EMT Paramedic

The paramedic is an allied health professional whose primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. This individual possesses the complex knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation. Paramedics function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight. Paramedics perform interventions with the basic and advanced equipment typically found on an ambulance. The paramedic is a link from the scene into the health care system.

The EMT Paramedic certificate program consists of 16 courses for a total of 41 semester credit hours over three semesters (approximately 12 months).

The Paramedic program is typically offered three times per year with a new cohort starting in the fall (August), spring (January), or summer (May). Students are considered full-time enrolled students for each semester. Classes are conducted during the weekday only.

Classroom instruction covers anatomy, physiology, patient assessment, advanced airway shock/trauma management, cardiovascular disease recognition and management, advanced treatment protocols for trauma, medical/special patient emergencies, clinical and field internship, and a final field practicum. Successful completion of the program requirements prepares a student for the National Registry of EMTs cognitive and psychomotor examinations. The department also offers this program in a condensed, full-time format for fire departments/EMS agencies/military under special arrangements not open to the general public. 

Admissions Requirements 

Interested applicants should consult the department website for the most current modifications to these requirements, deadlines, and upcoming programs.

All applicants must meet the basic requirements for admission to the Department of Emergency Health Sciences. Admission to any EHS program does not guarantee eligibility for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians or certification by Texas Department of State Health Services.  

All application materials must be received by the Office of the University Registrar by the application deadlines listed below. Applicants are encouraged to seek advisement from the School of Health Professions Office of Admissions and Special Programs. 

Application deadlines can be found on the program's admission webpage. 

In addition to non-academic factors that are considered, admission requirements for all EHS programs include:

• Completion of the Texas Common Application.
• Criminal background check.
• Some clinical sites may require students to pass a drug screen or require additional immunizations (e.g., COVID-19, annual seasonal flu). Applicants/students must cover the costs of the background check, drug screen, medical insurance, and immunizations.
• First-time College Students: submit documentation of high school diploma or GED. Note: the EMT Basic and Paramedic programs are exempt from the Texas Success Initiative requirements.
• Official transcripts from each college and university currently or previously attended.  
• Applicants who are enrolled in college courses at the time of application should submit an official transcript showing courses in progress.  An updated transcript must be submitted upon completion of the courses.  Note: Transfer credits indicated on another school’s transcript are not accepted in lieu of submitting the original institution record for that coursework. Transcripts from institutions outside the United States must be submitted in the original language and must be accompanied by a NACES Members evaluation agency English translation. 
• Minimum overall GPA of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
• Documentation of EMT certification for Paramedic Program enrollment. Students who currently are enrolled in an EMT course or who have completed EMT course work and are engaged in the credentialing process should provide a statement to this effect.
• International Applicants only: Applicants from countries where English is not the official language are required to submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test. The minimum required scores are: TOEFL 84, IELTS 7.0, or Duolingo 115. Scores on TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo tests taken more than two years prior to the date of application are not acceptable. 

Degree Requirements

The EMT Paramedic Certificate program consists of 16 courses for a total of 41 semester credit hours.

Upon successful completion of all course work, the student is eligible to take the exam for registration as a Paramedic through the National Registry of EMT. Upon successful completion of that examination, the student is eligible to apply for certification as a Paramedic in the State of Texas.

Plan of Study for Paramedic Certificate (Courses are divided between 3 semesters): 

Objectives/Program Outcomes

Students graduating from a Department of Emergency Health Sciences program must meet the essential function requirements of the academic program and profession. The program consists of academic study and clinical experience. The student will possess the skills and attributes necessary to perform as a professional before graduation from the program.

Students who graduate from the Emergency Health Sciences programs will be able to:

• communicate effectively, think critically, and assimilate into their community successfully
• demonstrate personal behaviors and attitudes consistent with and appropriate to the delivery of pre-hospital emergency medical care
• meet the community’s need for advanced life support personnel in a variety of settings
• work in various occupational settings relating to emergency health services
• understand theoretical foundations of the profession, and
• synthesize knowledge from the basic sciences, social sciences, humanities, and pre-hospital emergency science to conceptualize and resolve patient and health care delivery problems.

Paramedic Certificate Program expectations:

To prepare competent entry-level Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

Program Policies

Program Costs

In addition to required tuition and fees, there are costs for textbooks, scrubs, and equipment. There are also costs for criminal background checks, immunization, and drug screens (if required by clinical facilities). The full-time clinical fieldwork experiences included in the curriculum may require that students relocate and/or travel outside of San Antonio for the duration of the rotations. Fieldwork expenses will vary according to individual arrangements depending on the cost of travel, temporary housing, maintenance of local accommodations, etc. Students are encouraged to budget for major expenditures that could be associated with these assignments. Detailed information about program costs can be found on the Department of Emergency Health Sciences website.

Courses