Frequently Asked Questions

A paramedic is a person who provides basic and/or advanced life support care to ill or injured individuals, primarily in the out-of-hospital environment. While most paramedics are employed by Fire/EMS agencies, others are employed by health care facilities and police departments. Paramedics may be state or nationally certified or licensed; however, they are legally required to function under the direct supervision of a licensed Physician.

The U.S. Department of Labor's job description for a paramedic

EMT's receive approximately 150 hours of education. Although they can use automatic external defibrillators and provide basic airway managment. EMTs do not have any advanced cardiac, airway, or pharmacological training.

Paramedics receive more than 1200 hours of education and are expected to utilize concepts of anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and patient assessment to develop a field impression and create a treatment plan. Professional behavior (affective domain) and problem solving/critical thinking skills are demanded.

Yes, 18 years old. To be certified in Utah as an EMT, you must be 18 years of age at the time of certification.

Here is the US Department of Labor's functional job analysis for paramedic.

Yes. Per Utah regulation, EMT certification must be accomplished before training at the paramedic level. An EMT course can be taken at WSU or any state-approved location. For non-WSU courses, credit can be transferred by providing a Utah certification card and transfer fee of $10.00. Currently a student must complete 30 credit hours at WSU for EMT (PAR 1000/1001) to be applied to the transcript. Please note you must have a state certification or licensure in order to participate in paramedic education. A National Registry of EMT's card without a corresponding state certification or licensure will not be accepted.

No. Weber State reteaches all AEMT (and intermediate) content to ensure all students progress in a similar mode.

The Utah Bureau of EMS relaxed its longstanding regulation requiring a year of EMS experience. However, we have found students with EMS experience tend to have a jump start on team leadership and assessment skills. WSU provides EMT field internship experience through the PAR 1005/1006 courses. Students must have completed a college advising appointment, the specified prerequisites, and departmental approval in order to take PAR 1005/1006.

Here is a complete list of our Paramedic Program Prerequisites

• Prerequisites must be completed BEFORE starting the Paramedic Program!

Students are expected to learn from instruction in the English language, plus be able to listen and communicate appropriately to other English speaking students, faculty, patients and medical personnel. Students for whom English is not their native language will demonstrate English fluency prior to admission in one of two ways.

1. Achieving a 7.5 minimum "band score" on the IELTS exam, or
2. Achieving a minimum score of 94 out of 120 on the TOEFL exam with no scores less than a 22 in reading, 22 in listening, 26 in speaking and a 24 in writing.

Tuition costs do not include the prerequisites since there are many avenues from which they can be completed. Since tuition and fees change every year, students are directed to the https://www.weber.edu/bursar/TuitionFee_Tables.html website for the current tuition and fee chart.

In 1999, the National Standard Paramedic Curriculum moved to an assessment based management model for paramedic practice. By 2005, Weber recognized that our own, online, 4-credit Survey of Anatomy and Physiology for Paramedic Practice (HTHS 1115) was no longer strong enough for this curriculum and/or the successful completion of the National Registry Paramedic Exam. Weber as a degree granting institution also recognized the HTHS 1115 did not articulate well into the AAS degree, or as a prerequisite to a student in the additional pursuit of higher education. Then, in 2010, the National EMS Education Standards were released with the paramedic expected to possess a "complex depth and comprehensive breadth of knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of human systems." Weber strongly believes the 8 credits of "matched set" A&P is a significant component to the fact that 97% of our graduates pass the National Registry Paramedic Exam on the first attempt with the minimum amount of questions. Students with non-conforming (such as the military) or "mismatched" A&P from other schools may competency test ("test out") of HTHS 1110/1111 by calling 801-626-6505.

During most cohorts, the paramedic program has been able to give acceptance to all QUALIFIED applicants. In the event applicants outnumber the slots available the following selection criteria will be used:

1. Entrance exam score
2. Overall GPA on the applicant's transcript
3. Applicants with completion of AAS degree support courses
   • MATH 1010, ENGL 1010, HTHS 2230, PSYC 1010, SOC 1020 and HLTH 3400
4. Overall GPA achieved in Anatomy and Physiology
5. Date of application

In the event that space is available, a student may be considered for "contractual admission." In order to be considered for contractual admission one of the following may have occurred:

• GPA of 2.5 to 2.69
• Entrance exam score of 71-74

At this point the the program will evaluate the entire transcript and academic preparation of the student. Grades of "A" and "B" in the Anatomy and Physiology courses weigh heavily in the consideration for contractual admission. Students admitted to PAR 2000 must achieve an academic grade of 80%, (non-rounded or with evaluation point) in order to progress to PAR 2010). Additionally, "departmental probation" in the future will not be offered. Contractual admission if offered will be highly selective. If offered contractual admission the student must recognize that significant additional time and effort will be required to succeed.

Please note, "Contractual Admission" will not be offered for any grades of "C-" or lower on prerequisite courses.

