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.
    • State Exam Pass Rate (2022): 97.4%
      Retention Rate (2022): 56.7%
      Positive Job Placement Rate (2022): 89.5%
    • 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: C330

Weekday: Friday

Time: 02:00 PM – 04:00 PM

Fee: $0

Course Code: PMED000F24.T11.05.00

Register Now (External Link)

Location: C330

Weekday: Saturday

Time: 01:00 PM – 03:00 PM

Fee: $0

Course Code: PMED000F24.T11.06.00

Register Now (External Link)

Location: C330

Weekday: Thursday

Time: 06:00 PM – 08:00 PM

Fee: $0

Course Code: PMED000F24.T11.07.00

Register Now (External Link)

Location: In-Person Instruction

Weekday: Monday

Time: 01:00 PM – 05:00 PM

Fee: $0

Course Code: PMED000W25.T11.01.00

Register Now (External Link)


EMS Psychomotor Skills Exam or Retest

National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Certification greatly expands your employment opportunities and demonstrates a professional standard. Start earning your National Paramedic Certification, which includes passing of cognitive (knowledge) and psychomotor (skills) exams, by fulfilling the skills testing requirements at LaGuardia Community College. Pre-registration 6 weeks in advance of the exam and current state paramedic certification is required. Retesting of individual skills not passed


Understanding and Responding to 12-Lead ECGs

As a healthcare professional, this course will likely change the way you care for your patients and reduce unwitting treatment errors. Gain knowledge about Electrical Vectors and Axis, Fascicular and Bundle Branch Blocks, STEMI and Acute Coronary Syndromes, Chamber Enlargement, and Tachycardias in this highly interactive course. Provide the modern and safe care your patients deserve. Upon successful completion of each session, you may receive 4 hours of Continuing Medical Education (CME) from New York State Department of Health Bureau of EMS and New York City Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (NYC REMAC) towards paramedic recertification (16 hours total). Prerequisite: For healthcare providers who can read ECG rhythm strips.


Paramedic Original

EMTs, are you ready to take your career to the next level? We will prepare you with the technical skills, expert knowledge and clinical experience necessary to excel as a New York State/New York City certified paramedic. LaGuardia students have excellent pass rates on the NYS Paramedic and NYC Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (REMAC) exams. The program is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). This is a comprehensive education and training program that includes lectures provided by expert physicians; certification courses in American Heart Association Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS); and National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) and Psychological Trauma Prevention for EMS Patients (PTEP) certification courses. You must complete 600 hours of clinical rotations (sites are available in Queens, Manhattan, Bronx and Brooklyn) and you may choose between two tracks: associate degree or certificate program. We offer a $1,500 tuition credit to members of NYS certified Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance agencies. Professional or 911 EMT experience is recommended but not required. To learn more about the Paramedic Program email paramedicprogram@lagcc.cuny.edu.

Location: C330

Weekday: Monday,Wednesday

Time: 08:00 AM – 05:00 PM

Fee: $10900

Course Code: PMED100W25.T11.01.00

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.

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

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

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Pre-Hospital Care Programs

Phone
(718) 482-5768

Register

To apply to the Paramedic Original course, you will need to register and attend an information session. Click here to create a profile and choose Information and Prescreening Session for Paramedic Program. If you pass a pre-test and interview you will be invited to register for the Paramedic Original program.

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