In Mississippi, one must have National Registry certification in order to become state certified and work in Mississippi. There is no state test.
PARAMEDIC TRAINING IN MISSISSIPPI
Below, please click on a school to get admissions information on their healthcare programs:
Coahoma Community College – Clarksdale, MS
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
Allied Health Building
901 Ohio Street
Clarksdale, MS 38614
Hinds Community College – Jackson, MS
1750 Chadwick Drive
Jackson , MS – 39204
· Holmes Community College – Ridgeland, MS
412 West Ridgeland Avenue
Ridgeland , MS – 39157
· Itawamba Community College – Tupelo, MS
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
2176 South Eason Blvd
Tupelo, MS 38843
Jones County Junior College – Ellisville, MS
900 South Court Street
Ellisville , MS – 39437
Meridian Community College – Meridian, MS
910 Hwy 19 North
Meridian , MS – 39307
· Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College – Gulfport, MS
2226 Switzer Road
Gulfport , MS – 39507
Northwest Mississippi Community College – Senatobia, MS
4975 Highway 51 North
PO Box 7020
Senatobia , MS – 38668
Paramedic Requirements for Paramedic School
Any man or woman who wants to apply to a paramedic training program in Mississippi will first need to meet the following requirements:
· You must be at least 18 years old.
· You must be a high school graduate or have a GED.
· He or she will need to be able to show proof of their Mississippi EMT certification. Remember that being state licensed/certified 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 www.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.
· Even though you will have provided proof of your EMT certification, paramedic programs in MS will also require you to successfully pass a re-test of basic EMT skill and knowledge.
· You will also need to provide proof of your CPR certification and/or ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification. You may also need to have completed an anatomy and physiology course.
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 Mississippi you select is an accredited program.
Where can I find an accredited paramedic training program in Mississippi?
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?
Typically, EMT experience is not required, but this varies greatly from program to 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.
How much will a paramedic training program cost?
The cost of a program ranges from school to school, and certainly state to state. But depending on how long the course is, and whether or not you’re seeking a certificate or a degree, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 on average. Though some programs certainly exceed that cost.
At Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, for example, the total cost of attending their paramedic program, including tuition, fees, and books, is approximately, $5,014.00.
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
The great thing about Mississippi, unlike some states like Massachusetts or Florida, is that once you have successfully passed the NREMT-P examinations, you can simply apply for state certification through the Mississippi State Department of Health.
There is no state test.
In fact, when you’re ready to apply for state certification, you can fill out the Application for Mississippi EMS Certification.
You’ll also need to renew both your National Registry and Mississippi certification every two years.
To do this, you must complete 24 hours of continuing education credits and complete a 48 hour refresher course.
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.
Get more information about paramedic training online via our interactive table on our homepage.
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