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Central Washington University’s paramedic program has been training individuals in prehospital emergency medical care since 1973 and is the only baccalaureate degree-awarding paramedic program in the Pacific Northwest. This program is intended for those individuals who plan to seek a career in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) profession. Providers of EMS are trained to assess and treat patients suffering emergency traumas and medical situations in the prehospital environment.
Each program year begins at the start of the fall academic quarter (mid September), and students attend classes on campus for the entire academic year while concurrently completing a field internship and clinical rotations where advanced life support skills are practiced under the guidance of skilled preceptors. Total course work includes approximately 600 hours of didactic and skills instruction in labs on campus, and an additional 450 hours of clinical instruction in affiliated hospitals. Students also complete field internships with affiliated EMS agencies to obtain the required number of patient contacts in the prehospital environment and must successfully demonstrate competency of all advanced life support skills. Because successful completion of the internship is dependent on a number of factors, and not all hours spent “riding” with an agency actually involve patient contact, the number of hours required for completion of the internship can vary from student to student. Traditionally, the average student spends 55-60 twenty-four hour shifts riding with affiliated agencies to meet the requirements (approximately 1300 hours). Upon completion of all program requirements students are eligible to take the National Registry of EMT’s paramedic certification examination.
Central has a long history of maintaining high academic standards and skill requirements for our graduates that in many areas exceed both state and national minimum standards for paramedic courses. This translates into a very busy, very intense year of learning, both in the classroom and in the field. This intensive educational process prepares the students very well for both the national certification exam and for their careers as professional paramedics. While the national average for the number of students passing the National Registry exam is just over 60%, more than 92% of Central’s graduates have passed on their first attempt. Additionally, 100% of the past five years’ graduates have successfully obtained employment upon certification.
Minimum requirements for acceptance into this program includes:
- Must be at least 18 years-old at the beginning of the course.
- Evidence of a high school diploma with a 2.0 GPA or better or equivalency qualification.
- Current EMT-Basic / Intermediate certification or equivalent documentation.
- Minimum of one year EMT experience with approximately 200 pre-hospital 911 calls recommended at the start of the paramedic program. It is recommended that students keep a log of their calls and include the date, agency name, type of call and the students' role during the call.
- Completion of college level anatomy and physiology series with a 2.0 GPA or greater (CWU's EXSC 250 and EXSC 351 or BIOL 355 and BIOL 356 or equivalent).
- Letters of recommendation from a minimum of three medical professionals involved directly or indirectly in the delivery of pre-hospital medical care.
Applications to the program must be made by March 31st for consideration into the following academic year’s program. A paramedic screening committee reviews all applications. Qualified applicants are invited to an oral board interview in mid April. Final selection of students by the screening committee is based on the oral board interview, the three letters of recommendation, successful acceptance to Central Washington University by the deadline for selection, and performance on the Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test (HOBET). To schedule the HOBET exam through CWU Testing Services, please call Lori Hauser at (509) 963-1098 or email at hauserl@cwu.edu. Edmonds Community College and Shoreline Community College also offer the HOBET exam
Admittance into the program is upon approval of the paramedic screening committee. Approximately twenty-four students are selected each year. Offers of acceptance are mailed to successful applicants May 1st.
Applicants to the paramedic program must also apply for admission to Central Washington University prior to the paramedic program application deadline date. Because of enrollment limitations set by the state legislature, if an applicant is admitted to the paramedic program but applies too late to the University to be accepted, the applicant will not be able to participate in the paramedic program. Although the fall quarter deadline for admissions is August 1, enrollment has been closing as early as May. Admission to Central Washington University does not guarantee admission into the paramedic program.
Check with the Office of Admissions for additional requirements. To view transfer of credit information for students with a general associate’s degree, or with credits at other institutions, go to http://www.cwu.edu/~regi/equivalencies/college_list.html
Central’s paramedic program is fortunate to have affiliation with six clinical (hospital) sites and twelve field (EMS) agencies throughout Washington state where our students learn side by side from a diverse and knowledgeable group of physicians, anesthesiologists, nurses, paramedics and other allied health professionals in a variety of rural, suburban and urban settings.
Affiliated Hospitals
- Harborview Medical Center – Seattle
- Kittitas Valley Community Hospital – Ellensburg
- Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital – Tacoma
- Providence Hospital Pacific Campus – Everett
- Yakima Regional Medical Center – Yakima
- Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital – Yakima
Affiliated EMS Agencies
- Advanced Life Systems Ambulance – Yakima
- American Medical Response – Yakima
- Arlington Fire Department – Arlington
- Ballard Ambulance – Wenatchee
- Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One - Gig Harbor
- Graham Fire and Rescue - Graham
- Grant County Fire District #5 – Moses Lake
- Kennewick Fire Department – Kennewick
- Kittitas Valley Fire & Rescue – Ellensburg
- Lifeline Ambulance – Wenatchee
- Marysville Fire Department
- Monroe Fire Department – Monroe
- Moses Lake Fire Department - Moses Lake
- Pierce County Fire District #2 - Lakewood
- Snohomish Fire District #1 – Everett
- Snohomish Fire District #8 – Lake Stevens
- Walla Walla Fire Department – Walla Walla
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