Paramedic Program
Our accredited EMS courses are administered through the VCU Center for Trauma and Critical Care Education and sponsored by the VCU Health Medical Center. EMS courses are non-credit. For completers of the program, we have an articulation agreement in place with Reynold's Community College
The VCU Health Paramedic Program has a long history of training paramedics throughout Virginia. In fact, our program has trained nearly 2,000 paramedics over its 40-year history. Several distinguished alumni are former (retired) or current leaders in the ranks of fire departments and EMS agencies across the country. Many of our graduates have gone on to medical school or become nurses. We even have the distinction of having a graduate of the program sit on the Virginia State Supreme Court.
Effective Jan 1, 2022: Paramedic students are no longer required to apply for admissions to VCU as undergraduate students.
Our primary GOALS are to prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician, and/or Emergency Medical Responder levels. Upon completion of the Program the student will be able to:
- Recognize, assess and safely manage the scene of a medical emergency incident (be the team leader).
- Document and communicate the relevant patient information to the receiving facility.
- Assess and initiate appropriate medical care for an adult, pediatric or geriatric patient of a medical or traumatic emergency under regional protocols or online medical control.
- Demonstrate the ability to reassess and modify the patient’s treatment as needed by changes in the patient’s condition.
- Select the appropriate receiving facility.
- Document in writing the assessment and treatment of patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
As of October 2023, the cost of the full EMT to Paramedic program is $7,500
Additional costs: FISDAP software, books, uniforms - Approx $1200
The VCU Health Paramedic Program is a hospital-sponsored training program. Courses are non-credit and therefore not eligible for financial aid. However, students may apply with the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services for the EMS Scholarship. The link to the website explaining the Scholarship is posted here. Students may contact the office for general information but specific questions should be directed to the Virginia Office of EMS at 1-800-523-6019 (VA Only) or 804-888-9100 (Main Office)
All clinical work occurs at the VCU Health System on the MCV campus. Scheduling opportunities are available to students early in class to allow adequate time to prepare their schedule.
The field internship may be scheduled with an approved EMS agency* and ALS mentor. Students not affiliated with an agency will be provided contact information for EMS agencies that participate with our program.
*Agencies must have an updated and active clinical agreement with VCU Health System.