Emergency Medical Services
Paramedic Associate of Applied Science
Overview
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a branch of medicine known as the "Prehospital Care Providers." Emergency Medical Personnel are trained to administer medical care to the sick and injured in pre-hospital situations.
Program Goal
For more information about paramedic employment, statistics, and technical skills refer to link:
Paramedic: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2043.00
Paramedic AAS Degree
The Paramedic is an allied health professional whose primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. This individual possesses the complex knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation. Paramedics function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight. Paramedics perform interventions with the basic and advanced equipment typically found on an ambulance. The Paramedic is a link from the scene into the health care system.
Description of the Profession
The Paramedic's scope of practice includes basic and advanced skills focused on the acute management and transportation of the broad range of patients who access the emergency medical system. This may occur at an emergency scene until transportation resources arrive, from an emergency scene to a health care facility, between health care facilities, or in other health care settings.
Job Opportunities
What are the career opportunities in EMS?
Career opportunities are varied from the pre-hospital to hospital settings. Some examples are: Private or city owned ambulance services that transport patients by ground or air, industrial businesses such as offshore drilling facilities that require personnel qualified to treat illnesses or injuries, emergency rooms, operating rooms, cardiac cath labs, and ICU-telemetry units. Licensed Paramedics with AAS are eligible to apply to the Associate Degree Nursing Transition Program.
Salary/Benefits
Paramedic with an Associate in Applied Science degree earns an average of $19 to $20 per hour.
Program Costs
The approximate cost of the program ranges from $2,600 (one semester certificate) to $4,600 (two year degree) for tuition, books, fees, and supplies. Students seeking Financial Aid should contact the financial aid office. Additional miscellaneous costs such as uniforms and immunizations are approximately $450.
Accreditation
Accreditation Agencies
The EMS Program is accredited by Texas Department of State Health Services.
Texas Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, Texas 78756
Phone: (512) 834-6700
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/emstraumasystems/default.shtm
CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs)
The Laredo College EMS Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions.
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
Phone: (721) 210-2350
CoAEMSP (Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions)
8301 Lakeview Parkway
Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
Phone: (214) 703-8445
Fax: (214) 703-8992
Licensing Agency
Licensure Exam
National Registry of EMT’s
6610 Busch Blvd.
Columbus, Ohio 43229
(614) 888-4484
Texas Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, Texas 78756
Phone: (512) 834-6700
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/emstraumasystems/default.shtm
EMS Program Paramedic Passing Rates
Laredo College EMS Paramedic Program Passing Rates
| Dates | Total Candidates | Failed | Passed | 1st attempt Passing Rate |
| 01/01/2020 – 05/31/2021 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 33.3% |
| 01/01/2021 – 05/31/2022 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50% |
| 01/01/2022 – 05/31/2023 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 66.7% |
Retention Rates
| Dates | Total Candidates Enrolled | Number of students withdrew from program | Number of students graduating | Attrition Rate | Retention Rate |
| 01/01/2020 – 05/31/2021 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 46.2% | 53.8% |
| 01/01/2021 – 05/31/2022 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 50% | 50% |
| 01/01/2022 – 05/31/2023 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 16.7% | 83.3% |
Laredo College EMS Paramedic Program Job Placement Rates
| Dates | Total Graduates | Number of graduates employed | Number of graduates continuing education or serving in the military in lieu of employment | Positive Placement Rate |
| 01/01/2020 – 05/31/2021 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 100% |
| 01/01/2021 – 05/31/2022 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 100% |
| 01/01/2022 – 05/31/2023 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 90% |
Information
Application and Selection Process
The student seeking admission into the EMS Program must:
- Meet LC admission criteria as set forth in the college catalog.
- Have a minimum degree-specific grade point average of 2.5 and achieve a grade of "C" or better in required academic courses.
- Submit the following to the EMS Program through the online portal.
- A complete Health Sciences Division EMS application. Applicants must fill out the completed online application and submit portal https://webportalapp.com/sp/laredo-ems
Application Deadlines
- Application deadline for paramedic is the first Thursday in November for spring admission.
