Paramedic AAS Degree

Paramedics play a crucial role in emergency response—delivering expert care, making split-second decisions, and helping people when it matters most. In partnership with Chemeketa Community College CGCC’s paramedicine program gives you comprehensive training, supportive instructors, and unique hands-on experience in the Columbia Gorge.

Our program is affordable, with on-campus housing and scholarship options designed to lower your costs and help you succeed. If you’re looking to launch an impactful career, start here—apply today!

Associate of Applied Science: Paramedic

AAS degree: 104 credits

Articulation with Chemeketa Community College

• Earn up to 56 credits from Columbia Gorge Community College and
• Earn an additional 48 credits from Chemeketa Community College

Career Description

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel are unique health care professionals that are categorized in a variety of ways beginning at the First Responder level and progressing to the highest EMS level, paramedic. They provide critical advanced medical care and transportation in an out-of-hospital setting with physician oversight. Emergency Medical Services are a component of the overall health care system, delivering care as part of a system intended to attenuate the morbidity and mortality associated with sudden illnesses and injury.

Paramedics function primarily in paid positions, but some choose to volunteer as well. These frontline healthcare professionals provide out-of-hospital advanced life support to patients with critical, life-threatening emergencies as well as those with perceived urgent and non-urgent calls for service. Paramedics bridge the gap by treating and keeping patients alive from the scene of the call to the ER. This work requires excellent clinical judgment, leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills while providing critical on-scene care to the patient. In addition, paramedics fill an essential role transporting patients who require advanced or critical care transportation between facilities. They are also becoming increasingly involved in numerous public health initiatives (immunization and testing clinics, illness and injury prevention programs, community paramedicine programs, etc).

Course of Study

To pursue a career as a paramedic, students must complete an accredited paramedic education program that includes classroom instruction, hands-on clinical experiences, and field externships. These educational requirements are aligned with the standards set by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). To qualify for national certification, students must successfully complete the accredited program and pass the NREMT Paramedic cognitive examination.

In Oregon, paramedic licensure is regulated by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). After earning national certification through the NREMT, applicants must meet OHA requirements, which include passing a background check and maintaining current certifications in CPR and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).

SEAMLESS PATH TO PARAMEDIC LICENSURE WITHIN THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE

The paramedic program offered by CGCC in collaboration with Chemeketa Community College (CCC) is a 3-year course of study culminating in an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. During the first five terms, students register with CGCC in order to complete general education prerequisites and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Level I coursework. Upon successful completion, students are eligible to sit for the National Registry EMT certification exam and apply for EMT Basic licensure through the OHA. An active EMT license is required to proceed to the second year of the program.

For the last four terms, students are registered with CCC and focus on core paramedic coursework. The majority of coursework can still be completed within the Columbia River Gorge; however, some clinical experiences may require travel, depending on program requirements and available clinical placements. Upon completion, students earn the AAS degree and become eligible to take the NREMT Paramedic exam. Once certified, they can apply for paramedic licensure in Oregon or any other U.S. state.

It is recommended that students planning to pursue a paramedic degree through the agreement between CGCC and CCC enroll in the Associate of General Studies (AGS) at CGCC while completing their prerequisites and first year courses. Completing prerequisites and first-year courses at CGCC earns priority consideration for admission to Chemeketa’s highly competitive limited-entry program. In addition, both CGCC and CCC have opportunities for the application of Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), making it possible to earn college credit for previous experience in the emergency medical field. Students should ask a college advisor about how CPL may save money and time.

Program Outcomes

Students completing this degree should be able to satisfy the following outcomes:

1. Assess patients and apply treatment protocols in emergency medical situations.
2. Use oral and written skills to communicate effectively in anxiety producing situations with patients, families, and members of the health care team.
3. Perform all basic and advanced life support skills in a safe and timely manner.
4. Provide on-scene leadership in emergency medical care situations.
5. Apply professional values and ethical behaviors individually and as a member of a team in providing emergency care.

Prerequisites

• MTH 65 Beginning Algebra (4 credits) or MTH 98 Quantitative Math or equivalent placement
• WR 115 Introduction to Expository Writing (4 credits) or equivalent placement

Course Requirements

¹ Pre/corequisite courses for BI 231Z include: BI 211 or BI 221Z, WR 121Z, CH 100 or higher, MTH 95 (17 credits total)