Emergency Medical Services Technology - Paramedic
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?
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?
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.
If you are not already a Gateway student, you must apply to Gateway.
In addition, all potential students must separately apply to the paramedic program for acceptance.
The first step you will need to take is applying to Gateway. From there, you will need to send a copy of your Paramedic license (State or National) to Mike Harris. After you have applied to the college, an advisor will contact you with the next steps and information on setting up a plan to complete the remaining courses.
The Paramedic to RN program is a selective admissions program. Applications are open during the month of April, during each year for acceptance into the fall cohort.
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 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # of Grads | 17 | 18 | 16 | 20 |
| # of Grads attempting | 17 | 18 | 16 | 20 |
| # passing - 1st attempt | 12 | 16 | 16 | 13 |
| # passing - subsequent attempts | 4 | 0 | N/A | 5 |
| Total passing to date | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 |
| # of Grads Passing NR CBT | 94% | 89% | 100% | 90% |
| Retention | 70.4% | 82% | 76% | 84% |
| Positive Job Placement | 90.9% | 100% | 100% | 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.
