Paramedic Original

EMT’s—become a Paramedic and earn higher pay while expanding your knowledge, skills and job opportunities in this high demand field.

Since 1996, the Paramedic Program at LaGuardia has educated and trained many of New York City’s finest Paramedics.

    • Choice of one year certificate or two year AAS degree*
    • Excellent reputation within the New York City EMS community.
    • Excellent pass rates on the NY State Department of Health and New York City Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (NYC REMAC) paramedic certification exams.
    • Affordable tuition and available payment programs.
    • State of the art equipment and EMS labs.
    • Knowledgeable, experienced and caring faculty.
    • Innovative skills training and comprehensive curriculum.
    • National, state and regional certification for Paramedic.
    • Convenient access to mass transit and major highways.
    • Clinical rotations in Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn and beyond.

Certificate Program students attend classes together with degree students and fulfill all of the same didactic and practical skills as well as clinical requirements as degree students.

        The major differences are:
    • Certificate students are not required to take:
      • the college placement exams or any basic skills classes.
      • Human Anatomy I and II classes prior to taking the Paramedic course.
    • Certificate students achieve their certification in one year instead of two years for the AAS Degree.

    • Certificate students may earn an AAS Degree when they return to LaGuardia to take the additional required courses. Returning students will be granted 36 credits for their EMT and Paramedic training and, upon completion of an additional 24 credits, can complete their AAS Degree.
    • Certificate students do not benefit from CUNY tuition rates, nor are they eligible for the financial aid given only to degree students, such as the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and Federal Pell Grants.

Students who successfully complete the Paramedic Original program qualify to take the initial New York City Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (NYC REMAC) paramedic certification exam at no cost.

Partial tuition scholarships are available for eligible students. A separate application process is required. Contact program staff for more information.

COURSES


Information and Prescreening Session for Paramedic Program

Certified EMTs are invited to learn about LaGuardia's Paramedic Program and requirements for NY State Department of Health Paramedic Certification. Explore the broader career and educational opportunities in the healthcare field for advanced level EMS providers. Take the program screening exams (reading, EMT Knowledge, and math).

Location: In-Person Instruction

Weekday: Tuesday

Time: 06:30 PM – 10:30 PM

Fee: $0

Course Code: PMED000W24.T11.01.00

Register Now (External Link)

Location: C330

Weekday: Tuesday

Time: 06:30 PM – 10:30 PM

Fee: $0

Course Code: PMED000S24.T02.01.00

Register Now (External Link)

Location: C330

Weekday: Thursday

Time: 06:30 PM – 10:30 PM

Fee: $0

Course Code: PMED000S24.T02.02.00

Register Now (External Link)

Location: C330

Weekday: Thursday

Time: 04:00 PM – 08:00 PM

Fee: $0

Course Code: PMED000S24.T02.03.00

Register Now (External Link)


Additional Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Courses

REQUIREMENTS

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Passing of pre-screening process
  • NY State certified EMT

CAREER PROFILE

Paramedics primarily perform ambulance transport and emergency response work as well as hyperbaric medicine and telemedicine, earning $23 – $40/hour. With additional training, you can also perform flight medicine and administer critical care and neonatal transport.

This profession has excellent employment opportunities. You can also advance to the role of supervisor, instructor, nurse, physician assistant or doctor.

FAQ

Both EMTs and Paramedics render emergency care to the ill and injured in the pre-hospital environment. However, EMTs are trained to offer a basic level of care, and Paramedics offer an advanced level of care. Paramedics must be certified as EMTs before beginning Paramedic training.

EMTs perform skills such as CPR, defibrillation, bandaging and splinting, spinal immobilization, oxygen therapy, lifting and moving techniques, vital signs, patient assessment and histories, emergency childbirth, treatment of medical and environmental emergencies, and more.

Paramedics do all of the above, plus they can start IVs, administer many potent emergency drugs, perform endotracheal intubation, give injections, perform transcutaneous pacing and cardio version, read EKGs, and perform many invasive techniques, such as needle decompression of a lung and cricothyroidotomy.

The Paramedic course is 800 hours of classes, plus 600 hours of clinical rotations over 12 months.

The Paramedic Program meets between 3 and 5 sessions of 3 – 3.5 hours per week. We offer a flex schedule, which means you can select the class sessions that best fit your schedule. Sessions are available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The program can be completed in as few as 1 – 2 days per week.

We have rotation sites across many hospitals and EMS providers in Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Westchester, Nassau and Rockland counties.

Absolutely! The AAS Paramedic Degree option is encouraged as a way of increasing your professional options during your career. Paramedic coursework can be applied toward an AAS at LaGuardia by simply completing the standard college application process and taking one additional course at LaGuardia.

Currently there is a shortage of Paramedics in New York City, making employment prospects excellent. The Fire Department of New York, hospitals and private companies have been actively recruiting on campus. LaGuardia graduates are sought after by many employers.

Currently there is a shortage of Paramedics in New York City, making employment prospects excellent. The Fire Department of New York, hospitals and private companies have been actively recruiting on campus. LaGuardia graduates are sought after by many employers.

LaGuardia has the best preparation for the best price. Our Paramedic Program has had a 100% pass rate FOR STUDENTS TAKING the NY State Department of Health exam for more than 12 years. Dedicated EMS labs, top notch faculty, a minicomputer lab, and a multitude of resources, including open skills labs and state of the art equipment, are all available to students. We’ll do our best to make sure you succeed!

EMPLOYER PARTNERS

Icon Telephone

Contact Us

Pre-Hospital Care Programs

Phone
(718) 482-5768

Register

To apply to the EMT Basic course, you will need to register and attend an information session. Click here to create a profile and choose Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Information Session. If you pass a pre-test and interview you will be invited to register for the EMT Basic program.

You may also register here for other Emergency Medical Services courses. Please note all course prerequisites.

Search
Search