Online Paramedic Program Information

Our Paramedic Program is a self paced, 20 month max, CoAEMSP/CAAHEP accredited, National Registry of EMTs approved, and TX licensed online-based/in-person training program.

The first half of the program is completely online. Each student has up to 10 months to complete P1 and P2 online courses, homeworks, research exams, and final exams to qualify for the 2nd part of the program.

The last 10 months starts with a seven, 2 day skills training and testing sessions that are in person at one of our approved training facilities. The remainder of this time is used to complete at least 456 hours of clinical shifts in the hospital and on an ambulance.

Once completed, the Paramedic student will receive an official Couse Completion certificate and will be marked "Eligible to test" in the NREMT database.

At that point, the student is ready to sit for the NREMT written exam for certification, which is needed for the state license in TX and many other US states.

Yes, you must be either actively certified as an EMT with NREMT or in the state of Texas prior to enrollment.

This course is not an entry level course.

Information for possible students looking for waivers based on past experience. This applies to people like ARMY medics, MARINE/NAVY corpsmen, previously licensed EMTs, RNs, etc.

POLICY FOR ACADEMIC CREDIT OR ADVANCED PLACEMENT 

PERCOM and its cooperative programs do not believe that students who have completed other training opportunities should automatically have to “redo” work.  Based on that premise, there may be times when the Coordinator or Program Director may choose to grant advanced placement for existing licenses, certifications or completed courses obtained by students from other approved programs, educational institutions, or military programs.  Any credit granted will require verifiable documentation provided by the student or through student acquisition methods to be placed in the students file if he/she is accepted into the PERCOM EMS Academy.  Not ALL “proofs” will be accepted as meeting the standards set by state and national authorities or by the PERCOM administrative staff, and PERCOM reserves the right to approve or disapprove any request for advanced placement for any specific portion of training for any reason.  Examples of potential placement based on produced documentation of proof of existing certifications, licensures or prior training and educational opportunities are listed below.  Situations not covered in this document will be evaluated for possible approval by PERCOM administration on a case by case basis.  Potential advanced placement will be worded as “waiver” in this document.

*NOTE: PERCOM DOES NOT ACCEPT TRANSFER “CREDITS”FROM OTHER SCHOOLS OR COLLEGES AND DOES NOT GRANT “CREDITS” FOR COURSES COMPLETED IN ITS ACADEMY.  A TRANSCRIPT WILL BE GENERATED FOR PARAMEDIC GRADUATES OUTLINING HOURS GRANTED AS COMPLETED FOR EACH COURSE LEVEL AND WILL DELINEATE ANY ADVANCED PLACEMENT GRANTED AS “C” ON THE TRANSCRIPT. 

Paramedic1/AEMT/Intermediate

Waiver of some or all homework assignments may be granted based on production of the following documents or items.  However, students remain responsible for the information presented over these items in the course and in text and may see testing of the information in the form of Research Exam questions, skills exam scenarios, Final Exam questions or other methods.  The Coordinator will choose which, if any, assignments will be waived based on produced documentation.  However, standard norms are also listed.  *Note:  No students will be exempted from passing the Final Exam or Testing Skills Session under any circumstances.

Anatomy and Physiology Waived

• Proof of completion of college level human Anatomy and Physiology class(es) with a grade of “C” or higher

All Homework Assignments Waived EXCEPT Drug Calculations HW

• Proof of prior AEMT/Intermediate or Paramedic certification that is expired less than 5 years
• Copy of current RN, PA, MD, DO licenses
• Students who have proof of completing Nursing, Physician’s Assistant, Nurse Practitioner or Medical School may also be exempt if a transcript or other proof of successful completion is produced.  This does NOT apply to EMS personnel, who must produce evidence of current certification.
• For students whose AEMT/Intermediate or Paramedic certification has lapsed GREATER than five years, students must present proof of prior AEMT/Intermediate or Paramedic certification with a documentable resume outlining EMS 911 experience while certified of at least one year in the field.  However, students remain responsible for the information presented over these items in the course and in text and may see testing of the information in the form of Research Exam questions, skills exam scenarios, Final Exam questions or other methods.
• Students who are 68W or its equivalent in other branches of the military who can show documentation of successful completion of advanced training courses through the military that meet or exceed the requirements set in curriculum and are equivalent to the requirements for EMT-Intermediate 85 education and training in the areas of shock pathophysiology, treatment, and management, trauma pathophysiology and advanced field management, and advanced airway management may be eligible for this waiver.  Students must also produce curriculum outlines proving equivalency if they are not already on file in the PERCOM office and accepted.