Per the direction of CAAHEP, all paramedic programs must publish certification, retention and employment rates. Since January 1, 2007, 97% of our students passed the National Registry Paramedic exam on first attempt. Our ten year National Registry pass rate for Weber State University is 99.7%.

The WSU paramedic program has never exceeded the accreditation threshold of 30% for attrition. For the years 2010 through 2014 the average retention rate for paramedic students is 78%.

While exact employment numbers are difficult to obtain, all WSU graduates can find employment either in fire, EMS or police agencies. Additionally, students have found employment in medical facilities or have progressed into nursing, physician assistant or medical school. Employment opportunities abound for WSU graduates willing to move away from the I-15 (Wasatch Front) corridor.

EMT may find employment in out-of-hospital care areas such as fire, police, ambulance, ski patrol and security positions as well as hospital emergency departments. Paramedics are usually employed in fire, police, EMS agencies and healthcare facilities. While employment opportunities on the Wasatch Front remain good, students willing to relocate off the Interstate 15 corridor will find job opportunities outstanding.

In Utah, starting salaries for EMT's are $12,000 to $30,000 and $35,000 to $60,000 for paramedics. Agencies in other parts of the nation have higher pay scales.

WSU’s Department of Emergency Care & Rescue (EC&R) has been nationally accredited for over 30 years, making it the first accredited program in Utah and one of the first in the nation. More than 90 percent of WSU’s paramedics are employed upon graduation or pursuing an advanced degree. Our graduates are sought after to apply for positions throughout the nation. WSU does not require prior EMS agency experience in order to be considered for the paramedic program however for those with no experience we recommend PAR 1005. The first-time pass rate on the National Registry Exam is 97%, highest in Utah and in the top tier in the nation. Weber also significantly leads the state and nation in "above passes" for each of the 5 exam content areas.

The EC&R department offers programs to obtain an Institutional Certificate for Paramedic, an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Paramedic Studies, and a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Healthcare Sciences. Students may also consider pursuit of a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree if they have areas of interest outside of EMS.

In the EMT program you will learn basic life support, patient assessment, and treatment modalities following the U.S. Department of Transportation and Utah State Department of Health standards for certification. Students that successfully complete the program are eligible to take the National Registry EMT test at an additional cost.

In the paramedic program you will learn advanced life support concepts and techniques following the U.S. Department of Transportation, Utah State Department of Health, and National Registry standards for certification. WSU teaches the National Standard Paramedic Curriculum of 1999 fully integrated with the 2010 EMS Education Standards. The 2015 AHA ECC Guidelines are also taught. We believe paramedic success comes from higher order learning to include assessment based management, use of differential diagnosis, and problem solving. Students that successfully complete the program will take the National Registry Paramedic exams to become eligible for Utah and other state certification or licensure.

Academic advisement helps you make decisions that are best for your immediate and long-term career goals. Advisement also can save you time and money by plotting the most effective curriculum map based on your goals. Contact an Admissions Adviser at 801-626-6136 or healthprofessions@weber.edu for an appointment.

Yes. In order to take any classes at Weber and have transcripts evaluated you must be admitted. Get into Weber —   Apply to Weber Here

EMT (PAR 1000 and 1001) courses start at the beginning of fall, spring and usually summer semesters. The day class is Tuesday and Thursday, 1200 (noon) to 1600 and the night class is Tuesday and Thursday, 1800 to 2000. Students should register online for BOTH PAR 1000/1001 and are accepted as long as space is available. Classes fill quickly and over-rides are not issued. Attendance of the first class is MANDATORY.

A new PARAMEDIC cohort begins every semester (fall, spring, summer) pending sufficient enrollment. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications early even if prerequisites are not completed. Applications are due several months prior to the start of the cohort. Please contact the department at 801-626-6521 for details and use the application below.

Paramedic Application

The typical cost for core paramedic education is approximately $6000.00 (In-state) for the cohort that begins in the fall and $9000.00 for the cohorts that begin in the spring and summer semesters. Although each cohort is identical in time and requirements, the fall cohort is subsidized through the State of Utah while the spring and summer cohorts are not. Overall costs can also vary greatly based on the type and number of prerequisite courses you need and your method of completion. Please see WSU's Costs & Deadlines site for a breakdown of university tuition and fees. This site also contains links to financial aid and scholarship information to help find money to pay for your education.

