Student Services

Paramedic

Paramedic

The paramedic program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide advanced emergency medical care in the prehospital setting. The licensed paramedic is the highest level provider on the prehospital care team and may find employment with a fire department, private ambulance service, third service, hospital, or other operation. The paramedic program includes classroom didactic, practical laboratory, simulation-based education, in-hospital clinical and a capstone prehospital field internship that qualifies the student for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) paramedic licensure Examination upon successful completion of the program.

The program is designed for current Emergency Medical Technicians seeking to further their careers by becoming an advanced life support provider in the prehospital setting. This program is designed to prepare Paramedics who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession. 

We are not enrolling students at this time. More information will be available Fall 2025.

While we are not currently enrolling, students are encouraged to acquire the minimum components required for entry into the paramedic program.  Formal admission will be granted based on the multiple screening tool completed during the application period, to be announced at a later date in the fall semester. 

Enrollment will be open to qualified applicants who fulfill the following admission requirements:

  1. Possess a high school diploma or general education equivalent (GED).

  2.  Hold a current basic life cardiac life support (CPR) card for the BLS provider.

  3. Hold a current valid California EMT or Advanced EMT (AEMT) certification. Non-probationary and no discipline on file. This certification is to be current at the time of enrollment and throughout the program. 

  4. Have a minimum of six months of full-time experience or one year of part-time experience. This should equate to 1000 hours. Proof of work experience and hours will be required. 

  5. Attach a copy of the Educational Planning and Evaluation Form completed by an AVC counselor. Call 661-722-6300, extension 6338, to schedule an appointment. If you are requesting an equivalency or substitution, allow at least six weeks for the process to be completed. All students must see an AVC counselor before they submit an enrollment packet. Counselors complete Educational Planning and Evaluation Forms by appointment only.

    NOTE: You are responsible for notifying the Health and Safety Sciences Division office when you change your address or telephone number. Please call 661-722-6300, extension 6402, to do this.

  6. Attach official transcripts from institutions where prerequisites were completed. NOTE: Transcripts must be official, in sealed envelopes from the issuing institution and not have been opened by the student. We will not accept electronic transcripts, transcripts that have been opened or copies.

    NOTE: If you have taken prerequisite courses outside of AVC, you will be required to submit a request for equivalency/substitution through counseling. These must be approved before you can apply. We will not accept any application with courses pending approval or in progress. Grades must be posted.

Recommended Components

While the following components are not required at this time, students are highly encouraged to enroll in the following courses in preparation for the paramedic program. 

  1. Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification from American Heart Association (ACLS)

  2. Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification from American Heart Association (PALS) 

  3. Neonatal Resuscitation Program. (NRP)

  4. Biology 100 Elementary Human Anatomy and Physiology. Biology 102 General Human Anatomy. Biology 202 General Human Physiology. 

Student applications will be ranked according to the multi screening criteria and enrollment will be based on the points system.