Paramedic

Upon receiving a credential from the NC Office of EMS or National Registry of EMT’s, you can receive credit towards an Associate Degree in Applied Science: Emergency Medical Science. You can request information for details in entering that program and obtaining your degree by contacting the EMS Program Director.

The following criteria must be met prior to entering the Paramedic Program. Students should submit all of the information listed below prior to registering for the class. Registration will not be allowed without fulfilling each prerequisite. The applicant MUST:

• Possess certification as a North Carolina EMT or AEMT or present proof of a reciprocity request through the North Carolina Office of EMS. (ECC EMT or AEMT students that have successfully completed theEMT or AEMT course within the last 30 days are waived of this requirement; however must possess EMT or AEMT certification prior to starting field-clinical rotations.)

• Provide a copy of a current credential in American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers.

• Complete the current reading and math assessment tests and score reading comprehension and math skills at the post-secondary level. Students producing an official college transcript illustrating successful completion of a college-level English and/or Math course are exempt from the reading and/or math assessment.

• Submit verification of successful completion of an eligible Anatomy & Physiology course prior to starting field-clinical rotations. (Courses may include BIO-163, or BIO-165 & 166, or BIO-168 & 169.)

• Submit a Continuing Education Registration Form.

• Pay the continuing education registration fee. Current fee is $180.00. (Fee exemptions apply to individuals affiliated with qualified agencies/organizations. Please see the EMS Program Director to find out if you qualify. If fee exempt, the student must provide an exemption letter from the Agency Director stating that they are an active member. That letter must be presented to ECC at the time of registration.) This fee is required at the beginning of the course and at the beginning of Part B and C.

• Pay ECC the medical liability insurance fee of $8.50.

• Pay ECC the accident insurance fee of $6.00.

The student is required to purchase the ECC EMS Polo in order to attend class, labs, and EMS field rotations. The cost for the shirt is $25.00 and must be purchased during the first week of class. Instructions on how to order will be provided by the Lead Instructor once the class has started.

The Edgecombe Community College Paramedic Program utilizes Sterling Credentials for all lab, clinical, and field documentation. Students will be provided an access code to purchase on the first day of class and must have it purchased by the first lab session.

For testing students will use EMSTesting. They will be given an access code the first day of class and must purchase it by the first quiz date.

ECC does not guarantee the admission of any student to a field/clinical site. A student’s acceptance, participation, and continuation at any field/clinical site are subject to the approval and consent of the field/clinical site. Students must be able to attend and progress in the assigned field/clinical area for each course. Alternate assignments will not be made because of inability to progress in an assigned field/clinical setting.

Medical Documents and Background Check:

• Prior to the start of the field/clinical rotation, students may be required to complete a drug screen analysis and obtain a copy of their criminal background record and provide them to the field/clinical site(s). This must be obtained as directed by the field/clinical site.

• Prior to the start of the field/clinical rotation, students may be required to complete the Health Science Physical Exam Form and submit immunization verification records to the field/clinical site including proof of:

  • • Hepatitis B (3 dose series or titer)

    • Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap)

    • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (2 Dose Series)

    • Varicella (2 dose or immune titer)

    • Annual TB test. (If TB test results are positive, documentation must be provided from a physician clearing work in the healthcare field.)

    • COVID - 19 vaccine plus booster (unless the student qualifies for religious/medical exemption).

Length for the hospital clinical educational component is 100 hours for the Paramedic level. Clinical education hours may be adjusted based on the time required by the student to obtain competency in each of the skills required. All hospital clinical education must be conducted under the direct supervision of approved preceptors. Additional hours may be added at the discretion of the Field-Clinical Services Chief, EMS Specialist, or Program Director.

Length for the field internship component is 268 hours for the Paramedic level. Field internship component hours may be adjusted based on the time required by the student to obtain competency in each of the skills required. All field internship hours must be conducted under the direct supervision of approved field training officers or field clinical instructors. Additional hours may be added at the discretion of the Field-Clinical Services Chief, EMS Specialist, or Program Director.

The student must complete 100% of the hours required. For courses that utilize an assigned mentor, the student will need to obtain a Statement of Completion from their mentor once they successfully complete the field-clinical section of the program. A student must perform the required number of skills stated in the curriculum for each level of competency.