Paramedic Program

There are people who know in their hearts that helping others in critical times is what they were meant to do. It’s exciting, useful, important work. So, it’s more than a job, it’s contributing to the community in a meaningful way and offers a rewarding career path as well.

Barry University is now providing one of the best, most comprehensive paramedic training programs in the State of Florida. This is a crucial role-player in the nation’s growing healthcare system.

While the majority of paramedics work for fire-rescue agencies, paramedics also have careers in many emergency medical care settings, such as private ambulance services, emergency departments, urgent care centers, security agencies, ski patrols, cruise ships, air medical transport, and life guarding. As your experience and level of expertise grows, so do your opportunities and your income potential.

During your career, you may be exposed to incidents such as car accidents, gunshot wounds, and heart attacks. Paramedics, and their colleagues in emergency care, experience situations few others will encounter.

Barry has established a new three-term 12-month training program leading to a Certificate of Completion. The course, approved by the State of Florida's Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and CoAEMSP (LOR), provides preparation for the National Registry paramedic cognitive exam. Our experienced instructor cadre includes doctors, nurses, and paramedics in a wide variety of practical, clinical, and operational settings.

The program consists of the following components:

• Classroom work – where the basic didactic and cognitive lessons are taught.
• Skills labs – where the essential techniques are demonstrated, learned, and perfected.
• Externships – ride-time with fire-rescue units and on ambulances where you primarily observe but may well be called on to participate in crises situations.
• Internships – observing and participating in life-saving stabilization techniques in hospital emergency rooms.

The Barry University Paramedic program has been issued a Letter of Review by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).  

The Letter of Review is NOT a CAAHEP accreditation status, it is a status granted by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP) signifying that a program seeking initial accreditation has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the CAAHEP accreditation Standards; however, it is NOT a guarantee of eventual accreditation.  

Under the authority of this LoR, the Paramedic program graduates will meet the eligibility requirement of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Paramedic certification examination related to “successfully completed a CAAHEP-accredited (or one that has a Letter of Review) Paramedic program.” All other NREMT requirements for admission to the Paramedic examination must be met by the individual. 

Any student who graduates from a program that holds or held an LoR anytime during that student’s enrollment will be considered eligible for the NREMT Paramedic Examinations. CoAEMSP and NREMT are in close communication to maintain the list of programs holding an LoR and the students enrolled during that time. 

To contact CoAEMSP, call 214-703-8445 

Barry University's Paramedic Certificate Program is approved by the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. To sit for the State exam to become a Paramedic in the state of Florida you must successfully complete the Paramedic program.

Florida Department of Health
Bureau of Emergency Medical Services
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C18
Tallahassee, FL 32311-1738
Telephone: 850-245-4440
Fax: 850-488-9408
www.fl-ems.com

Students who earn the Paramedic License who wish to pursue an academic degree at Barry University will receive credits for this license if they enroll in one of the following baccalaureate programs:

• Bachelor of Public Administration
• Bachelor of Science in Administration
• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
• Bachelor of Liberal Studies
• Bachelor of Administration (Online Only)
• Bachelor of Science Organizational Leadership
• Bachelor of Science Emergency Management

License Title: Paramedic Certificate

Rationale: In the State of Florida, Emergency Medical Technicians generally receive their training from one of two sources: a regionally accredited college or from an approved 1100 hours non-credit program. Regardless of the source of training, all individuals must pass a standardized examination. The examination can be either from the State of Florida or be a national examination.

Number of Credits: (6 LL / 6UL)

Since the enactment of the National Highway Safety Act of 1966 and the formal beginning of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), the common goal of the EMS field, has been to reduce unnecessary death and disability. This public need has increased the job demand for EMS providers, thereby creating a reciprocal shortage of qualified personnel to fill these positions. Due to the increased pressure placed upon EMS providers, EMS educational institutions providing emergency medical technician and paramedic training have yielded to the pressure of increasing the number of pre-hospital medicine courses and conversely decreasing, to a certain extent, the didactic quality of these courses.

Barry University's Paramedic program provides high quality state-of-the-art first response education and training skills essential for public safety. Because there are clear expectations for improved health, value and efficiency in the EMS field, the need for a quality EMS program in an accredited higher learning institution is a logical progression for the EMS community. In addition, the Paramedic program provides students the ability to further their careers by receiving the much needed hands-on experience in a hospital setting if they wish to pursue a career in Nursing, Physician Assistant, Medical School, etc.