Apr 04, 2025  
2025-2026 College Catalog 
  
2025-2026 College Catalog

EMS Paramedic/Basic Operations Firefighter, A.A.S.


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Health Career Admissions

Program Code: G.EMT.AAS.BOF

Graduation requirement: 66 credit hours

The EMS Paramedic/Basic Operations Firefighter A.A.S. program prepares students to practice as an advanced EMS provider with opportunities for increased responsibility.

Students will achieve competencies in the cognitive, psycho-motor, and affective domains from didactic instruction, classroom lab skills, and actual clinical application with patient contacts under the supervision of a trained pre-hospital and hospital preceptor. Students will learn to administer medication, start intravenous lines, interpret EKG rhythm strips, and deliver the appropriate interventions, as well as to administer many other advanced life support procedures.

The Basic Operations Firefighter track offers students the unique opportunity to combine fire service technology with a paramedic degree. This program track is intended to assist individuals interested in pursuing a career in firefighting. Upon successful completion, the student will meet requirements for Illinois OSFM, ProBoard, IFSAC NFPA Firefighter I certification. Earning the Paramedic licensure alongside a Basic Operations Firefighter certification makes the student more marketable to employment selection boards.

The EMS Paramedic/Basic Operations Firefighter A.A.S. program meets the National EMS Education Standards (current edition), National EMS Scope of Practice Model skills (2019), and the Illinois EMS Scope of Practice Model skills (2019). Graduates of this program are eligible to take the National Registry EMT cognitive exam.

For students interested in a program with only the Paramedic component, see the alternate EMS program for the EMS Paramedic, A.A.S.  

Program Notes


This program prepares students to meet the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Illinois. For information about how this program may meet licensure requirements in other states, see State Licensure/Certification Information on the Parkland website.

Program Admission Requirements

  • To be admitted to the program, students must have current placement out of MAT 072 , ENG 099 , and CCS 099 .
  • Students who are non-native speakers of English must establish English proficiency through:
    • Minimum TOEFL iBT scores in reading, listening, speaking, and writing: 18-22-22-17; or
    • Minimum IELTS scores in reading, listening, speaking, and writing: 6-6.5-6.5-5
  • Students must pass EMS 110  and/or be licensed as an EMT in the state of Illinois.
  • Students must have documentation of patient care experience in the role of an EMT by submission of one of the following:
    • A letter from an EMS pre-hospital agency or the U.S. military of 300 hours of patient care contacts.
    • A letter from an EMS pre-hospital agency or the U.S. military of six months of full-time employment in the role of an EMT.
    • Completion of EMS 138 - EMT Work Practicum .

Requirements for remaining in the program and graduation

  • Complete all classroom and clinical requirements
  • Achieve an 80 percent average on all quizzes, homework, and exams
  • Have satisfactory attendance (no more than 10 percent of the total scheduled hours missed for any reason)
  • Receive satisfactory evaluation on clinical experiences
  • Receive satisfactory rating on all practical examinations
  • Receive satisfactory evaluation on and completion of field internship
  • Maintain compliance with all the policies outlined for the Paramedic Program
  • Students who previously held an EMR license or have taken EMS 119  can obtain 3 credit hours towards the degree as a general elective course.

Eligibility for state and/or national certification

  • Students must complete the overall program with an 80 percent to qualify to take the National Registry of EMT certification exam and/or Illinois state paramedic licensure exam.

Advanced Placement Policy

  • Advanced placement based on experiential learning will not be considered.
  • Students transferring from other CAAHEP-accredited paramedic programs may be eligible for acceptance into various stages of the program. This is determined on a case-by-case basis requiring an evaluation of transcripts, course syllabi, outlines, and skills by the appropriate faculty and staff of the Parkland College/Carle Regional EMS Consortium.
  • Students holding Basic Operations Firefighter I or HAZMAT Operator certifications may request proficiency credit based on prior learning experiences. Documentation of current certification or licensure must be submitted to receive credit.
  • There are limitations to the amount of prior learning credit that can be accepted toward A.A.S. completion. Contact the EMS program director or Allied Health department chair for more information.

Accreditation

The 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).

CAAHEP
25400 US Hwy 19N
Suite 158
Clearwater FL 33763
www.caahep.org

CoAEMSP
8301 Lakeview Pkwy
Suite 111-312
Rowlett TX 75088
214/703- 8445
FAX 214/703-8992
www.coaemsp.org

Graduation Requirements


Suggested Full-time Sequence


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