EMS Paramedic Certiifcate
The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Paramedic program offers two paramedic training options, a certificate or a two-year Associate in Applied Science degree, both designed to prepare individuals to become an entry-level paramedic in the State of Illinois.
Successful completion of the Paramedic Certificate, in addition to the general education and additional program requirements, will earn Paramedic students an AAS degree. Completion of this degree can broaden the student's marketability as well as provide a solid basis for continued professional learning.
I. General Education Core Requirements - 16 credits
Area A: Communication - 6 credits
- ENG 101 - Composition I (with a grade of C or better) - 3 credits
- COMM 101 - Principles of Communication - 3 credits
Area B: Humanities and Fine Arts
Select one course from Area B - 3 credits
Area C: Mathematics
Successful completion of MATH 091 or MATH 093 with a grade of C or better, or placement into MATH 094 or higher.
Area D: Physical and Life Sciences
Select one course from: - 4 credits
- BIOL 111 - Cellular & Molecular - 4 credits
Area E: Social and Behavioral Sciences - 3 credits
- PSYCH 101 - Introduction to Psychology (required) - 3 credits
II. Program Requirements - 44 credits
- HLTH 105 - General Medical Terminology - 3 credits
- PHILO 202 - Ethics - 3 credits
- EMS 101 - Emergency Medical Technicians - 7 credits
- EMS 241 - EMS Foundations - 3 credits
- EMS 242 - EMS Respiratory - 3 credits
- EMS 243 - EMS Cardiovascular - 6 credits
- EMS 244 - EMS Medical - 6 credits
- EMS 245 - EMS Trauma - 4 credits
- EMS 246 - EMS OB/Peds - 5 credits
- EMS 247 - EMS Field Experience - 4 credits
Program Total: 60 credits
Students who received a Course Completion Certificate or Associates in Applied Science (AAS) in EMT-Paramedic are prepared to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician Examination. Examination fees are student responsibility. Instructions and important forms will be distributed at the end of program coursework.
The Illinois Administrative Code for EMR's EMT's and Paramedics was recently updated on 6/27/2025 and includes some important updates below. These can also be referenced under 77 IL Admin Code 515.530.
- All candidates shall hold a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate and be 18 years of age or older to be licensed.
- After completion of an approved education program and a recommendation to test by the EMS MD or designee, candidates shall take the NREMT cognitive and an EMS System approved psychomotor examinations. (Our Paramedic Program meets this requirement)
- Candidates qualifying for licensure examinations may register for examinations through the NREMT. Application information may be found on the NREMT website. All candidates for licensure examinations shall be approved by the EMS System. Candidates shall register to take a licensure examination within 90 days after course completion, including all clinical and field requirements.
- Candidates shall follow the NREMT policy for initial licensure examination within 12 months after initial authorizations to test.
Questions about the process should be directed to course instructors and Program Coordinator Chad Vlietstra at cvlietstra@prairiestate.edu.
The Paramedic Certificate programs, offered in collaboration with UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital and the South Cook EMS System, provide a comprehensive learning experience under the guidance of lead instructors certified by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
These Paramedic and Nursing instructors are licensed as an IDPH Lead Instructor and possess a minimum of three years of hands-on experience as both instructors and industry professionals. Upon successful completion of the Paramedic Certificate program, students are qualified to sit for the National Registry Certification Exam.
This program is administered through a collaborative effort by Prairie State College and the Region VII EMS system Resource Hospitals. The Paramedic Certificate is a comprehensive training program focused on preparing graduates to be competent and confident entry-level paramedics.
Students will receive training in the assessment, treatment, and transportation of victims. Instruction is focused on hands-on experiences using human patient simulators, trainers, and other equipment used in the profession.
Prerequisites:
- Be currently licensed by the State of Illinois as an EMT-B or EMT-I
- Have a current CPR healthcare provider card
- Achieve acceptable scores on the Paramedic Entrance Admission Exam through the South Cook EMS System
We offer this course annually with a testing date of Summer and a start date of Fall. Our next entrance exam will be posted in late May of 2026. We will post it here when it is available.
Program Requirements - 31 credits:
- EMS 241 - EMS Foundations - 3 credits
- EMS 242 - EMS Respiratory - 3 credits
- EMS 243 - EMS Cardiovascular - 6 credits
- EMS 244 - EMS Medical - 6 credits
- EMS 245 - EMS Trauma - 4 credits
- EMS 246 - EMS OB/Peds - 5 credits
- EMS 247 - EMS Field Experience - 4 credits
Program Total: 31 credits