When you complete our Paramedic certificate and successfully obtain the paramedic certification you may find employment in hospitals and independent emergency services organizations as a paramedic.

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Our Paramedic certificate prepares you to deliver therapy to patients prior to their arrival in hospital emergency rooms. You will be trained in life-support procedures performed by following orders of physicians sent by radio or by following standard medical protocols. 

This 708-hour program consists of four courses in Advanced Life Support, which cover such topics as patient assessment and evaluation, pharmacology, pathophysiology associated with various body systems (e.g. cardiovascular, respiratory), OB/GYN and pediatrics, toxicology, blood disorders, field communications and rescue practices. Coursework is delivered through a mix of lecture, discussion, case-study examination, along with many hands-on practical skill labs. 

You are able to participate in emergency hospital rotations in such specialty areas as anesthesia and obstetrics (OB), as well as in field externships. You are also expected to practice skills on your fellow students, patient actors and simulation mannequins.  Additionally, you are required to complete field internships at both in-hospital settings (such as the Emergency Department and Pediatrics) as well as clinical time at EMS agencies. The training includes 400 hours of clinical experience in addition to classroom instruction.

This certificate is designed to prepare students to:

• Administer standard emergency treatments
• Work effectively with other healthcare professionals
• Demonstrate the skills prescribed by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of the Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Personnel (CoAEMSP)
• Take the paramedic certification examination administered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
• Recognize how specialized training fits into the healthcare delivery system

You must have a current Pennsylvania National Registry Advanced EMT (AEMT) certification in order to enroll in this certificate. Our program is a selective and competitive admission program. This means that entry into this certificate is not guaranteed with admission into the College; specific admissions criteria must be met. You are advised to go to the Public Safety Center website, or contact us by email at start@hacc.edu for more information. 

The 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).

• View summaries of our noncredit courses at HACC by browsing our schedule.

• Review our program guide (pdf) to view a list of required courses, recommended course sequencing and program competencies.

This certificate is designed to lead you directly into the workforce.  However, if you successfully complete this program and obtain the paramedic certification, you are eligible to have this coursework counts towards 30-credits of HACC’s Health Sciences AAS degree.

Once you complete the Health Science AAS degree, you can then continue your education and obtain a Bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or institution. 

This certificate can be completed at the Harrisburg Campus through on-campus/in-person instruction.

Yes! We offer many scholarships through the HACC Foundation. Each scholarship has specific eligibility requirements. To learn how to apply, please visit hacc.edu/Scholarships.

If you are currently certified Advanced EMT (AEMT), the enrollment application can be found here. 

Future students, we are excited to connect with you and answer your questions. Please choose the option that works best for you to meet with us.

Current HACC students, please contact our Advising Department with any questions.