Oregon requires those seeking paramedic licensure to have an Associate’s Degree or higher. Kansas is the only other state in the country with such a requirement in place.
Paramedic Training in Oregon
Below, please click on a school to get admissions information on their programs:
Central Oregon Community College – Bend, OR
2600 NW College Way
Bend , OR – 97701
Chemeketa Community College – Salem, OR
4000 Lancaster Drive NE
PO Box 14007
Salem , OR – 97309
College of Emergency Services
12438 SE Capps Rd
Clackamas, OR 97015
Lane Community College – Eugene, OR
4000 E 30th Ave
Eugene , OR – 97405
Oregon Health and Science University/Oregon Institute of Technology – Wilsonville, OR
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program
Paramedic Education Program
27500 SW Parkway Avenue
Wilsonville, OR 97070
Portland Community College – Portland, OR
705 N Killingsworth St
Portland , OR – 97280
Rogue Community College – White City, OR
Table Rock Campus
7800 Pacific Ave, #117G
White City , OR – 97503
Southwestern Oregon Community College – Coos Bay, OR
1998 Newmark Ave
Coos Bay , OR – 97420
Umpqua Community College – Roseburg, OR
1140 Umpqua College Road
PO Box 967
Roseburg , OR – 97470
Paramedic School Requirements in OR
· Prospective paramedic students will need current EMT licensure.
· You will also need to have proper CPR certification, and in many cases, have completed an anatomy and physiology course, too. Depending on the program, an ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification is required, as well.
· One must be a high school graduate who is at least 18 years old with a high school diploma (or GED) to enroll into a paramedic program.
· Understand, however, that in Oregon (just like in Kansas), an Associate’s Degree is required to be licensed to practice as a paramedic.
· Each paramedic program requires different things from their prospective students. Immunizations are certainly required (since you’ll be getting hospital experience throughout the course). 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.
· You will want to make sure that whichever paramedic training program in Oregon you select is an accredited program.
Where can I find an accredited paramedic training program in Oregon?
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.
In OR, programs at Chemeketa Community College and Oregon Health Sciences University are officially accredited.
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.
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 six months to two years to complete.
How much will a paramedic training program cost?
All paramedic courses are a bit different and vary college to college. But, typically, 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 need 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
Oregon differs greatly from other states when it comes to becoming a licensed paramedic. For many states, simply passing the NREMT paramedic exam will suffice, but not in Oregon.
First, unlike in most states, a high school diploma is not sufficient to become licensed. You will actually need an Associate’s Degree or higher. Only Oregon and Kansas have this requirement in place.
After you pass the NREMT exams (written and practical), you will then need to provide the state with your test results, along with a license application fee of about $275 (this amount can change). Based on your answers on the application form, it may be possible that the state will require you to provide additional information or records (fingerprints, for example). A background check is also likely to occur.
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.
Those practicing as a paramedic in Oregon, though, earn an average salary of $44,570.
Please bookmark Paramedic Training Spot for more information on the careers of EMTs and paramedics.
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