Paramedic Training in Arkansas
After you complete a paramedic course in Arkansas and pass the NREMT exam, you will be able to apply for a state license. State licenses are required to work as a paramedic in Arkansas.
PARAMEDIC TRAINING IN ARKANSAS
Below, please click on a school to get admissions information on their healthcare programs. Some programs are accredited, while other are not:
Arkansas Northeastern College -Blytheville, AR
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
2501 South Division Street
Blytheville, AR – 72315
Arkansas State University -Searcy, AR
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program
PO Box 909
Searcy, AR – 72144
Arkansas State University – Jonesboro
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
PO Box 910
State University, AR 72467
Arkansas State University – Mountain Home, AR
1600 South College Street
Gotaas Hall, H109
Mountain Home, AR – 72653
· Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus – Ozark, AR
1700 Helberg Lane
Ozark, AR – 72949
Black River Technical College – Pocahontas, AR
PO Box 468
1410 Hwy 304 East
Pocahontas, AR – 72455
- Note: To read our interview with the program director of Black River Technical College, click here.
East Arkansas Community College – Forrest City, AR
1700 Newcastle Road
Office Bldg 5, Room 510
Forrest City, AR – 72335
National Park Community College – Hot Springs, AR
101 College Drive
Hot Springs, AR – 71913
North Arkansas College – Harrison, AR
1515 Pioneer Dr
Harrison, AR – 72601
Northwest Arkansas Community College – Bentonville, AR
One College Drive
Bentonville, AR – 72712
South Arkansas Community College – El Dorado, AR
PO Box 7010
El Dorado, AR – 71731
Southeast Arkansas College – Pine Bluff, AR
1900 Hazel Street
Pine Bluff, AR – 71603
University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
3000 West Scenic Drive
North Little Rock, AR 72118
University of Arkansas at Monticello – McGehee, AR
1609 East Ash Street
PO Box 747
McGehee, AR – 71654-0747
University of Arkansas Community College, Hope – Hope, AR
2500 S. Main Street
Hope, AR – 71801
University of Arkansas for Community College Batesville – Batesville, AR
2005 White Dr
PO Box 3350
Batesville, AR 72503
United States of America
Paramedic School Requirements in AR
· Prospective paramedic students looking for a paramedic program in Arkansas will first need a current EMT license. A current CPR card, too, is typically required.
· One must be a high school graduate who is at least 18 years old. If you’re not a high school graduate, a GED will suffice.
· Immunizations are required (especially for clinical rotations), and depending on where you apply, you might also need to provide proof of citizenship. You’ll likely need to go through a criminal background check and drug screening, too. Written references may or may not be required by the school.
Paramedic training courses can typically be found at community colleges. An EMT-P course often provides students with a mixture of classroom and in-hospital clinical experience, as well as some field experience.
· You will want to make sure that whichever paramedic training program in Arkansas you select is an accredited program.
Where can I find an accredited paramedic training program in Arkansas?
Make sure you visit the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) to find an accredited paramedic training program. This is important, because as of January 1 2013, all students will need to complete paramedic education at an accredited school in order to take the paramedic NREMT exam.
Do I need EMT experience to apply to a paramedic training program?
This varies from school to school, so check be sure to check around for a program that fits you best. Typically, you don’t need EMT experience, though it is often encouraged by program directors.
How long will it take me to become a paramedic?
Typically, a paramedic program can take anywhere from six months to two years to complete.
At the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope, for example, students are required to complete 600 classroom hours, 300 various hospital hours, and 300 internship hours on an ambulance to successfully graduate the paramedic program.
How much will a paramedic training program cost?
You can expect to pay anywhere between $1,000 and $10,000 for a quality and thorough paramedic training course. Some programs can most certainly exceed that cost, however.
TAKING THE PARAMEDIC NREMT EXAM
After you successfully complete the required paramedic training course, you will want to pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam. This is both a computer adaptive test (cognitive examination) as well as a skills test (psychomotor examination).
Cognitive Examination
The cognitive examination will cover the entire spectrum of EMS care. This includes Airway, Ventilation, Oxygenation, Trauma, Cardiology, Medical, and EMS Operations. The maximum amount of time you will be given to pass this portion of the exam is 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Psychomotor Examination
The psychomotor examination consists of 12 separate skills laid out in a scenario-type format to approximate the abilities of the EMT-Paramedic to function in the out-of-hospital setting. Those taking the test are actually allowed to bring their own equipment to the exam provided it is approved for testing by the National Registry Representative in attendance at the examination.
The psychomotor exam portion of the paramedic NREMT exam will test your knowledge and competency in each of the following skills: Patient Assessment-Trauma, Ventilatory Management, Cardiac Management Skills, IV and Medication Skills, Oral Station, Pediatric Skills, and Random Basic Skills.
PRACTICING AS A PARAMEDIC
After you pass the NREMT exam, you can then apply for EMT-Paramedic licensure in the state of Arkansas.
Licenses for both the NREMT and the state of AR are good for 2 years. Renewal requires a 48 hour refresher course, 24 hours of continuing education, a current CPR card, and a current ACLS card.
How much money does a paramedic make annually?
An average paramedic salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2011, is about $34,030 per year. Though in some areas of the country, like the District of Columbia, Maryland, and even Hawaii, a paramedic salary can range from anywhere from $44,000 to $49,000.
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