Paramedic Technology, A.S.

The two year calendar paramedic technology associate degree is designed to prepare persons to provide immediate primary emergency care to people in health crises. The graduate will be able to provide basic and advanced life support under the direction of a physician to all age groups and populations. Extensive didactic instruction, skills, practicum and internship experiences will be completed to provide the student with the foundational knowledge and skills to successfully attain national registry of Emergency Medical Technicians-Paramedic certification. The primary goal of the program will be to produce competent, entry level paramedics to serve in career and volunteer positions.

The program has specific admission requirements in addition to general Casper College requirements. Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 and must earn a grade of “C” or better in all paramedic courses in order to progress to the subsequent semester.

Background check and drug/alcohol policy

Students enrolled in any of the health science programs will participate in clinical experiences in a variety of agencies. Prior to participating in the clinical experiences, students will be subject to that agency’s requirements for a background check, drug testing and/or drug abuse prevention policies. Students are then subject to the random drug testing policy of that agency.

Following graduation, several of the state and/or national licensing or certification (registry) boards, may refuse to allow a graduate to sit for the required exam or issue a license or certification to a person who has a prior felony conviction or proven history of drug or alcohol abuse. Applicants to whom this applies should consult the program director for further information.

Clinical accessibility policy

The paramedic technology program utilizes a variety of health care agencies for clinical experience for the students. If you have been employed in one or more of the agencies and are not eligible for rehire as an employee, the agency may not permit you to participate in the essential clinical component of the program.

Negative responses will be evaluated on an individual basis; however, this could severely impact your ability to complete the program of study. A response indicating you will be permitted to attend clinicals in the agency will be given to the program director prior to the selection process for admission to the program. If you are unable to fulfill clinical requirements due to a previous employer issue and have not complied with the above, you could be dismissed from the program.

Core performance standards for admission and progression

Critical thinking: Critical thinking ability to exercise non-clinical and clinical judgment in a timely manner.

Interpersonal: Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact professionally and therapeutically with peers, faculty, staff, administrators, patients/clients, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.

Communication: Communication skills sufficient for interaction with peers, faculty, staff, administrators, patients/clients, families, and groups in verbal, nonverbal and written form.

Mobility: Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room, safely perform treatments/procedures, and assist patients/clients; lift and transfer patients/clients; manipulate equipment; walk and/or stand for extended periods of time.

Motor skills: Gross and fine motor skills sufficient to provide safe and effective patient/client care.

Hearing: Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and safely assess health needs.

Visual: Visual ability with or without corrective lenses sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in safe patient/client care.

Tactile: Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment of patient/client care.

Professionalism: The ability to understand and demonstrate sufficient respect for others in non-verbal, verbal, and written communications in the classroom, laboratory, clinical settings, in the Casper College community, and in related public settings. The ability to demonstrate sufficient understanding of the cumulative effect that behavior, appearance, and communication has on the health science professional image.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for admission into the program, the applicant must:

1. Submit a completed application form with all high school and college transcripts and GED certification (if applicable) to the Office of Admissions and Student Records;
2. Have a composite score of 18 or better on the ACT if out of high school less than two years, and have completed courses recommended by the test with a “C” or better; or
3. Have taken the COMPASS test and have completed courses recommended by the test with a “C” or better, or successfully completed college courses;
4. Have completed
   ENGL 1010
    ,
   HLTK 1200
     ,
   ZOO 2040
    /
   ZOO 2041
     and
   ZOO 2110
     (or their equivalents) with a “C” or better;
5. Current EMT-Basic with minimum of 1-year experience.
6. Have a college cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better for admission or readmission;
7. Have evidence of American Heart Association BLS for the Provider Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification beginning the first semester of classes, and maintain current certification throughout the paramedic technology program. This requirement may be met by successfully completing HLTK 1625 ;
8. Submit two (2) professional letters of recommendation to include one from the student’s current medical director.