Overview
Program Handbook
The Paramedic Certificate program prepares students to work as part of the healthcare team to provide care to emergency patients in an out-of-hospital setting. The program includes didactic, laboratory, clinical, and field practicum components designed to prepare students for entry into professional practice as Paramedics and for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam.
Accreditation
The Paramedic Certificate program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). The program is also accredited by Ohio Department of Public Safety, Emergency Medical Services.
Philosophy
Course goals and objectives are based on the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Service Professions (CoAEMSP) and Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) standards and guidelines, as well as the National Standard Curriculum. The goal is to prepare competent practitioners who can function in a rapidly changing healthcare environment as well as pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam.
Program Goal
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.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the Paramedic certificate program will be able to:
- Demonstrate problem-solving and critical thinking skills in a pre-hospital environment.
- Demonstrate clinical competence in performing pre-hospital assessment in a professional manner of the ill or injured victim.
- Use effective communication skills.
- Successfully complete the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) examination.
Admission Requirements
Students are admitted to Mercy College of Ohio and subsequently to a program of study. Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to a program. Please note: Admission requirements are subject to change. Students should contact the Office of Admission or consult mercycollege.edu for the most up-to-date information.
Entrance into Mercy College of Ohio requires either an earned diploma from an accredited high school or a home-schooled program in a college preparatory course of study, or a general equivalency diploma (GED).
Following are the requirements for admission to Mercy College of Ohio:
- Cumulative high school grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher or a general equivalence diploma (GED) recipient with a score of 500 (score of 53 prior to 2002).
- Some programs of study require ACT (American College Test) or SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) subject and composite test scores. Please refer to individual program of study information for specifics.
In addition to the general college admission criteria above, the following requirements must also be met:
- Applicants must submit proof of a current and valid Emergency Medical Technician certificate from the State of Ohio.
- Applicants must complete CED ES01, anatomy and Physiology for Prehospital Providers, or its equivalent, with a grade of "C-" or better, or have a passing grade from a similar learning experience that meets requirements from OAC 476517-04 and Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), with Program Lead approval.
Requirements for Clinicals or Professional Practice Experience
Criminal background checks, drug screens, health records, and titers/immunizations are required prior to the start of the clinical program. Program requirements and instructions are maintained on the College website at https://mercycollege.edu/background. The Policy can be found at https://mercycollege.edu/about/compliance-consumer-information.
Certificate Requirements
To complete the Paramedic Certificate students must fulfill all of the following:
Required Program Courses
Complete All of the Following Courses:
| EMS 113 | Pre-Hospital Clinical Practicum I | 2 |
| EMS 114 | Paramedic I | 9 |
| EMS 121 | Pre-Hospital Clinical Practicum II | 2 |
| EMS 123 | Paramedic II | 9 |
| EMS 132 | Pre-Hospital Capstone Field Practicum | 2 |
| EMS 137 | Paramedic III | 9 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 33 |
Sample Program of Study
Semester I
Semester II
Semester III
Any grade lower than a “C” is considered a failure. Students who fail or withdraw from a Paramedic program course may repeat the course only one time. However, if students fail two Paramedic program courses, the Program Lead reserves the right to dismiss the students from the Paramedic program.