Program Overview

The Central Washington University EMS Paramedicine Program has been training individuals in prehospital emergency medical care since 1973 and is one of only a few baccalaureate degree-awarding paramedic programs in the country with an accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) as recommended by the Committee on Accreditation of EMS Education Programs (CoAEMSP – 4101 W. Green Oaks Blvd., Suite 305-599, Arlington, Texas  76016; Phone: 817-330-0080). This program is intended for those individuals who are seeking a career in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) profession as a paramedic.

The EMS Paramedicine Program at Central Washington University prides itself in providing comprehensive education in paramedicine with an unparalleled depth and breadth of scope. It boasts a five-year pass-rate on the National Registry Exam for Paramedic of 96%, with nearly 90% passing on their first attempt. In addition, nearly 100% of our graduates get placement into their chosen profession.

The EMS Paramedicine Program offers several options: a Paramedic Certificate, a Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Paramedicine, and an Advanced Standing option for practicing paramedics. The Certificate Program consists of the first year of the Major (the clinical year) and enables the successful student to be eligible to take the National Registry Exam for Paramedic. The four-year Bachelor Degree in Paramedicine provides a unique and intensive two-year concentration in Paramedicine that not only enables student eligibility for paramedic certification, but provides content to engender leadership abilities in EMS.

The Advanced Standing option enables practicing paramedics that have earned a transferable Associate’s Degree, have a current national or state certification, and graduated from an approved training institution to enter into the EMS Paramedicine Degree Program in the second  year if all admission requirements are met.  The Advanced Standing option is delivered entirely online and is detailed on a separate page (see Menu at left). Each program year begins at the start of the fall academic quarter (mid-September), and students attend classes on campus for the entire first academic year while concurrently completing clinical and field internships where opportunities to learn advanced life support skills are provided under the guidance of skilled preceptors.

Total course work in the first year includes more than 600 hours of didactic (classroom) and skills (lab) instruction 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 in field internship with an agency actually involve patient contacts, 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 paramedic certification examination.

It is the policy of the EMS Paramedicine Program at Central Washington University not to award advanced standing, transfer credits, or substitution for any coursework in the first year of the major (pursuit toward the paramedic certification).  The only exception to this restriction are credits earned in courses of anatomy and physiology if earned at another institution of higher education that meets the equivalency requirements of the prerequisite courses in anatomy and physiology at CWU as determined by the Office of the Registrar.

Students may be awarded Advanced Standing for completed paramedic education toward the second year coursework.  This process includes any equivalency of coursework in paramedic education for transfer of credits toward their bachelor degree in EMS Paramedicine in the second year courses.

Central Washington University EMS Paramedicine Program has a long history of maintaining high academic standards and skill requirements for our graduates that often exceed both state and national minimum standards for paramedic programs. This translates into a very busy, very intense year of learning, both in the classroom and in the field. This level of academic rigor prepares the students not only for successful completion of the national certification exam but for a rewarding and accomplished career as a professional paramedic.