Paramedic Training in New Jersey
Those interested in practicing as a paramedic in New Jersey will need to become certified by the State of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
PARAMEDIC TRAINING IN NEW JERSEY
Below, please click on a school to get admissions information on their programs:
Bergen Community College – Lyndhurst, NJ
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
1280 Wall Street West
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
Rowan College at Burlington County
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
1000 College Circle
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
RWJBH Mobile Health
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
410 Montgomery Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
Union County College – Elizabeth, NJ
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
40 West Jersey St
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
Paramedic School Requirements in NJ
Any person looking to become a paramedic in NJ will need to meet the following requirements before a paramedic program will accept their application:
· You must be at least 18 years old.
· You must be a high school graduate or have a GED.
· Paramedic programs will ask you to provide your EMT-Basic state 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.
· You will likely be asked by a college or paramedic program to provide references, as well as show proof of immunizations (such as Hepatitis B), and likely submit oneself 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.
· Prior to the very first paramedic course, students may also be asked to complete the HOBET exam.
· 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.
· Many medical centers or ambulance services will also require other certifications, too, such as Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Life Support (PALS), Pediatric Education for Pre-hospital Professionals (PEPP) or Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS), so you’ll want to make sure that whichever program you select includes instruction on these specialty courses.
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 New Jersey you select is an accredited program.
Where can I find an accredited paramedic training program in New Hampshire?
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?
A paramedic program can last anywhere from six months to two years on average.
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.
For example, the paramedic program at Atlantic Cape Community College costs $12,000. That price includes tuition ($5,745), materials ($2,250) and lab ($4,500).
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’ll be able to apply for state certification so that you can practice as a paramedic in the state of New Jersey. To apply, please visit the State of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
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.
Remember to jump back to our homepage for more on paramedic training schools in your state.
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