EMT Program Name Changed to Paramedic

January 22, 2020

The college’s longtime and well-respected Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic degree and certificate programs will both get a name change that will better recognize the profession its students pursue after graduation.

Starting in the Fall 2020 semester, the EMT-Paramedic associate in applied science (A.A.S.) degree and certificate programs will be simply known as the Paramedic A.A.S. degree and Paramedic certificate programs.

“The name change was requested because it became a little confusing for people looking at the program,” said Department Chair Patty Hyland. “The EMT portion of the degree program entails just seven credit hours, and those who enter the certificate program already have a current EMT card, so we wanted the name to reflect the fact that we are training students to be paramedics.”

EMTs generally perform basic life support, and are tasked with CPR, bandaging wounds, treating burns and stabilizing fractures. Paramedics serve as the highest level of pre-hospital care, and their education requires more advanced training in procedures such as intubation, administering intravenous fluids and medications and advanced life support care.

Graduates of the 70-credit A.A.S. program, which is still accepting students for the spring 2020 semester, or the 43-credit certificate program find careers as professional paramedics in local fire departments and emergency medical services agencies.

Both programs, which annually enroll about 130 students, are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

The college received approval from the NYS Education Department and SUNY to make the name change. The Paramedic degree and Paramedic certificate are part of the Cardiorespiratory and Emergency Medicine Department.