Emergency Medical Services, Paramedic
- Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)
Program Snapshot
Your Learning Options
In-Person, Hybrid, Online
66 Credit Hours
Estimated Time to Complete
1.5 years (4 full-time semesters)
In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour
$176.00 | Calculate your costs
Why be a Paramedic?
Discover how you can make a difference in emergency medical situations with skills you need to provide life-saving services.
- Gain the knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to excel as a Paramedic in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains.
- Train in state-of-the-art facilities equipped with the latest technology and equipment, providing you with a realistic and immersive learning environment.
- Learn in an immersive simulation lab where you practice and refine your skills under simulated emergency conditions, ensuring you're prepared for any situation in the field.
Paying for College
We are committed to using all of the available funds to help you gain access to a college education. In fact, more than 91% of our students graduate without any educational debt. In 2023, Reynolds Community College students received over $21 million dollars in grants, loans, work-study and scholarships with the average aid awarded totaling over $4,000 per student.
Payment plans are offered to break down tuition payments. Textbook Assistance and Laptop Lending Programs are also available. Be sure to explore all the types of financial aid available as well!
Get a Skill. Get a Job. Get Ahead.
G3 financial assistance at Reynolds can help cover tuition for select programs like this one! Starting something new or changing a career path can be scary, but if you want to earn workplace certifications or an academic degree that leads to a career, G3 tuition assistance can help remove the financial barrier of going to college.
Why Reynolds?
We are more than a community college.
Reynolds is the key that unlocks the door to your academic and professional success. Here you will find a safe place to start. We will help you explore, dream, succeed, try, and try again. Our amazing faculty and highly personalized advisors, your Reynolds Navigators, are well known for guiding you to discover that "aha moment.” That means an outstanding college experience, less debt, more freedom, and a solid start on your future.
Choose from our AAS Paramedic Degree program or the Paramedic Certification Only Option, tailored to meet your specific career goals and educational needs. Benefit from immersive simulation lab experiences and accelerated course options that enhance your learning and prepare you for real-world scenarios.
Train in a program accredited by esteemed organizations such as the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions (CoAEMSP), National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services, and Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Our accreditation reflects our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of education and training.
Obtain additional certifications such as ACLS, PALS (PEC), PHTLS, and AMLS as part of our program. Take advantage of flexible scheduling options, G3 funding availability, specialty scholarships, local industry partnerships, and abundant employment opportunities. Please note that applicants must hold an EMT certification to be eligible for admission.
The only secret is to keep going… If you fall 100 times then you get up 101 times.
Keya Wingfield
Class Highlights
EMS 127 - Airway, Shock and Resuscitation
Learn concepts associated with pre-hospital emergency care for the individual experiencing airway difficulty or in need of resuscitation or shock management.
EMS 141 - Cardiovascular Care
Study assessment and management of cardiac-related emergencies. Covers basic dysrhythmia recognition and relates it to overall cardiac patient care.
EMS 170 - ALS Internship I
Train under supervision, learning through direct patient contact in appropriate patient care facilities in and out of hospitals.
Program Roadmap
Get all the details on our Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic program, including class sequences, admission requirements, financial considerations, and more.
Additional Program Information
PURPOSE: To prepare students to be knowledgeable, competent, entry-level, pre-hospital care practitioners and fill positions at the level of Paramedic.
OCCUPATIONAL / PROGRAM OBJECTIVES: To prepare Paramedics who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession. Successful performance in this program qualifies the student to take the National Registry EMT (NREMT) - Paramedic certification exam at the end of this program.
PARAMEDIC PROGRAM OUTCOMES: CAAHEP Accredited Paramedic Programs and CoAEMSP Letter of Review (LoR) Programs track and report outcome measures annually to the Committee on Accreditation for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP) . The most current CoAEMSP Annual Report was for the calendar year 2022.
| Outcome | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retention | 43.8% | 62.5% | no graduates | 73.8% |
| NREMT or State Cognitive Exam | 85.7% | 93.3% | no graduates | 88.5% |
| Placement | 85.7% | 93.3% | no graduates | 73.8% |
Positive placement is defined by the CoAEMSP as “Employed full or part-time in a related field and/or continuing his/her education and/or serving in the military.” Positive placement is measured at the completion of the program and only applies to students who obtain Paramedic certification and are working in a related field. The direct link to published results are located at The Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs - Find a Program.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: General college curricular admission.
PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the general college curriculum admissions requirements, the student must possess a current Virginia EMT Certification and a valid CPR certification from either the American Heart Association-BLS Provider or the American Red Cross - Professional Rescuer/BLS. BIO 145 (A & P) is required for completion of the Paramedic program and to meet NREMT testing eligibility. BIO 145 requires a minimum grade of “C” (70-79) under the biology department’s grading scale.
In compliance with the Virginia State Board of Health and Virginia EMS regulations (12 VAC 5-31-1200 and 12 VAC 5-31-1460), students wishing to register for Paramedic courses with an EMS prefix must be at least 18 years of age at the time of enrollment into the program. Students younger than 18 are eligible to enroll in EMS 100, EMS 111 & EMS 120 if not already an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) .
