per quarter malpractice insurance fee. $11.40 lab fee.
PMD 270: Extended Paramedic Internship [RE]
Credits 1 3This extension course is provided to current paramedic students who are working to complete field and/or hospital internship requirements as required by the program. This course follows the 2012 WA State EMS Education Standards for Paramedic as well as the National EMS Education Standard Instructional Guidelines for Paramedics, and allows students to complete all requirements and to become eligible to take the National EMT-P Certification Exam. $11.40 lab fee.
Prerequisite
Successful completion of PMD 201 through 206 with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5. Placement into this course is at the discretion of the Paramedic Director.