Paramedic AAS

For related Paramedic programs, see Related Programs Listing.

G3 Eligible Program: The G3 Program is a tuition assistance program for any Virginia resident who qualifies for in-state tuition and whose family income falls below an identified threshold. For more information, visit www.centralvirginia.edu/g3-get-skill-get-job-get-ahead

The paramedic program is a joint initiative between Central Virginia Community College (CVCC). The curriculum is delivered under CVCC’s state certification, with NRCC providing clinical immersion, lab facilities, and adjunct faculty support on the NRCC campus in Dublin.

Program Format:
In-person classes: Courses are offered in a hybrid format, connecting NRCC students-who participate virtually from the Dublin campus-with CVCC students attending in person at their Lynchburg campus. NRCC students will not be required to travel to CVCC for courses.

Lab sessions: Labs will be conducted on campus at NRCC in Dublin.

Clinical rotations: NRCC students’ hands-on clinical experience will be arranged through local hospitals, EMS agencies, and affiliated clinical partners.

Students of the paramedic program will be CVCC graduates. CVCC teaches 19 credits, and NRCC teaches 46 credits for a total of 65 credits.

Purpose:
The Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic Program is designed to produce competent entry-level paramedics who can service the community with advanced life support care via the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) infrastructure. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible for National Registry testing and certification in Virginia. Employment opportunities for paramedics are available through ambulance, fire and rescue services, hospitals, government departments, and sales and humanitarian relief organizations. 

Occupational Objectives:
The Paramedic program prepares students for rewarding careers in emergency medical services (EMS), equipping them with the advanced skills and knowledge needed to respond effectively to medical and trauma emergencies. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to pursue certification and employment opportunities in a variety of healthcare and emergency response settings. Occupational objectives for program graduates include:

1. Certified Paramedic
   • Function as a licensed paramedic providing advanced prehospital care to individuals experiencing medical or trauma-related emergencies.
2. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Professional
   • Serve as a critical member of EMS teams in settings such as public and private ambulance services, fire departments, and rescue squads.
3. Hospital and Healthcare Team Member
   • Work in emergency departments, urgent care centers, or as part of specialty hospital transport teams providing continuity of care for critically ill or injured patients.
4. Critical Care and Specialty Transport Provider
   • Operate in advanced care settings, including air medical transport or interfacility critical care, ensuring patient safety and stability during extended transport.
5. Disaster Response Specialist
   • Participate in disaster preparedness and response efforts, including mass casualty events, community crises, and public health emergencies.
6. EMS Leadership and Education
   • Pursue roles as EMS educators, field training officers, or supervisors within emergency response organizations.
7. Pathway to Advanced Healthcare Professions
   • Leverage paramedic training as a foundation for further education and career advancement in related fields such as nursing, physician assistance, or healthcare administration.

Admission Requirements: Applicant should meet the general requirements for admission to the college. Placement test may be required in some areas. Individuals are eligible for admission to CVCC and NRCC if they are high school graduates or the equivalent, or if they are eighteen years of age or older and able to benefit academically from study at the community college, as demonstrated by assessments in reading, writing, and mathematics.

Physical Requirements: This program requires extensive walking, stooping, bending, pushing, pulling, climbing stairs, and lifting. Lifting and carrying requirements: at least 125 pounds; Motor coordination is necessary because over uneven terrain, the patients’, EMTs’, and other workers’ well-being must not be jeopardized. Further, extensive use of sight, hearing, and speaking is required. An EMS provider is faced with many physical and psychological challenges. Please refer to the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services website for a more detailed functional job description- www.vdh.Virginia.gov/oems/training.

Clinical and Behavioral Requirements: Selected and supervised student clinical experience is required by the program and will be accomplished at selected, regional health care facilities and licensed EMS agencies. The student is responsible for transportation to these facilities, as well as to any scheduled field trips or combined program classes. Program preceptors will observe and evaluate the student’s suitability for the profession. If a student does not exhibit those documented behaviors required of the EMS professional, the student may be asked to withdraw from the program.

Program Requirements:
All students expected to complete the requirements for a degree, diploma, certificate, or career studies certificate must complete an application for graduation.

Other Requirements: In addition to basic college costs such as tuition and fees, this program requires expenditures for uniforms, books, immunizations and physical, testing fees, certification courses and some medical equipment items. Students are also responsible for their own transportation to clinical sites.

Requirements by the Virginia Department of Health:

Eligibility to attend an Emergency Medical Technician course in Virginia requires that you must:

(1) Be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking the English language.
(2) Be a minimum of 16 years of age at the beginning date of the certification course.  If less than 18 years of age, you must provide the course coordinator with a completed parental permission form with the signature of a parent or guardian verifying approval for enrollment in the course.
(3) Have no physical or mental impairment that would render them unable to perform all cognitive and psychomotor skills required for that level of certification.
(4) Hold current certification in an Office of Emergency Medical Services approved Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course at the beginning date of the course.  This certification must also be current at the time of state testing.
(5) Not have been convicted of or found guilty of any crime, offense or regulatory violation, or participated in any other prohibited conduct identified in state EMS regulations as follows:

(A) Have never been convicted or found guilty of any crime involving sexual misconduct where lack of affirmative consent by the victim is an element of the crime.
(B) Have never been convicted of a felony involving the sexual or physical abuse of children, the elderly or the infirm.
(C) Have never been convicted or found guilty of any crime (including abuse, neglect, theft from, or financial exploration) of a person entrusted to their care or protection in which the victim is a patient or is a resident of a health care facility.
(D) Have never been convicted or found guilty of any crime involving the use, possession, or distribution of illegal drugs except that the person is eligible for affiliation or enrollment five years after the date of final release if no additional crimes of this type have been committed during that time.
(E) Have never been convicted or found guilty of any other act that is a felony except that the felon is eligible for affiliation or enrollment five years after the date of final release if no additional felonies have been committed during that time.
(F) Are not currently under any disciplinary or enforcement action from another state EMS office or other recognized state or national healthcare provider licensing or certifying body.  Personnel subject to these disciplinary or enforcement actions may be eligible for certification provided there have been no further disciplinary or enforcement actions for five years prior to application for certification in Virginia.
(G) Have never been subject to a permanent revocation of license or certification by another state EMS office or recognized state or national healthcare provider licensing or certifying body.

(6) All references to criminal acts or convictions under this section refer to substantially similar laws or regulations of any other state or the United States. Convictions include prior adult convictions, juvenile convictions, and adjudications of delinquency based on an offense that would have been, at the time of conviction, a felony conviction if committed by an adult within or outside Virginia.
(7) Be clean and neat in appearance.
(8) May not be under the influence of any drugs or intoxicating substances that impairs your ability to provide patient care or operate a motor vehicle while in class or performing clinicals, while on duty or when responding or assisting in the care of a patient.

Accreditation:
New River Community College in partnership with Central Virginia 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 
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709 
Seminole, FL 33775 
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