In addition to standard WSU tuition and fees, students in paramedic program can expect some or all of the following additional expenses:

• University and college application fees (approximately $60)
• Background Criminal Check – Urine Drug Screen –
  • Background Criminal Investigation – required starting 2013 (approximately $50)
  • Drug Screening – required starting 2013 – (approximately $40)
  • Immunization records – required starting 2014 – (approximately $20)
• Textbooks (approximately $700)
• Uniforms (approximately $100)
• Fingerprinting (if needed by Utah BEMS, approximately $30)
• Utah State application and National Registry test fees (approximately $190)
• Clinical and field travel/meals dependent on location

Emergency Medical Technician – EMT on a formal college transcript from a regionally accredited school will transfer for credit and grade. Students that have Utah EMT certification from a non-academic source may obtain credit but no grade upon completion of 30 "in-house" WSU credits. (Military members see below)

Advanced EMT – (Old EMT-I, I-85, or I-99) WSU does not offer experiential credit or accelerated progression for AEMT, EMT-I, I-99 or IA students for three reasons:

1. The quality of the courses around Utah and the nation are so variable we cannot assume the required competencies were mastered
2. When the 1999 National Standard Curriculum came out, EMT-I no longer meshed correctly in a "stair-step" approach
3. Paramedic level practice involves heavy use of assessment based management and critical thinking

For these reasons WSU re-teaches the entire Advanced EMT curriculum as part of the paramedic program.

 

Paramedic – As a general rule, WSU does not offer experiential credit for paramedic, however each case will be reviewed on an individual basis. In the event of transfer, coursework must be no more than 1 year old. Students will have to complete WSU prerequisites in order to be considered. Grades less than B- will not be accepted and competency verification testing (particularly in EKG/ACLS) may be required. Students coming from a CoAEMSP accredited program receive highest favor. Should a paramedic candidate wish to transfer paramedic credit from an incomplete course of study, a release form must be signed for WSU to contact the previous program. Students with affective domain, legal, and/or ethical issues from the previous program may not be suitable for admission to the WSU program.

Military / Veterans – WSU considers itself a "veteran friendly" school. Military personnel with a valid National Registry EMT card can be awarded reciprocity by the Utah Bureau of EMS and then apply for WSU transcript credit as stated above. Due to the extreme variability of armed forces medical training, military/veteran candidates will be reviewed on an individual basis. Since military training at times does not closely articulate with civilian offerings, course competency testing in Anatomy, Physiology, Medical Terminology and other areas may be required. Per accreditation standards, military/veteran candidates must meet the same prerequisite requirements as civilian students prior to participating in the paramedic core courses. Due to the curriculum layout, veteran candidates may have to re-accomplish all or parts of the paramedic education sequence. Veteran students are encouraged to competency test ("test out") of the prerequisite courses. Military and veteran candidates are considered on a "case-by-case" basis.

Successful completion of field internship is a combination of 480 hours (minimum) and 50 competent ALS Team Leads. THIS REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENT. Students may have to perform additional hours to achieve the 50 ALS Team Leads. To successfully complete field internship, a student MUST commit to a standard agency standard shift with the same preceptor. Field agency shifts are 12 hour day's, 24/48's and 48/96's. To achieve the best experience, students are not allowed to "mix and match" preceptors and shifts.

Paramedic students will have a 17-credit load in the first semester and 19 credits in the second semester. Full time work or additional course load is not recommended; however, students working for a fire/EMS agency while simultaneously attending the WSU paramedic program have been successful in the past due to the nature of their shifts and the ability to study and complete their field internship during work hours. For students attending lectures through our Distance Learning format, they must make arrangements with their EMS agency to be freed from "first line" response to calls if attending lecture during a working shift. For those working outside of the fire/EMS environment, limited part-time work may be considered.

Due to the rigorous nature of the program and limited internship availability, class, skill lab, clinical and field internship schedules will NOT be adjusted to accommodate a student's work schedule. Field internship requires a student to commit to a standard agency shift and complete field riding and the program as described above.

The Utah Bureau of EMS, plus the clinical and field internship agencies now require EMS students to complete a Background Criminal Investigation (BCI), fingerprinting and drug screening. While a misdemeanor or felony may not prohibit a student from attending class . . . clinical and/or field participation or the awarding of certification by the Utah Bureau of EMS / National Registry of EMT's may be compromised. Students with questions on this topic must personally contact the Utah Bureau of EMS or the National Registry of EMT's prior to program application.

Since the Utah Bureau of EMS does not share it's BCI with the paramedic program, unfortunately, a second BCI must be completed through Castlebranch.com to participate in clinical and field internship.

All clinical and field internship sites now require full immunizations by the student. Much of this is required by the National Health Safely Network and/or Joint Commission to protect the patient, student, and agency. The WSU paramedic program has partnered with Castlebranch.com to collect, verify, and organize the immunization records of paramedic applicants. We believe in the long run this will be a "value added" benefit for the students since they can access their immunization records for future employers.

WSU's paramedic program is dedicated to providing an outstanding education to all students and will diligently work with our Disability Services in providing that education. However, based on clinical and field internship agency requirements and limitations, reasonable accommodation may not be possible. Prospective students should also recognize that testing for certification and licensure is done by the National Registry of EMT's, not by WSU. Should a student have any concerns about testing accommodations. it is the student's responsibility to contact the National Registry or the Utah Bureau of EMS. Information can be found at NREMT.ORG or Utah BEMS.