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Program Overview

The Paramedic course is designed to develop knowledge and skills for the advanced emergency care of ill or injured persons. These future clinicians will be taught critical life-saving interventions and medical knowledge that are on the leading-edge of paramedicine. Paramedic candidates will be prepared to provide the highest-level emergency medical care and prepare for the NC State and/or National Registry Paramedic Exam. Once successfully credentialed, they will begin a career in the medical profession as an entry-level paramedic with EMS agencies or in medical facilities across the state or nation.

The course is an 11-month program in a blended/hybrid format consisting of lecture, demonstrations, near-to-real life skills evaluation, and both hospital and field internships. Students will also be expected to perform monthly minimum clinical rotations which will also occur outside of scheduled class dates. Specific training areas include compassionate patient care, assessment, peripheral access devices, advanced airway management, cardiac monitoring including defibrillation, cardioversion, cardiac pacing, and the administration of prehospital advanced life support medications.

The course also includes Endurance Training for EMS (ETEMS), which is physical training that is incorporated into the program with PT sessions at the end of each class day to better prepare the students for the physical and mental stresses of the paramedic profession.

This course is approved by and will follow the guidelines established by the NC Office EMS. The curriculum for the Paramedic educational program shall be the National EMS Educational Standards in conjunction with the 2009 or most current release of the United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Paramedic Course: National Standard Curriculum.

The Paramedic program offers two Career Pathway options: Degree or Credential

Emergency Medical Science Degree
AAS Bridge Program
Paramedic Credential
Non-Degree
  1. Have an active EMT credential
  2. Have a High School Diploma or Equivalency
  3. Complete:
    1. BIO 168 Anatomy & Physiology I and
    2. BIO 169 Anatomy & Physiology II
  4. Complete
    1. EMS 4400 Paramedic Initial
  5. Successfully Pass the NC State Paramedic Exam or National Registry Paramedic Exam
  6. *Complete the following courses:
    1. ACA 111 College Student Success
    2. ENG 111 Expository Writing
    3. ENG 112 Writing/Res in Discipline
    4. PSY 150 General Psychology
    5. HUM 115 Critical Thinking
  7. Complete
    1. EMT 280 EMS Bridging Course
  1. Have an active EMT credential
  2. Have a High School Diploma or Equivalency
  3. Complete one of three A&P Options:
    1. EMS 3163 Basic Anatomy & Physiology (CE Course)
    2. BIO 163 Basic Anatomy & Physiology
    3. BIO 168 Anatomy & Physiology I and
      BIO 169 Anatomy & Physiology II
  4. Complete
    1. EMS 4400 Paramedic Initial
  5. Successfully Pass the NC State Paramedic Exam or National Registry Paramedic Exam
Emergency Medical Science, AAS Degree Conferred Paramedic Credential Conferred

Prerequisites:

Both pathway options have the following prerequisites that must be successfully completed prior to the first day of Paramedic class:

  • High School Diploma or Equivalency
  • Active EMT Credential (SCC EMT Program)
    • (NC or National Registry or other state)
  • Completed Physical and Immunization Forms (Physical must be the provided SCC Program Form)
  • Completion of an Anatomy and Physiology course
    • EMS 3163, or
    • BIO 163, or
    • BIO 168 and BIO 169

The following prerequisites will be administered at the Center for Public Safety on two different dates prior to Paramedic Course orientation.

  • Written Assessment of Candidate Education level
    • Candidate must score at a college level English and Math
  • Paramedic Candidate Entrance Exam
    • The entrance exam will consist of factual, scenario, and critical thinking questions to assess your knowledge of EMT, Anatomy & Physiology – knowledge candidates should know by pre-requisites and are expected of an entry-level Paramedic student.

Upcoming Classes

Paramedic Classes begin with the Spring Semester (mid-January) of each year and conclude with Fall Semester (late-November) of the following year.

Center for Public Safety
Candidate Entrance Assessments:
November 2 & 9, 2023
Course Dates:
January 2024 – November 2024

Application Links

Applications open approximately 30 days prior to the scheduled orientation dates.

Please visit our events page at: www.facebook.com/surryems to apply when applications are open.

If no events are listed, you may email one of the contacts below for additional information.

Locations

Center for Public Safety
1220 State Street
Mount Airy, NC
Yadkin Campus
1001 College Drive
Yadkinville, NC 27055

This course is approved by and will follow the guidelines established by the NC Office EMS. The curriculum for the Paramedic educational program shall be the National EMS Educational Standards in conjunction with the 2009 or most current release of the United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Paramedic Course: National Standard Curriculum.


Accreditation

The Surry Community College Paramedic program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 US Highway 19 N., Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org
To contact CoAEMSP:
8301 Lakeview Parkway Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
214-703-8445
FAX 214-703-8992
www.coaemsp.org

Surry Community College Paramedic Program Outcomes

Year Retention NC State Exam Pass Rate
(within three attempts)
First-Time Pass Rate
(State & National Registry)
Job Placement
2019 73.9% 88.2% 71% (12 of 17) 94.1%
2020 63% 100% 84% (16 of 19) 100%
2021 62% 100% 88% (14 of 16) 100%
2022 79% 83% 60% (9 of 15) 100%
2023 88% 100% 86% (1 of 7) 100%

Advanced Education Pathway

Actively credentialed Paramedics may further their healthcare provider education with

Alternative Healthcare Provider Courses

SCC EMR Program
SCC EMT Program
SCC Advanced EMT Program

Program Contacts:

Dr. Douglas Underwood

Director of Yadkin Center/Director of Emergency Medical Programs

Kenneth Vaught

Coordinator: Emergency Medical Program

Scarlett Vogler

Emergency Medical Services Instructor

Workforce Certificate Courses

Paramedic Initial

EMS-4400 Paramedic

Total credits needed to graduate: 1100 Hours

Program Costs

Item Price
Tuition $360.00
Malpractice Insurance $16.00
Accidental Insurance Fee $3.00
Textbook* est. $400
Technology Fees (Documentation & Testing Software)* $145.00
Nationally Recognized Course Fees (PALS, ACLS, ITLS, etc.)

Textbooks for these courses are optional and should be provided by the student prior to class.

$50.00
Clinical Costs (Background Check & Drug Screen)* $100.00
Shirts (2 Polos, 2 T-Shirts)* $90
Pants* $50.00-60.00
Boots* $100.00
Belt* $10.00-20.00

*Prices may vary by vendor.

Tuition for EMS courses is waived for members of NC Lifesaving organizations (i.e., Fire Department, Rescue Squad, EMS, Law Enforcement). Financial assistance for tuition, fees and/or books is available through the Surry Skill-up grant.

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Program Facts

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