Level up your life-saving skills. If you’re already a certified EMT, in 12 months, you could be a paramedic.
What is Emergency Medical Services -Paramedic?
Emergency Medical Services include both Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Paramedic training. The EMT and Paramedic programs meet the standards of the U.S. Department of Transportation National Standard Training and KCTCS-Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS).
Gateway's Paramedic program recognizes the need for realistic, pre-hospital training. Inside the Paramedic lab, you will find a simulated bathroom, living room, and infant's bedroom. The program also has access to a fully functional ambulance through St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Our "family" of Laerdal simulation mannequins include SimMan, SimMom, SimJunior, and three SimBabies.
Getting Started
What are my degree, diploma, and certificate options?
- Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic (EMT Certification Required) AAS
- Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic Certificate
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certificate
Paramedic Completion Program - Earn your Associates Degree
Current nationally certified paramedics can participate in our online degree completion program earning college credits for their paramedic training to earn an Associate in Applied Science Degree.
All transitional courses must be completed. Unrestricted KY Paramedic or NRP certification required. Licensed paramedics will be awarded thirty-eight (38) semester credit hours upon completion of:
- Applying to the college of choice
- Submitting a letter of intent and a copy of required licensure/certification to program coordinator with validation by the Registrar
- Completing at least nine (9) credit hours from the degree-granting institution
- Meeting the 25% residency requirement for the degree granting institution and completion of the following courses:
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| BIO 135 Basic Anatomy & Physiology(also add or statement about BIO 137+139) | 4 |
| ENG 101 Writing 1 | 3 |
| Heritage/Humanities (Rec. PHI 110) | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning (Rec. MAI 146) | 3 |
| Oral Communications | 3 |
| PSY 110 General Psychology | 3 |
| Digital Literacy (Rec. OST 105) | 3 |
| Technical Electives (Rec. PHI 110, PSY 298) | 3 |
How Do I Pay For This?
Worry no more. With the lowest tuition in Kentucky, financial aid options, and a helping hand to guide you through the application process, we have you covered. GCTC will help you reach your goals at a price that won't break the bank.
How Do I Apply?
Paramedic
Students must follow these steps to be considered for admission to the program.
Students must also:
- have a current EMT-B certificate by the first day of class,
- complete BIO 135 (Basic Anatomy and Physiology) or equivalent,
- possess a current Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification card, and
- have a valid driver’s license.
- Paramedic classes will begin in August and January at the Gateway Edgewood Campus, as well as in May at the Florence Fire Training Center, and will be completed in 11 months. Classes will be on Mondays/Wednesdays OR Tuesdays/Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with some labs to be announced. Students will be required to complete clinical rotations through a wide variety of pre-hospital and intra-hospital settings. These can be completed weekdays during business hours, evenings, or on weekends. Students may obtain a certificate in EMS-Paramedic and/or an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in EMS-Paramedic, and financial aid and scholarships are available.
To register for the course, you must apply to Gateway and choose “EMT” as your major. There are no pre-requisites to begin the EMT course, however, you must have a BLS Provider CPR certification prior to the course or obtain the certification early in the course.
The Paramedic to RN Advanced Standing Bridge is a selective admissions option in our Nursing Program. Applications are open during the academic year, with the deadline to apply for the summer bridge course on March 31.
Cohort Options
Paramedic cohorts begin in August and January at the Gateway Edgewood Campus, and in May at the Florence Fire Training Center, and will be completed in 11 months.
Classes are on Mondays/Wednesdays OR Tuesdays/Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.,
with some labs to be announced.
Students will be required to complete clinical rotations through a wide variety of
pre-hospital and intra-hospital settings. These can be completed weekdays during business
hours, evenings, or on weekends.
What Else Do I Need to Know?
Accreditation
Our 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).
This accreditation allows graduates to apply and sit for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic (NRP) Examination after they successfully finish the program. Kentucky uses the National Registry Paramedic Exam as their licensure exam for credentialing Paramedics in the Commonwealth. After successfully completing the NRP, you may apply to the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) for licensure as a paramedic in the Commonwealth or in your respective state. The National Registry of Paramedics issued a mandate effective January 1, 2013 that all Registry applicants must have graduated from an accredited program to sit for the Registry.
| Outcome | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # of Grads | 16 | 20 | 21 | 42 |
| # of Grads attempting | 16 | 20 | 20 | 42 |
| # passing - 1st attempt | 16 | 13 | 17 | 34 |
| # passing - subsequent attempts | N/A | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| Total passing to date | 16 | 18 | 19 | 41 |
| Retention | 76% | 84% | 84% | 80.8% |
| Positive Job Placement | 100% | 100% | 95.2% | 100% |
Length of Program
After admission to the paramedic program, full-time students can complete the associate degree or certificate in four semesters. Students who are already licensed paramedics, can complete their associate degree in as little as two semesters.
This information should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog. You should always choose classes in cooperation with your faculty advisor to ensure that you meet all degree requirements.
