Paramedic Training in Maryland
There are many components involved in becoming a paramedic in Maryland. And while the process can differ depending on where you were born, your current level of education, or even whether or not you’re interested in transitioning to a Registered Nurse, the general process of becoming licensed in MD is as follows.
PARAMEDIC TRAINING IN MARYLAND
Below, please click on a school to get admissions information on their healthcare programs:
Anne Arundel Community College – Arnold, MD
101 College Parkway
Arnold, MD – 21012
Baltimore City Community College
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
2901 Liberty Heights Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215
Carroll Community College
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
1601 Washington Rd
Westminster, MD 21157
Cecil College – North East, MD
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
One Seahawk Drive
North East, MD 21901
Chesapeake College
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
216 South Washington St
Easton, MD 21601
College of Southern Maryland – La Plata, MD
8730 Mitchell Rd
PO Box 910
La Plata, MD – 20646
Community College of Baltimore County – Baltimore, MD
7201 Rossville Boulevard
HTEC 330
Baltimore, MD – 21237
Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
5370 Public Safety Place
Frederick, MD 21704
Garrett College – McHenry, MD
687 Mosser Road
McHenry, MD – 21541
Hagerstown Community College – Hagerstown, MD
11400 Robinwood Drive
Hagerstown, MD – 21742
Harford Community College
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
401 Thomas Run Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
Howard Community College – Columbia, MD
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, MD – 21045
Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue – Marriottsville, MD
2200 Scott Wheeler Drive
Marriottsville, MD – 21104
Montgomery County Fire Rescue Training Academy – Gaithersburg, MD
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
8751 Snouffer School Rd
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
Prince George’s Community College – Largo, MD
301 Largo Rd
Largo, MD – 20774
University of Maryland – Baltimore, MD
316 Sherman Hall
Baltimore, MD – 21250
Wor-Wic Community College – Salisbury, MD
32000 Campus Drive
Salisbury, MD – 21804
Paramedic School Requirements in Maryland
Any man or woman who wants to apply to a paramedic training program in Maryland will first need to meet the following requirements:
· He or she must be at least 18 years old.
· He or she must be a high school graduate or have a GED.
· He or she will need to be able to show proof of their Maryland EMT license. Remember that being state licensed is not the same thing as being Nationally Registered. The NREMT (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians) is a non-governmental agency that registers and maintains a database of certified EMTs. You can learn more at NREMT.org.
· He or she may also be required to provide references and show proof of immunizations (such as Hepatitis B), and likely submit him or herself to a criminal background and/or drug screening.
-If you are an international student, you may need to fill out a form I-20 in order to obtain an F-1 student Visa.
-Proof of your CPR certification and/or ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification will likely be required, as well.
PARAMEDIC TRAINING PROGRAM DETAILS
Paramedic training courses can typically be found at community colleges.
Generally, 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 Maryland you select is an accredited program.
Where can I find an accredited paramedic training program in Maryland?
In general, 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 is hard to answer definitively, as every single paramedic program and community college is different. At The Community College of Baltimore County, for example, students are expected to have a year’s worth of experience. If that’s not possible, then you’ll have to have had at least 75 patient contacts as an EMT-Basic prior to applying to their program.
How long will it take me to become a paramedic?
This really depends on the college and training program you select. Typically, a paramedic program can take anywhere from 6 months to two years to complete.
At Howard Community College, for example, students spend around 1200 hours total in the program between class time, hospital and/or clinical rotations and an internship.
How much will a paramedic training program cost?
The cost of a program ranges from school to school, and certainly state to state.
At the Anne Arundel Community College EMT-Paramedic program, for example, you can expect to pay a tuition cost of anywhere from $5,611 (paramedic certificate option, 54 credits) to $7,091 (paramedic degree option, 70 credits).
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
Maryland requires that you become Nationally Registered before getting your state paramedic license. Once you have your NREMT credential, you must present the card to the state and they will help you go through the process of becoming licensed.
Note that there is a protocol exam and each jurisdiction has slightly different requirements for you to complete. This could include an orientation or an internship, a meeting with a medical director, or even a ride-along with experienced providers.
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 and Hawaii, a paramedic salary can range from anywhere from $44,000 to $49,000.
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