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Mia
Student
East Rutherford, New Jersey
2
Questions
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Do you know which college(s) offer programs for a flight paramedic?
this is for my project
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Ryan Pfeiffer, MA
Firefighter Lieutenant / EMT
126
Answers
Fort Collins, Colorado
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hello Mia. There isn't really an easy answer to your question because 'flight paramedic' isn't a degree, so there aren't college degrees that I'm aware of for 'flight paramedic'. Paramedic is an occupational certification, and earning your "flight paramedic" is an endorsement on that certification.
It may help to think of it like a driver's license. You don't really have to go to college to earn a drivers license, you just have to pass the written and practical skills tests. Some people go to drivers ed / driving school to help them through this, but in many instances its not required. Once you have a drivers license, you can take additional tests to earn endorsements, such as motorcycle endorsement or upgrade it to a commercial drivers license and earn endorsements to transport oversized loads, hazardous materials, etc.
So, what you're looking for is to go to school to become a paramedic. Once you're a paramedic, then you can study for your critical care / flight endorsement. Of note, most programs require you to be an EMT before becoming a paramedic, and to have some experience as a regular paramedic before becoming a flight paramedic. So, expect, the journey to becoming a flight paramedic to take at least 4-5 years minimum. If you're looking for schools that can help you get your EMT certification (and later paramedic), you want to look at your local community college. Being a certification, it's more common to find these programs at vocational schools and colleges than universities.
That said, if you still want to earn a degree, many universities will accept your certificate credits and apply them towards a degree. For example, I teach EMT classes at my local community college, and many students graduate then enroll at one of the state universities and apply their EMT credits towards the elective portion of a bachelors degree in public safety.
Let me know if you have any follow-up questions!
It may help to think of it like a driver's license. You don't really have to go to college to earn a drivers license, you just have to pass the written and practical skills tests. Some people go to drivers ed / driving school to help them through this, but in many instances its not required. Once you have a drivers license, you can take additional tests to earn endorsements, such as motorcycle endorsement or upgrade it to a commercial drivers license and earn endorsements to transport oversized loads, hazardous materials, etc.
So, what you're looking for is to go to school to become a paramedic. Once you're a paramedic, then you can study for your critical care / flight endorsement. Of note, most programs require you to be an EMT before becoming a paramedic, and to have some experience as a regular paramedic before becoming a flight paramedic. So, expect, the journey to becoming a flight paramedic to take at least 4-5 years minimum. If you're looking for schools that can help you get your EMT certification (and later paramedic), you want to look at your local community college. Being a certification, it's more common to find these programs at vocational schools and colleges than universities.
That said, if you still want to earn a degree, many universities will accept your certificate credits and apply them towards a degree. For example, I teach EMT classes at my local community college, and many students graduate then enroll at one of the state universities and apply their EMT credits towards the elective portion of a bachelors degree in public safety.
Let me know if you have any follow-up questions!