A new Paramedic Cohort will start every fall semester unless otherwise noted. Students must meet with an EMS Program Advisor for additional advising and enrollment into the Paramedic program. Course enrollment permission is required.
The average length of this program is 4 - 5 semesters that will meet once or twice weekly with an anticipated spring graduation. All students must possess VA EMT Certification and AHA CPR Certification to enroll in a fall Paramedic Cohort.
FUNCTIONAL SKILL REQUIREMENTS: The functional skills listed below apply to students entering the EMS - Paramedic AAS degree program. Students entering this program must have the ability to, but not limited to:
- Verbally communicate in person, via telephone and telecommunications using the English language;
- Hear spoken information from co-workers, patients, physicians, and dispatchers and sounds common to the emergency scene;
- Lift, carry, and balance a minimum of 125 pounds equally distributed (250 pounds with assistance), a height of 33 inches, and a distance of 10 feet;
- Read and comprehend written materials under stressful conditions;
- Use a prescribed format to document patient information in writing or by entry into a computer program;
- Demonstrate manual dexterity and fine motor skills, with ability to perform all tasks related to quality patient care in a safe manner;
- Bend, stoop, crawl, and walk on even surfaces; and
- Meet minimum vision requirements to operate a motor vehicle within the state. For a complete list of BLS and ALS Functional Job descriptions, please visit the Please visit Virginia Department of Health - ALS Functional Job Description.
CONTINUATION IN THE PROGRAM: To continue in the program, students must achieve a minimum course grade of “B” (80) in each EMS course. Students MUST - possess current EMT & CPR certification prior to enrolling in the Paramedic program. EMT and CPR Certification must remain current while enrolled in the Paramedic program. Paramedic students must successfully complete BIO 145 or BIO 141 and BIO 142 to complete the Paramedic program. Successful completion of BIO 145 or BIO 141 and BIO 142 requires a minimum grade of “C” (70-79) under the biology department’s grading scale.
PROGRESSION THROUGH THE PROGRAM: Reynolds relies on affiliation agreements with community agencies to provide clinical education opportunities for their students. The rapid changes in health care law, standards of practice, technology, content of credentialing examinations, and availability of qualified faculty increasingly necessitate sudden changes in the program’s course content, policies, procedures, and course scheduling. As a result, the college cannot guarantee every student continuous and uninterrupted clinical and course instruction as outlined in the printed catalog curriculum for this program. Circumstances beyond the control of the college may necessitate the postponement of course offerings or changes in the sequencing and/or location of scheduled courses or clinical assignments. Additionally, the college may have to change the instructor for courses after instruction has started.
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the regular college tuition and fees, the EMS program requires the items listed below. The costs listed are estimates and subject to change.
To determine current tuition and fees, visit Reynolds - Tuition and Fees or call the School of Health Professions office at (804) 523-5375. The instructor will inform students of the textbooks and other required learning materials needed in the syllabus for each course.
| Textbooks and Card Fees (ACLS,PHTLS,PALS/PEC, and AMLS ) | $467.00 |
| Castlebranch Registration, Compliance Tracker (Immunization Records, Background Check and Drug Testing) | $106.00 |
| FISDAP/Platinum Planner Scheduler and Final Exams | $230.00 |
| Platinum Planner and EMS testing | $150.00 |
| Uniforms (Boots, Belt, Pants, Reynolds EMS program shirt) | $100.00 |
| Testing Fees: | |
| National Registry Paramedic Cognitive Examination (Written) | $180.00 |
| Health Assessment Physical (required for Paramedic program only) | varies according to student’s doctor’s fees |
| Total Estimated Program Fees | $1233.00 |
CLINICAL/EMS CONTRACTS:Individual contracts are in effect with each affiliate clinical/EMS agency, and these contracts differ in requirements for students. In general, contracts include the following:
- Clinical/EMS agencies reserve the right to dismiss a student from their agency at any time. Students must wear the proper uniform, conforming to program and health care agency standards.
- Students must follow published hospital and EMS policies.
- Students must meet health, immunity, and immunization requirements specified by the affiliated clinical/EMS facility and/or agency. Failure to comply with these requirements will prevent the student from meeting specific course learning outcomes required for program progression and completion.
- Students release the facility, its agents, and its employees from any liability for any injury or death to self or damage to personal property arising out of the clinical agreement or use of the facility. (Assessment of Risk document is signed and on file once the student is accepted into the program.)
- Students are financially responsible for any medical care required while in the clinical setting.
- Students must have a current American Heart Association CPR BLS for Health Care Provider Certification or American Red Cross “BLS or Professional Rescuer.”
- Demonstration of professional behavior is expected at all clinical/EMS learning experiences. Clinical/EMS preceptors will direct a student to leave the learning environment if unacceptable behaviors are observed.
- The health care agency may deny a student participation based on results of background and drug screen.
- Students must submit required clinical documents before beginning clinical/EMS rotation. A student who does not meet published deadlines for submission forfeits his/her enrollment.
ACCREDITATION: Reynolds Community College paramedic program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). The program meets the National EMS Education Standards and is approved and accredited by the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services.
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355-113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
caahep.org
Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions
8301 Lakeview Parkway Suite, 111 - 312
Rowlett, TX 75088
214-703-8445
coaemsp.org
