Paramedic is the highest level of Emergency Medical Technician and involves a significant amount of training in advanced life support (ALS) practices. Many EMS Agencies have started phasing out AEMT licenses in favor of paramedics.Several 2-year colleges in the state of California provide education for aspiring paramedics. Students can earn either certificates or associate’s degrees that prepare them to enter or advance within the profession.
The program offerings in California include paramedic, emergency medical technician, emergency medical services – paramedic studies and emergency medical technology and paramedic.
Paramedic License Requirements
The following is a list of requirements you will need to satisfy prior to becoming a licensed Paramedic in the State of California:
- 18 years of age
- Criminal background check, criminal records may result in rejection; if you have a criminal record it’s best to contact your local EMS Agency before you invest time and money
- Paramedic Training Certificate
- NREMT certification
- High School diploma or equivalent
- Valid drivers license not a requisite for an EMT license but may be required for better job prospects
- Paramedic training courses can typically be found at community colleges. The minimum number of required training hours for the state of CA is approximately 1090 hours.
- need to have proper CPR certification.
- the approximate training hours break down for-
- Didactic and skills: 450 hours
- Hospital and clinical training: 160 hours
- Field internship: 480 hours
Get AEMT Training
Find a local approved training facility and register for the AEMT training. The minimum training duration is 1090 hours, divided into 450 hours classroom, 160 hours hospital and clinical training and 480 hours field internship with 40 ALS patient contacts, but many training programs considerably exceed this minimum requirement.
Prior to contacting the training facility you should get proof of immunization and verify with the training facility what other immunizations you will need prior to registering.
It is very important that you only register for an approved training program at a state approved facility. It is also recommended that you check that your training completion date does not fall after an approval expiry date of the training facility. In the below link for approved training facilities the expiry date of each provider is indicated in the table.
Due to the long duration and intense content, paramedic courses do not come cheap. While prices vary between facilities an applicant should expect to pay $4,000 to $10,000.
Examination Requirements
Paramedic license applicants must pass the NREMT exams, which are made up of two parts, a written cognitive exam and a psychomotor exam. For the written exam an applicant will need to register with the NREMT (http://www.nremt.org) and pay the $110 application fee. When the applicant is ready to take the exam they will need to get in touch with Pearson Vue (http://www.vue.com) who provides the computer based testing for the NREMT exam.
- Cognitive Examination
The cognitive exam covers the entire spectrum of EMS care. This includes ventilation, airways, oxygenation, Trauma, Cardiology, Medical and EMS Operation. The maximum amount of time you will be given to pass this portion of the exam is 2 and half hours.
- Psychomotor Examination
The psychomotor examination consists of 12 separate skills laid out in scenario format to approximate the ability of the EMT-P to function in an out-of-hospital setting. The psychomotor exam portion of the paramedic NREMT exam will test your knowledge and competency in each of the following skills: Patient Assessment-Trauma, Cardiac Management Skills, Ventilatory Management, IV and Medication Skills, Pediatric Skills, Oral Station, and Random Basic Skills.
For the psychomotor examination you should check with your Paramedic training provider whether they are able to provide such certification in conjunction with the Paramedic course. Alternatively contact your local EMS Agency for details about test schedules. Note that this exam tests the applicant for 12 separate skills and is likely to incur a fee by the training facility.
Once the applicant has received certification for both exams they will be issued with an NREMT certificate which is valid for 2 years; this certificate is needed for the state EMT license application.
For some tips and recommendations on preparing for these exams take a look at our Preparing For NREMT Exams page.
Criminal Background Check
Paramedic Applicants must submit fingerprints electronically for a criminal background check using the Live Scan Service. Only forms received from a local EMS Agency should be used; a list of EMS agencies can be found here: http://www.emsa.ca.gov/local/default.asp
Note that a fee of $51 must be paid at the Live Scan site.