Admission into EMS Program is based on:
- G.P.A.: Current (within the last 5 years) grade report or transcript
- Pre-entrance Exam (An examination fee will be charged to the candidate)
Are there other items I need to submit?
Prior to the first class day, students accepted into the Emergency Medical Services Program must submit completed:
- Physical Examination Form (within one year). To access Physical Examination form, please click here.
- Functional Position Description Form. To access form, please click here.
- Negative Criminal background check: www.CastleBranch.com
- S. B. No. 62 requires that all college students under the age of 22 must receive the Bacterial Meningitis vaccine. If you are 21 or under, you may request an exemption form in the mail from the Texas Department of State Health Services, please click here for further information.
- Immunizations, including: TB (X-RAY), MMR, Varicella, Tetanus, Flu shot, Hepatitis B, DTaPTd. To access Immunization form, please click here.
- Vaccine Series
- Current American Heart Association BLS CPR Certification
- Negative 10 Panel Drug Screen
What else do I need to know?
Students may be required to undergo random drug screens by the clinical facility. Students will need to submit a criminal background check annually. The National Registry of EMT'S and Texas Department of State Health Services will conduct a federal criminal background check prior to taking their exam.
*Obtaining a grade of C or better on EMS courses does not guarantee a student's eligilibity to sit for the National Registry of EMT's certification exam. The student must obtain the required cut score or better on the EMS Assessment Exam in order to be eligible to sit for the National Registry of EMT's certification exam.
The EMS Program adheres to the Equal Opportunity Policy as listed in the LC Manual of Policy FA (LEGAL), click here to access policy.
EMS Student Handbook 2023-2024
Advanced Placement Policy
The EMS Program currently does not offer advanced placement options.
Plan of Study
| Prerequisites | Semesters Offered | Credit Hours |
| BIOL 2301 Anatomy & Physiology I (C) | Fall, Spring | 3 |
| BIOL 2101 Anatomy & Physiology I Lab | Fall, Spring | 1 |
| BIOL 2302 Anatomy & Physiology II (C) | Fall, Spring | 3 |
| BIOL 2102 Anatomy & Physiology II Lab | Fall, Spring | 1 |
| ENGL 1301 – Composition I (C) | Fall, Spring | 3 |
| 11 Hours | ||
| First Semester | ||
| EMSP 1501 EMT-Basic | Fall, Spring | 5 |
| EMSP 11602 – Clinical-EMT | Fall, Spring | 1 |
| EMSP 2305 EMS Operations | Fall, Spring | 3 |
| 9 Hours | ||
| Second Semester | ||
| EMSP 1338 – Introduction to Advanced Practice | Spring | 3 |
| EMSP 11632 – Clinical Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) (I) | Spring | 1 |
| EMSP 2434 – Medical Emergencies | Spring | 4 |
| EMSP 1355 – Trauma Management | Spring | 3 |
| EMSP 1356 – Patient Assessment and Airway Management | Spring | 3 |
| 14 Hours | ||
| SUMMER SESSION I | ||
| EMSP 2306– Emergency Pharmacology | SSI | 3 |
| 3 Hours | ||
| Summer Session II | ||
| EMSP 1260 – Clinical Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) (II) | SSII | 2 |
| 2 Hours | ||
| Third Semester | ||
| EMSP 2444 – Cardiology | Fall | 4 |
| EMSP 2330 – Special Populations | Fall | 3 |
| EMSP 2260 – Clinical Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) (III) | Fall | 2 |
| PSYC 2314 – Life Span Growth and Development (C) | 3 | |
| 12 Hours | ||
| Fourth Semester | ||
| EMSP 2261 – Clinical Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) (IV) | Spring | 2 |
| EMSP 2237 – Emergency Procedures | Spring | 2 |
| EMSP 2243– Assessment Based Management | Spring | 2 |
| Elective – Language Philosophy & Culture/Creative Arts | 3 | |
| 9 Hours | ||
| AAS DEGREE MINIMUM: 60 SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS/PATHWAY TOTAL: 60 SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS |