The Foothill College Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The Paramedic curriculum is a rigorous 15 to the 18-month sequence of instruction. The program begins in the Fall Quarter, each year.

This program is for students who have worked as EMTs for at least three months at a full-time capacity, or the equivalent part-time experience (480 hours), wishing to become paramedics. The first three quarters are didactic (classroom) instruction, meeting two days a week. During the second quarter of didactic instruction, students will concurrently attend hospital specialty rotations (operating room, obstetrics, etc.). The final quarters include the emergency department hospital rotations and an ambulance field internship. The curriculum exceeds state law requirements by providing instruction based on the U.S. DOT National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards and the Paramedic Instructional Guidelines, Title 22 Chapter 4, Paramedic Basic Scope of Practice, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals, Prehospital Trauma Life Support, and studies of current nation-wide protocols and expanded practices. Students will be qualified to sit for the National Registry of EMTs paramedic examinations. This program has a 100% pass rate on the NREMT Written examination.

Graduates will be awarded a certificate of achievement and are qualified to apply to the State for paramedic licensure. Licensure is a legal requirement to work as a paramedic in California.

Learn more about the program on the Paramedic website. 

Program Learning Outcomes

- Graduates will become knowledgeable in multiple areas of anatomy and pathophysiology of various illnesses and injuries, which will help the paramedic to provide competent patient care.

- Graduates will have outstanding clinical assessment and skills.

- Graduates will meet or exceed the requirements for state licensure in California.

Career Opportunities

The program prepares students for employment as paramedics working for ambulance services, fire department agencies, air ambulance medical operations, and hospital emergency departments.