Application Process
In order to submit an application an applicant must do the following:
- Complete the local EMS Agency’s Paramedic application form (find local agencies here: http://www.emsa.ca.gov/local/default.asp)
- Include certificate of Paramedic course
- Include documentation of passing NREMT exams
- Include proof of Live Scan including ATI number
- Include copy of valid legal photo ID
- Include payment of initial certification fee of $250 (check or money order)
Knowing all these steps in advance will greatly help in planning your training and ensuring a quick and efficient process as possible.
Paramedic from another State or Country
To become a California paramedic, you must possess or have possessed a valid EMT-P certification from another state, territory, or country and be registered with the NREMT.If you’re already a certified paramedic in another state, or even another country, the process of becoming a licensed paramedic in California is essentially the same.
Paramedic Training Schools in California
- Absolute Safety Training Inc. – Chico, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
PO Box 906
Chico , CA – 95927
- American River College – Sacramento, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
4700 College Oak Drive
Sacramento , CA – 95841
- Bakersfield College – Bakersfield, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
1801 Panorama Drive
Bakersfield , CA – 93305
- Butte College – Oroville, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
3536 Butte Campus Drive
Oroville , CA – 95965
- California State University – Sacramento, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
3000 State University Drive East
Napa Hall
Sacramento , CA – 95819
- City College of San Francisco – San Francisco, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
1860 Hayes Street
John Adams Campus
San Francisco , CA – 94117
- College of the Redwoods – Arcata, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
220 F Street
Arcata , CA – 95521
- Crafton Hills College – Yucaipa, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
11711 Sand Canyon Road
Yucaipa , CA – 92399
- Cuesta College – San Luis Obispo, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
PO Box 8106
Highway 1
San Luis Obispo , CA – 93403
- Foothill College – Los Altos Hills, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
4000 Middlefield Road, Suite I
Palo Alto , CA – 94303
- Las Positas College – Livermore, California
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
3000 Campus Hill Drive, Room 2136
Livermore, CA 94551
United States of America
- Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency – Santa Fe Springs, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
10100 Pioneer Blvd
Suite 200
Santa Fe Springs , CA – 90670
- Moreno Valley College – Riverside, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
Ben Clark Training Center
16888 Bundy Avenue
Riverside , CA – 92518
- Napa Valley College – Napa, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
2277 Napa Vallejo Hwy
Napa , CA – 94558
- National College of Technical Instruction – Riverside – Roseville, CA
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
895 Marlborough Avenue
Suite 100
Riverside, CA 92507
United States of America
- National College of Technical Instruction – Roseville – Roseville, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
333 Sunrise Avenue
Suite 500
Roseville , CA – 95661
- National College of Technical Instruction – Siskiyous County – Weed, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
800 College Avenue
Weed , CA – 96094
- Point Loma Nazarene University/EMSTA College for EMS – Santee, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
11489 Woodside Ave
Santee , CA – 92071
United States of America
- Saddleback College – Mission Viejo, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
28000 Marguerite Parkway
Mission Viejo , CA – 92692
- University of Antelope Valley – Lancaster, CA
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
44055 North Sierra Highway
Lancaster, CA 93534
United States of America
- Ventura College – Ventura, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
4667 Telegraph Road
Ventura, CA – 93003
WestMed College – San Jose, CA
- Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
3031 Tisch Way, Suite 3PW
San Jose , CA – 95128
FAQs
- Do I need EMT experience to apply to a paramedic training program?
This varies from school to school, so check be sure to check around for a program that fits you best. But generally, EMT experience isn’t required, though it is typically encouraged by many program directors.
- How long will it take to become a paramedic?
Well, that depends on the college and training program you select.
- How much will a paramedic training program cost?
Typically, you can expect to pay anywhere between $1,000 and $10,000 for a paramedic training course.
- Where can I find an accredited paramedic training program in California?
Make sure you visit the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) to find an accredited paramedic program.
