Do I Need a Degree to Become a Paramedic?

To become a paramedic, you need to be properly trained and educated.  But do you actually need a college degree to become an EMT-P?

The answer is no.  You can enroll in a paramedic school and program that simply offers you a Paramedic Certificate, allowing you to then take the NREMT exams and apply for state licensure.

However, there are some advantages to staying in school longer to actually earn a degree.

The first centers on salary.  Earning an Associate’s Degree in Paramedicine Science, for example, allows you to show a potential employer that you’ve successfully excelled in a longer, more in-depth paramedic program.  You’ve received more training, experienced more hours of instruction and received more clinical supervision than others in your field.

This can give you a leg up in an already competitive job market.

The second advantage to a paramedic degree is job advancement.  Working as a paramedic is a wonderful and rewarding experience, but it can also be a stepping stone to other careers in health care, like a physician’s assistant (PA), a registered nurse (RN), or an EMS educator.

Not only can an Associate’s Degree help you with career advancement, but academic advancement too, should you decide you’d like to transfer to a four year college.

So is a paramedic degree a necessity for prospective students?  No.  But it certainly gives you more options.

For more on how to become a paramedic, we recommend:

How Long Will It Take To Become a Paramedic?

Do Paramedic Schools Offer Financial Aid?

3 Ways to Gain Work Experience Before Paramedic School Begins