SKIP to: User Groups, Site Search, Page content, Quick Links, Contact Information

Intensive Care Paramedic

Career/Program Overview

As the most highly trained pre-hospital emergency care provider in the EMS field, the paramedic accepts the challenging responsibility for patient care. The willingness to accept this challenge and direct others to carry out the plan is the first step in becoming a paramedic. Paramedicine is a relatively young field with a wide range of employment opportunities including ambulance services, fire departments, police departments, hospitals, helicopter services, and educational institutions.

Curriculum-at-a-Glance

Program-related courses may include: Introduction to Paramedicine, EMS Skills, Pharmacology, Trauma Care, Cardiac Care, Pathophysiology in EMS, EMS Advanced Skills, Special Populations, Ambulance Clinical, Critical Care Clinical and Paramedic Preparation.

For more detailed program information, refer to RCTC’s program course requirements at http://www.rctc.edu/catalog/programs/index.html.

Program/Degree Options

RCTC offers both a 40-credit diploma and a 64-credit Associate in Science degree as an Intensive Care Paramedic.

Program Start Date(s)

Students can begin general education requirements any semester. A second, separate process of applying to the Intensive Care Paramedic Diploma and/or Associate degree programs is also required. Applicants must be currently state certified and nationally registered as an EMT-Basic

or Intermediate and have a minimum of 50 encounters as a primary care giver in the pre-hospital setting.

Additional admissions requirements include: current CPR certification, documentation of EMS experience, a recommendation from an ambulance director or medical director and academic prerequisites in English and mathematics. Admitted students are required to submit health information and pass a criminal background check.

Career Opportunities/Information

Employment for EMTs and paramedics is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2016. Job prospects should be good, particularly in cities and private ambulance services. Much of the growth will result from volunteer positions changing into paid positions. Another factor contributing to the increase in need for paramedics is the fact that the number of older adults is increasing. This population is the greatest user of emergency services.

Intensive Care Paramedic positions are part of ALS ambulances, fire department based ALS, rural EMS services, hospitals, EMS education, fixed wing and helicopter services.

Articulations/Accreditations

Rochester Community and Technical College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission: A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The RCTC paramedic program has received accreditation by the Commission on the Accreditation of Emergency Medical Services Programs (CoAEMSP),under the auspices of CAAHEP.

For additional information on the most current list of RCTC program articulations see us at: http://www.rctc.edu/catalog/articulations/index.html

Request Program Information

Additional Information:
Program Course Requirements
Course Schedule
Intensive Care Paramedic Program Site
Visit us!
Apply today!