Clinical and Field Rotation Waivers

• Proof of prior AEMT/Intermediate or Paramedic certification that is expired less than 5 years
• Proof of completion of clinical or field rotations from another state licensed EMS education program for AEMT/Intermediate or Paramedic certification within the last 3 years IF the student is able to produce proof of course enrollment in that school and copies of ALL clinical and field rotation records for review for potential credit.  These records must meet State rule and PERCOM minimum requirements for credit in PERCOM’s program toward course completion.  (Student clinical or field rotation completion from another program greater than 3 years old will NOT be granted exemption.)
• For students whose AEMT/Intermediate or Paramedic certification has been expired GREATER than five years, students must produce proof of prior EMT-Intermediate or Paramedic certification with a documentable resume outlining EMS 911 experience at that level while certified of at least one year in the field.
• Students with approved existing healthcare licenses, such as RN (or certain military medical positions who are at least EMT certified), who work in the hospital or field environments and have produced a verifiable resume that incorporates proof of ER, emergency care and duties to include standard AEMT/Intermediate skills access such as IV therapy, phlebotomy and medication administration by various routes may be exempted from having to rotate in the hospital environment, with the exception of OR for the purpose of intubations. However, the Clinical Program reserves the right to incorporate those hours into all EMS exposure environments.  SOME of these students may be able to produce evidence of documented job experiences and exposures that meet or exceed any that he/she would receive in standard EMS education field or hospital rotation sites. These records will be individually reviewed for possible waiver of Paramedic1/AEMT clinical and field rotations.  However, if the student is enrolled in Paramedic 1 (and is not planning to stop at the AEMT level in the PERCOM program), the Clinical Coordinator must also review the documentation and have a voice in the overall decision as many of these students will have OR time or other rotations “packed” into later Paramedic 2 Practicum sessions.  This will remain at the discretion of the Clinical Coordinator and Program Director.
• Certified or licensed students from other healthcare disciplines who may be eligible for waiver of clinical and/or field rotations MUST work in an active healthcare environment and MUST have access to IV therapy, phlebotomy and intubation as part of their skills set for their employment.  This must be documented by a physician or administrator in the place of employment or duty station on letterhead and produced for approval by PERCOM administration. However, these students MUST hold an active EMT certification.

*Note:  All students listed above in this section may have experience and training that will allow them to successfully demonstrate adequate minimum performance on skills testing by attending only a skills Testing Session.  Students may do this at their option, or at their own peril, as students who fail that session will be required to attend one or more Practice Sessions and then another Testing Session. Only 3 total sessions are included in the course cost, so a rescheduling plus processing fee will be charged for each session over and above the budgeted amount prior to the student being allowed to participate in non-budgeted sessions, either Practice or Testing.

Students who are exempted from attending Practice Sessions due to waivers MUST be working in an environment that allows them access as part of their job duties to IV therapy, phlebotomy and intubation and will be required to have these skills verified on live patients in their environment by a licensed physician or Paramedic instructor.  This will not constitute as the student being a “clinical student”, and the student will be the responsibility of his/her employer.

Paramedic 2

The Program Director, in cooperation with the Lead Medical Director for the Paramedic Program, reserves the right and has the ultimate responsibility for reviewing and providing final determinations regarding ANY waivers for any portion of the Paramedic 2 didactic, skills, or clinical and field rotation portions of the program.  Any information received from potential students requesting waivers at this level will be forward to that Program Director for approval or denial.  Approval or denial will be given by the PERCOM Program Director by message or email to the student or potential student and any approvals or denials for students who join the program will be kept documented in the student file.  The Clinical Coordinator will NOT approve or disapprove any such requests for this level except as directed by the Paramedic Program Director.

Anatomy and Physiology Waived

• Proof of completion of  college level human Anatomy and Physiology class(es) with a grade of “C” or higher