Paramedic Training in Nevada
In Nevada, one needs to be a licensed paramedic to practice within the state. And while the location of where you received your paramedic training matters when attempting to obtain licensure, here’s a breakdown of what it’ll take to go from a prospective paramedic student to a working EMT-P.
Paramedic Training in Nevada
Below, please click on a school to get admissions information on their programs:
College of Southern Nevada – Las Vegas, NV
6375 West Charleston Boulevard
Sort Code: W2B-204K
Las Vegas, NV – 89146
Great Basin College
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
1500 College Parkway
Elko, NV 89801
REMSA – Reno, NV
450 Edison Way
Reno, NV – 89502
Truckee Meadows Community College – Reno, NV
5190 Spectrum Blvd.
Reno, NV – 89512
Paramedic School Requirements in Nevada
Any person looking to become a paramedic in NV will 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.
· You need to have your EMT-Basic license from the state of NV. This is not the same as your NREMT certificate, however. 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.
· You will likely be asked by a college/paramedic program to provide references, as well as show proof of immunizations (such as Hepatitis B), and likely submit him or herself to a criminal background and/or drug screening. Things like a valid driver’s license, health insurance and a copy of one’s Social Security card, too, will need to be provided.
· If you’re an international student, a school may ask you to provide more information and/or require you to take the English language test TOEFL.
· You will also need to provide proof of their CPR certification and/or ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification, 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 you choose is accredited.
Where can I find an accredited paramedic training program in Nevada?
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?
No, typically not, although experience is often preferred or encouraged by program directors.
Remember that experience does not necessarily mean paid job experience. Many students gain valuable experience by volunteering.
How long will it take me to become a paramedic?
There’s no set amount of months or years it’ll take for you to become a paramedic, as this varies from program to program. But, you can typically expect a course to run anywhere from six months to two years in length.
How much will a paramedic training program cost?
The cost of a program ranges from school to school, and certainly state to state. But typically, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 for a paramedic program. Tuition costs can certainly exceed this amount, however.
The College of Southern Nevada, for example, has a Paramedic Medicine Program which costs students approximately $3,812.25 for tuition.
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
Once you pass the NREMT, you will qualify for certification with the state of Nevada. Remember that to become licensed, you must actually become employed with a permitted service. Therefore, once you’re employed with an ambulance service, you can submit an application for Ambulance Attendance licensure. This will permit you to work as an EMS provider in Nevada.
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.
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