Paramedic
Find Your Future in Critical Care
Paramedics provide life-saving care for critical and emergent patients. These allied health professionals rely on critical thinking skills to rapidly assess, treat, and stabilize injured or ill patients while providing transport to or between hospitals.
At Kirkwood, you’ll learn the complex knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation in an incredible learning environment that puts you into the settings where paramedics work.
When you graduate, you’ll be ready to work in ground or air ambulances, emergency departments, critical care units, or cardiac cath labs.
Current Student ResourcesKirkwood offers more than $3 million in scholarships for students each year.
Students in this program may be eligible to have half their tuition paid for by the Kibbie Grant.
Graduates of the Paramedic program will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the medicolegal and ethical considerations as a paramedic.
- Differentiate the physiological, psychological, and social considerations in human development into assessment, treatment, and communication strategies for patients of all ages.
- Demonstrate how to maintain a patent airway, oxygenate and ventilate a patient using basic and advanced airway management adjuncts and techniques.
- Effectively take a medical history and conduct a physical assessment.
- Integrate pathophysiological principles into the formulation of a field impression and treatment plan for medical and trauma patients of all ages.
- Safely and proficiently manage the scene of an emergency including transportation of the patient.
A one-hour program conference is required prior to acceptance to the program. You'll learn more about the program, specific admissions requirements and have the opportunity to have questions answered by program faculty and staff.
Program Costs
Paramedic A.A.S.
School Year: 2024–25
Program Entry Semester: Spring
| Pre-Reqs | Spring | Summer | Fall | Spring | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Hours per Semester | 18 | 17.5 | 10.5 | 17 | 15.5 | 78.5 |
| In-State Tuition | $3,906 | $3,797.50 | $2,278.50 | $3,689 | $3,363.50 | $17,034.50 |
| Technology Fee per Semester | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $250 |
| Clinical Expenses (mileage, lodging, screenings, etc.) | $162 | $79 | $315 | $315 | $472 | $1,343 |
| Conferences/Seminars | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Course Resources (textbooks, software, etc.) | $450 | $500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $950 |
| Course/Section Fees | $10 | $435 | $155 | $350 | $0 | $950 |
| Laptop (required devices) | $0 | $500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $500 |
| Testing Fees | $280 | $189 | $0 | $0 | $410 | $879 |
| Third Party Credentials | $80 | $0 | $145 | $210 | $203 | $638 |
| Tool Sets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Uniforms | $55 | $150 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $205 |
| Other | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $615 | $615 |
| Total Estimated Cost | $4,993 | $5,700.50 | $2,943.50 | $4,614 | $5,113.50 | $23,364.50 |
Costs provided are estimated and based on the following current tuition rates: $217 (In-State), $290 (Out-of-State), $400 (International).
Fees and costs are subject to change. To view all costs associated with attending college visit our Tuition and Costs page.
Program Requirements
To get into the Paramedic program, you must meet the following additional standards.
These required test scores are valid for three years:
- ACT Score (required): English – 18, Reading – 16, and Math – 18, OR
- Compass Scores (required): Writing – 70, Reading – 71, and Math – 70, OR
- Completion of equivalent college courses, with a C- or better, can also take the place of the placement test: Composition I, Intro. to Psych, Intro to Math (send official transcript to the One Stop office for credit evaluation)
- Applicants with an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree or higher degree do not need to complete the placement test
Students must complete the following Paramedic prerequisite courses with C- or better:
- MAT-772 Applied Math (3 credits)
- BIO-168 Human Anatomy & Physiology (4 credits)
- HSC-117 Basic Medical Terminology (2.5 credits)
- EMS-255, EMS-350, EMS-365 EMT (8.5 credits)
You must also provide copies of the required documentation:
- Current Iowa EMT or AEMT certification
- High school diploma or GED
- Current CPR for the Health Care Provider/Professional Rescuer
All admissions policies and procedures are subject to change at any time. Students are accepted and placed on the waitlist (if applicable) to the Paramedic program after all admission criteria are met. If scores were not met, we advise you to take the Health Prep course, which is available in Learning Services, 2063 Cedar Hall, 319-398-5456.
Explore More
What career could this lead to?
State-of-the-art high-fidelity simulators train you on crucial skills like advanced assessment techniques, medications, cardiac monitoring and interpreting, defibrillation, and advanced invasive skills, which are guided by state and local protocols.
Students even have an on-site functional ambulance to run a call from dispatch and simulate transport and patient delivery in Kirkwood’s simulated emergency room.
Paramedic students, and those pursuing an Emergency Medical Technician Certificate, are encouraged to join the Kirkwood chapter of HOSA, a global student-led organization exclusively for students enrolled in health science education and biomedical science programs or have interests in pursuing careers in health professions.
HOSA is one of eight recognized members of the National Coordinating Council for Career and Technical Student Organizations (NCC-CTSO). CTSOs are co-curricular groups that help students in career and technical education programs further their knowledge and skills by participating in activities, events, and competitions.
Upon successful completion of the program, you are eligible to take the practical and written certification examinations leading to certification as a Paramedic and Nationally Registered Paramedic through the Iowa Department of Public Health and National Registry of EMTs, respectively. Successful completion of the degree program also results in the awarding of an Associate of Applied Science degree in Paramedic. Current paramedics may also complete the degree requirements, with credit awarded for previous EMS coursework.
Successful completion of this program leads to a professional licensure or certification. View the state listing guide to identify which Kirkwood program fulfills state guidelines for professional licensure and certification.
If your plans include working in these states, you’ll need to contact that state agency about licensure or certification information.
The Kirkwood Community College Paramedic program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158 | Clearwater, FL 33763 | 727-210-2350 | www.caahep.org
The Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions can be contacted at:
4101 W. Green Oaks Blvd. | Suite #305-599 | Arlington, TX 76016
The Paramedic program follows the current National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The standards prepare the EMT and AEMT for the more advanced scope of practice of the paramedic. This Health Occupations program has a mandatory background check for clinical participation.
To provide optimal education in preparing Paramedic graduates for employment and leadership opportunities within a variety of clinical, educational and administrative EMS settings.
The Katz Family Healthcare Simulation Center
You'll learn in this incredible environment that puts you into the settings where paramedics work.
Questions?
Katz Family Healthcare Simulation Center
2006 Linn Hall
319-398-1269
healthoccupations@kirkwood.edu