This program prepares students to provide emergency medical care to victims of illness, accident or injury, assessing patients and performing critical medical interventions. As members of the allied healthcare team, Paramedics work as part of a comprehensive EMS response, applying their advanced knowledge of human anatomy and physiology to provide advanced life support care to patients.<br><br>Paramedics are employed by ambulance services, fire departments, within hospitals and as members of emergency flight crews. They employ life-saving strategies such as managing airways, establishing vascular access, performing CPR and administering pharmaceuticals, often while transporting patients to critical care facilities. Students who demonstrate a commitment to life-long learning, civic engagement, and service to their communities are invited to apply. <br><br>Missoula College's Paramedicine Program is delivered through a community partnership with Missoula Emergency Services, Inc., which has been training paramedics since the 1980s. The Program is a candidate for Accreditation by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for EMS Professions (CoAEMSP) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).<br><br>Admission to the program is competitive, and requires prior completion of 16 credits of pre-requisite coursework, as well as a current National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Certification. The Program's core classes begin every fall semester and include 57 credits of classroom and laboratory instruction, as well as hundreds of hours of experiential, hands-on clinical training within hospitals and aboard ambulances. <br><br>Student progress is evaluated in the classroom through testing of cognitive knowledge, and in labs and clinical rotations through observation of the technical and psychomotor skills used in the profession. The Program maintains high standards for ethical and professional behavior. Upon graduating, the student qualifies for an examination administered by the NREMT, successful completion of which earns a national certification and allows the individual to practice in all states.