About the Paramedic Program
The EMS–Paramedic Program prepares students to become highly skilled, confident healthcare
professionals capable of delivering advanced life support in dynamic and often unpredictable
environments. Paramedics serve as leaders in emergency situations, making critical
decisions quickly and prioritizing patient care in high-stress settings. This role
demands excellent judgment, strong communication skills, emotional resilience, and
the ability to build rapport with diverse patient populations, including those who
may be anxious, combative, or experiencing crisis.
Paramedics must function independently in non-structured environments, often responding
to emergencies in high-risk or high-acuity situations. The profession requires physical
stamina, strength, and coordination to safely lift, carry, and maneuver patients—sometimes
exceeding 125 pounds—across uneven terrain while maintaining the safety of the patient,
partner, and bystanders. Intellectual, cognitive, and psychomotor skills are equally
essential to meet the complex demands of advanced prehospital care.
This rigorous three-semester program consists of 38 credit hours and more than 1,000
hours of combined classroom instruction, online learning, and independent study. Paramedic
students participate in and complete over 600 hours of clinical and field rotations,
gaining real-world experience in hospitals and emergency response settings.
Upon successful completion, graduates are eligible to sit for the National Registry
certification examination through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
(NREMT) and pursue employment in a wide range of healthcare and public safety environments.
Career opportunities include:
· Private ambulance services
· Fire departments
· Police departments
· 911 emergency response agencies
· Hospitals
This program is designed for motivated individuals who are ready to accept the responsibility,
discipline, and leadership required to provide exceptional emergency medical care.
ACCREDITATION
The Howard College Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services
Professions (CoAEMSP).
727-210-2350
To contact CoAEMSP: 214-703-8445 www.coaemsp.org
The vision of the EMS Paramedic Program at Howard College is to be a leader in innovative,
educationally sound paramedic education, serving our diverse 13-county region from
Dawson (Lamesa) to Kimble (Junction) and Sutton (Sonora). We are committed to developing
competent, compassionate, and community-focused paramedics through meaningful learning
experiences that promote professional excellence, leadership, and lifelong growth.
Through dedication to student success and community service, we strive to positively
impact the health and safety of the communities we serve.
The Howard College EMS Program’s goal is to “To prepare Paramedics who are competent
in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning
domains to enter the profession.” with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency
Medical Technician (AEMT), and/or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and/or Emergency
Medical Responder (EMR) levels.
1. Apply to Howard College
- Be sure to send official transcripts from any colleges you have previously attended.
Note: If you are applying for the Paramedic Program and completed your Emergency Medical
Technician or Advanced Emergency Medical Technician at a location other than a school
(employer, local EMS service, Etc.) you will most likely not have a transcript so
we will convert your State of Texas license or National Registry Certification into
credit hours at the current advertised rate for the school. Please contact the program
director John Grove – jgrove@howardcollege.edu so that the appropriate conversion
paperwork can be completed.
2. Select the Apply Now button above to complete the program specific application.
3. DPS Background Check Texas DPS Background Search
- Create an account on the Texas DPS website.
- Have a credit or debit card available (Appx. cost: $3.25).
- The process is completed entirely online.
- Once finished, forward a copy of the results for your file.
3. Physical Examination
- Schedule and complete a physical examination. o Return the completed form with your
doctor’s signature.
4. Provide the following documentation.
- Copy of your health insurance card
- Copy of your driver’s license
- Copy of your American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) card that expires
after the end of your class term.
(Note: If your BLS card expires prior to the end of the class you will be REQUIRED
to obtain one that shows an expiration date after the last day of your class.)
5. Submit proof of required immunizations:
- Hepatitis B: 3 doses OR positive titer
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR): 2 doses OR positive titer
- Varicella: 2 doses OR positive titer
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap): 1 dose within the last 10 years
- Influenza: current season dose
- Tuberculosis: test or screening results
Note: You can request your records from your primary care physician’s office. If unavailable,
you may be able to obtain them from:
· The last school district you attended.
· The employee health department of a past employer (e.g., hospitals or other healthcare
facilities).
6. Pay for required drug test
· Accurate, Quick, Reliable $43.25
IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR PARAMEDIC SCHOOL: PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING.
1. Traditional Students
- (EMT’s and those AEMT’s who don’t meet qualifications for advanced practice placement
or those who wish for the longer course). will need to submit your EMT certification
or license depending on which one you have.
2. Advanced Placement Students
- (Advanced EMT’s who have State of Texas Licensing or National Registry AEMT Certification).
must submit copies of their licenses and schedule an appointment with the Department
Director to review qualification standards, complete required knowledge and skills testing, and confirm they have the requisite foundation to be
successful in the class setting.
3. Clinical Requirements via CastleBranch
- Go to the compliance tracker for CastleBranch.
- Use code HQ91im to download requirements (includes immunizations, CPR certification,
and health insurance).
If you have any questions about these requirements or the program, please contact:
Big Spring - EMT and Prospective Paramedic Students:
Frances Garcia
Health Professions Coordinator
FGarcia@HowardCollege.edu
432-264-5070
Lamesa Campus: EMT Only at this campus
Ashtin Sifuentes
Site Assistant
asifuentes@howardcollege.edu
432-264-5681
If you have any technical questions about the program, please contact:
John Grove EMS
Program Director/Program Chair
jgrove@howardcollege.edu
432-264-5117
PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS DATA 2019 – 2024
|
| |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
| NREMT Skill Pass Rate |
100% |
66% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
| NREMT Cognitive Test Pass Rate |
85% |
66% |
100% |
94.4% |
83% |
87% |
| Program Retention |
100% |
75% |
90% |
90% |
100% |
88% |
| Positive Job Placement |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
83% |
100% |