51°µÍø

August 26, 2026 –
July 10, 2027

Wednesdays 6–10 pm & Saturdays 8 am–5 pm

The paramedic certification program is an eight-course sequential non-credit program that begins in August each year. It consists of 308 didactic hours, 204 lab hours, 120 clinical hours, 200 field experience hours, and 120-hour field capstone experience, for a total of 1,012 hours.

All Paramedic students are taught to a national standard of care in addition to receiving training .

Mandatory Orientation

All students will be required to attend a mandatory orientation at 51°µÍø, Room 161 in the Health Sciences Building on May 14, 2026 at 5:30 pm. Please bring your driver’s license and social security number. 

Schedule

Classes are held on Saturdays 9:00 am–5:00 pm, with Lab 5:00 pm–9:00 pm and Wednesdays 6:00–9:00 pm.

Other courses included are:

• AHA Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS)
• Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)

These courses are held on select Fridays and Saturdays from 8:00 am–5:00 pm.

Class is offered in a hybrid format that allows students to choose to attend in person with a heavy emphasis on hands-on learning.

Admission Requirements

Minimum of 18 years of age; High School Seniors who are 17 years of age can take the course, however, must be 18 and out of High School to sit for the certification test.

All admission requirements must be uploaded to the EMS Director through the online class portal two weeks prior to the start of the class. Links and demonstration of the class portal will be given at the Mandatory Orientation Session on May 14.

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Current, unconditional driver's license
• Completed Pre-Entrance Medical Record with recent TB, Tetanus (DTAP), Hepatitis B, and MMR Vaccines.
• Background checks (Federal and State of Ohio)
• 5 Panel Drug screen
• NHIMMS 100
• NHIMMS 700
• ODPS Dementia Training
• ODPS Ohio Trauma Triage
• ODPS Rescue Task Force Awareness
• Signed payment agreement
• Signed criminal history statement
• Basic Life Support Certification
• State Basic EMT Certificate or State Advanced EMT Certificate
• Two letters of recommendation, one from your squad supervisor

After all documents are submitted, students will be scheduled for an interview with program director.

The following documents are needed with the application:

• Ohio EMT Certificate
• Driver’s License
• High School Diploma or GED

Learn more

For more information, contact Center for Lifelong Learning Director Grace Peach-Storey at (740) 351-3450 or gpeachstorey@shawnee.edu

Program Cost

Cost of Course: $6800.00

Full Payment of $6,800.00 is due prior to the start of class.

Included in the cost of the course are the following:

• Course/Lab Fee
• Textbook (ebook with JB Learning Navigate Access)
• EMS Platinum Testing
• Access to textbooks for ACLS, PALS, AMLS, PHTLS
• One (1) SSU Polo Shirts for Clinical and Field Experience

Program Sequence

The paramedic certificate program is a sequential non-credit program. All courses must be taken in the sequence listed. Successful completion of each course is required to begin the next course. Students that do not successfully complete the coursework may apply for readmission the following year

To remain in good standing during the paramedic program, students must complete the following:

• Maintain a grade point average of 2.0 in all coursework needed to meet the requirements of the course syllabus
• Successfully complete EMS Platinum Testing requirements for pre-assessment, module exams, and comprehensive exam

Module 1 – Anatomy & Physiology for the Prehospital Provider
This course is designed to give students the knowledge in anatomy and physiology necessary to function as an entry-level paramedic.  This course includes the basic structure and function of body systems and diseases of these systems to provide a foundation based on recommendations for paramedic certification.  Prerequisite:  Acceptance into the Paramedic Certificate Program.  Note:  This course is not considered college-level coursework.

Module 2 – Paramedic 1
This course expands basic skills and knowledge gained in the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Course. This course includes the safety and well-being of the paramedic, roles and responsibilities, injury and illness prevention, medical, ethical, and legal aspects, pathophysiology, therapeutic communications, life span development, patient assessment, airway management, shock and fluid administration, critical thinking and clinical decision making, pharmacology, emergency medications, and administration.

Module 3 – Paramedic 2
This course also covers medical incident command, triage, crime scenes, hazardous materials, gaining access to, rescuing and packaging a patient, and relaying information to the hospital. NAEMT All Hazards Disaster Response and EMS Safety are included in this course. 

Module 4 – Paramedic Lab
Lab Experience that correlates with Paramedic 1.  Note: this course continues through the paramedic certificate program.

Module 5 – Paramedic Clinical and Field Applications
Hospital and Field Experience that correlates with Paramedic 1.  Note: this course continues through the paramedic certificate program. 

Module 6 – Paramedic 3
This course covers medical emergencies, trauma injuries, psychiatric and special populations.   AHA Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support are included in this course.  

Module 4 – Paramedic Lab (Continued)
Lab Experience that correlates with Paramedic 1.  Note:  this course continues through the paramedic certificate program.

Module 5 – Paramedic Clinical and Field Applications (Continued)
Hospital and Field Experience that correlates with Paramedic 1. Note: this course continues through the paramedic certificate program

Module 7 – Practical Applications
This course covers didactic and laboratory instruction in advanced emergency procedures. Successful completion leads to certification in Prehospital Trauma Life Support, Geriatric Education for EMS, Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals, and Psychological Trauma in Emergency Patients.

Module 8 – Paramedic Field Capstone Experience
This course is the final requirement for the paramedic certificate program.  The student is expected to complete a minimum of 20 Advanced Life Support calls as the Lead Paramedic.  This requirement aligns with CoAEMSP student minimum competencies and prepares the student for the cognitive and psychomotor exam required for certification.  Students must also meet a minimal standard on weekly assignments to successfully complete the course. 

Program Outcomes

CAAHEP Accredited Paramedic Programs and CoAEMSP Letter of Review (LoR) Programs track and report outcome measures annually to the Committee on Accreditation for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

The most current CoAEMSP Annual Report was for the calendar year 2023.

The most recent success rate for the National Registry of EMT Paramedic / State Cognitive exam was 70.7%.

The most recent positive placement rate for graduates was 100%. Positive placement is defined by the CoAEMSP as ‘Employed full or part-time in a related field and/or continuing his/her education and/or serving in the military’. Positive placement is measured at the completion of the program.