Paramedic Schools in California

In this article, we will break down which schools in California offer paramedic training. We will display a mix of accredited and non-accredited schools. It’s important to acknowledge that accredited programs are accredited by the CAHEEP, or Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

Below, please click on a school to get admissions information on their programs. Do note: This list now contains a collection of accredited and non-accredited paramedic programs:

American River College – Sacramento, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
4700 College Oak Drive
Sacramento , CA – 95841

Bakersfield College – Bakersfield, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
1801 Panorama Drive
Bakersfield , CA – 93305

Butte College – Oroville, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
3536 Butte Campus Drive
Oroville , CA – 95965

California State University – CSUS Prehospital Education Program – Sacramento, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
3000 State University Drive East
Napa Hall
Sacramento , CA – 95819

City College of San Francisco – San Francisco, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
1860 Hayes Street
John Adams Campus
San Francisco , CA – 94117

College of the Redwoods – Arcata, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
220 F Street
Arcata , CA – 95521

College of the Siskiyous
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
800 S College Avenue
Weed, CA 96094
United States of America

Crafton Hills College – Yucaipa, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
11711 Sand Canyon Road
Yucaipa , CA – 92399

Cuesta College – San Luis Obispo, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
PO Box 8106
Highway 1
San Luis Obispo , CA – 93403

Foothill College – Sunnyvale, CA
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
1070 Innovation Way
Sunnyvale, CA 94089

Fresno County Department of Public Health – Fresno, CA
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
1221 Fulton St
5th Floor
Fresno, CA 93721

Imperial Valley College – Imperial, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
PO Box 158
380 East Aten Road
Imperial , CA – 92251

Las Positas College – Livermore, California
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
3000 Campus Hill Drive, Room 2136
Livermore, CA 94551
United States of America

Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency – Santa Fe Springs, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
10100 Pioneer Blvd
Suite 200
Santa Fe Springs , CA – 90670

Moreno Valley College – Riverside, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
Ben Clark Training Center
16888 Bundy Avenue
Riverside , CA – 92518

Mt San Antonio College – Walnut, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
1100 North Grand Avenue
Walnut , CA – 91789

Napa Valley College – Napa, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
2277 Napa Vallejo Hwy
Napa , CA – 94558

National College of Technical Instruction – Riverside, CA
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
895 Marlborough Avenue
Suite 100
Riverside, CA 92507
United States of America

National College of Technical Instruction – Bay Area (Livermore) – Livermore, CA
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
7543 Southfront Road
Livermore, CA 94551
United States of America

National College of Technical Instruction – Roseville – Roseville, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
333 Sunrise Avenue
Suite 500
Roseville , CA – 95661

Orange County EMT (OCEMT Corp) – Lake Forest, CA
Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic Program
26489 Rancho Parkway South
Lake Forest, CA 92630

Palomar Community College -Escondido, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
1951 E. Valley Parkway
Escondido , CA – 92026

Point Loma Nazarene University/EMSTA College for EMS -Santee, CA
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
11489 Woodside Ave
Santee, CA 92071

Saddleback College – Mission Viejo, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
28000 Marguerite Parkway
Mission Viejo , CA – 92692

Santa Rosa Junior College – Windsor, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
5743 Skylane Boulevard
Windsor , CA – 95492

Southwestern College – Chula Vista, CA
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
900 Otay Lake Road
Higher Education Center, Otay Mesa
Chula Vista, CA 91910

UCLA Center for Prehospital Care – Los Angeles, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
Daniel Freeman Paramedic Education Program
333 North Prairie Ave
Inglewood , CA – 90301

University of Antelope Valley – Lancaster, CA
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
44055 North Sierra Highway
Lancaster, CA 93534
United States of America

Ventura College – School of Prehospital and Emergency Medicine – Ventura, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
4667 Telegraph Road
Ventura, CA – 93003

Victor Valley College – Victorville, CA
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
18422 Bear Valley Road
Victorville, CA – 92395

West Hills College Lemoore – Lemoore, CA
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
555 College Ave
Lemoore, CA 93245

Additional Program Notes

The accrediting organization for EMT Paramedic training education in the United States is the CoAEMSP (Committee on Accreditation of EMS Education Programs), which operates under the CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs). Beginning on January 1, 2013, graduation from an accredited paramedic program will be required for those seeking certification through the National Registry. Do note, however, that it is not necessarily a requirement that you graduate from an accredited program to find a job as a EMT or paramedic.

It’s important to know that the career of EMTs and paramedics is on the rise. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of EMTs and paramedics is expected to rise 23% from 2012 to 2022. That is much faster than the average for other career fields, and it should give EMS students peace of mind knowing that they are entering a career field that is on the rise, rather than on the decline.

Also, note that all EMTs and paramedics need to complete a postsecondary educational program, which essentially means that in order to work in EMS, you will need to complete a proper training and educational program following your graduation from high school (or GED equivalent).

As far as paramedic salary is concerned, the pay rate for EMTs and paramedics can vary quite a bit. This is mostly due to region, as someone working in California is likely to may more money than a paramedic in the mid-west. Still, the median salary for EMTs and medics, according to the BLS, is $31,020.

Strong EMT and paramedic traits are essential to the job, as well. A lot of discussion goes into how much you can lift, or how educated or trained you are, but at the end of the day, patients (be it in Sacramento, San Francisco, Burbank, Lancaster, San Diego, etc) want to feel like you understand their pain and concerns, and that you care about their well being. And if you work in EMS, you really and truly should care about people.

Here are a few qualities that are important to possess as a paramedic in California:

Compassion – Do you care about your patients? Can you sympathize and even empathize with them? Are you a people person?

Interpersonal Skills – Just like any other job, you have to be able to work well with others. Can you work well with your fellow medics on the job? Can you take direction well?

Problem-Solving Abilities – Sometimes, problems will arise. Do you have a strong sense to decipher what a patient is saying if you don’t speak his or her language? If a decision must be made quickly, can you do it under pressure?

Listening Skills – It’s very important to really and truly listen to your patient. That’s the number one way you can solve their problem or pain: by completely listening to, and then assessing, their problem.

Speaking Skills – Patients can sometimes be very concerned, confused, or scared by EMS professionals. Are you able to convey, through your speaking skills, the steps the patient is about to undergo to help ease their pain?

Physical Ability – The job of an EMT or paramedic is tough. And there will be times when you need to lift a patient to safety, or simply move him or her on a stretcher or simply carry heavy equipment up and down stairwells.

And here, click on a school listed below to be taken directly to the college or university’s official homepage:

· American River College – Sacramento, CA

· Antelope Valley College – Lancaster, CA

· Bakersfield College – Bakersfield, CA

· Butte College – Oroville, CA

· California State University – Sacramento, CA

· City College of San Francisco – San Francisco, CA

· Crafton Hills College – Yucaipa, CA

· Cuesta College – San Luis Obispo, CA

· Foothill College – Los Altos Hills, CA

· Imperial Valley College – Imperial, CA

· Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency – Santa Fe Springs, CA