This article will provide you with a list of paramedic schools in Virginia where you can get admissions information, send applications, and graduate from in order to get a job in “Old Dominion” as a working EMT Paramedic.
Do Note: This list now contains a collection of accredited and non-accredited paramedic programs.
Paramedic Schools in Virginia
Below, please click on a school to get admissions information on their programs:
Central Virginia Community College – Lynchburg, VA
3506 Wards Road
Lynchburg , VA – 24502
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College – Richmond, VA
PO Box 85622
Richmond , VA – 23285
Jefferson College of Health Sciences – Roanoke, VA
101 Elm Avenue South East
Roanoke , VA – 24013
Lord Fairfax Community College – Middletown, VA
173 Skirmisher Lane
Middletown , VA – 22645
Loudoun County Department of Fire and Rescue – Leesburg, VA
16600 Courage Court
Leesburg , VA – 20175-5657
Northern Virginia Community College (Springfield Campus) – Springfield, VA
6699 Springfield Center Drive
#239-D
Springfield , VA – 22150
Patrick Henry Community College – Martinsville, VA
645 Patriot Ave
Martinsville , VA – 24112-6693
Piedmont Virginia Community College – Charlottesville, VA
501 College Drive
Charlottesville , VA – 22902
Prince William County Dept of Fire & Rescue – Nokesville, VA
13101 Public Safety Drive
Nokesville, VA 20181
Southside Virginia Community College – Alberta, VA
109 Campus Drive
Alberta , VA – 23821
Southwest Virginia Community College – Richlands, VA
PO Box SVCC
369 College Road
Richlands , VA – 24641
Stafford County and Associates in Emergency Care Consortium – Manassas, VA
12351 Randolph Ridge Lane
Manassas , VA – 20109
Tidewater Community College – Virginia Beach, VA
1700 College Crescent
Virginia Beach , VA – 23453-1918
Virginia Commonwealth University – Richmond, VA
P.O. Box 980044
Richmond , VA – 23298
And here, click on a school listed below to be taken directly to the college or university’s official homepage:
Central Virginia Community College – Lynchburg, VA
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College – Richmond, VA
Jefferson College of Health Sciences – Roanoke, VA
Loudoun County Department of Fire-Rescue – Leesburg, VA
Northern Virginia Community College (Springfield Campus) – Annandale, VA
Piedmont Virginia Community College – Charlottesville, VA
Southside Virginia Community College – Alberta, VA
Southwest Virginia Community College – Richlands, VA
Tidewater Community College – Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Commonwealth University – Richmond, VA
Other Things You Should Know
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 Virginia 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 Virginia:
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- 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.
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And as far as the knowledge required of paramedics in Virginia, here are a few important things to keep in mind one must possess:
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- Math skills: Nobody likes mathematics, but knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics is important, especially when it comes to things like paramedic drug calculations.
- Understanding Transportation: This is something you will learn in medic school, but a strong, working knowledge of how to move people–be it inside an ambulance truck on the way to the hospital, or from their bedroom or living room to a stretcher and eventually into the back of the ambulance.
- Psychology: It’s important to understand what makes people tick. You’ll need to understand how and why people do what they do: Meaning, are they under the influence? Are they suffering from a disorder? Are they hurt or disoriented? A lot of work a paramedic does is patient assessment, and this is an example of that.
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If You Enjoyed This Article, We Recommend You Read:
How Much Does Paramedic School Tuition Cost?
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