Paramedic      

Prior to applying for either pathway (in person or online) Paramedic program, students must be admitted to City College, and have completed the necessary prerequisites.

TERM	DEADLINE	STATUS
Fall 2024 (on campus & online)	June 7, 2024

 

KEY
	Accepting applications for this semester
	Not yet accepting applications for this semester
	Application closed for this semester

Cost of Attendance

City College - Associate Degrees & Certificates

• Program Course List
  • On campus option
  • Online (Sprint) option

Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics

Median Wage (MT)*	$41,090 yearly
	$19.76 per hour
Median Wage (US)*	$43,390 yearly
	$22.29 per hour
City College entry-level wages of graduates:  $49,357  (2018-2021)
Expected growth (MT)*	24%
Expected growth (US)*	15%
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Employment Projections; MT Dept. of Labor and Industry, Research and Analysis Bureau; (projections through 2024)  Graduate Placement Data

As a Paramedic, you will find employment in a variety of settings, such as:

• National and/or local ambulance services 
• Fire departments
• Law enforcement
• Hospitals
• Flight services
• Industrial sites

Examples of where recent City College graduates are working:

• Big Sky Fire Department, Big Sky, MT 
• Red Lodge Fire Rescue, Red Lodge, MT
• St. Peters Hospital, Helena, MT
• City of Redmond, Redmond, WA
• Big Horn County Ambulance, Hardin, MT
• American Medical Response, Billings, MT 
• City of Billings Fire Department, Billings, MT
• Montana Highway Patrol, Helena, MT

On Campus Degree Option

18-month program 

Students have an option to complete the Spring prerequisite semester fully online or partially on campus. Once completed with prerequisites, the student will apply to the paramedic program.  The program has two semesters with a mix of classroom instruction, hands-on training, and clinical rotations.  The final semester, which is the field internship, can be completed in Billings or at an approved location across the country.  This option utilizes traditional classroom and skills laboratory delivery methods to ensure a flexible but rigorous educational experience.  

• 1800-hour (940-hour classroom/ 860-hour clinical) 
• Utilizes online classwork, traditional classroom, and skills laboratory 

Online Degree Option (Sprint)

18-month program 

The online option allows students to complete the prerequisite semester fully online prior to acceptance into the program. Once accepted, the first semester lecture courses will be fully online.  Second semester is clinical rotations, laboratory courses and online lecture.  Students are required to travel to Billings for two 1-week labs at the beginning and end of semester.  In conjunction all clinical rotations will be done at approved clinical sites.  Upon successful completion of these semesters the student will transition into the third and final semester which includes the field internship. At the end of the third (summer) semester students will do their third 1-week lab on the City College campus.  Students can do their internship in Billings or at an approved location across the country. 

• 1800-hour (940-hour classroom/ 860-hour clinical) 
• Utilizes online classwork and  three 1-week skills labs on City College campus

ADMISSION TO CITY COLLEGE

• First-time college students must have high school diplomas from an accredited high school, or a GED/HiSET
• Transfer students will need to submit records from all regionally accredited institutions.

ADMISSION TO ON CAMPUS PARAMEDIC PROGRAM 

• All prerequisite courses must be completed
• In addition to the required prerequisite courses, students must hold a current National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) card*

ADMISSION TO ONLINE (Sprint) PARAMEDIC PROGRAM 

• All prerequisite courses must be completed
• 100 hours of EMT experience (documentation required)
• Previous online course experience
• In addition to the required prerequisite courses, students must hold a current National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) card*

APPLICATION to Programs

• On Campus Paramedic Competitive Selection Process and Application 
• Online (Sprint) Paramedic Competitive Selection Process and Application 

*EMT training

There are a variety of options for obtaining your EMT training ranging from online to in person to hybrid programs.  Prior to taking your course, ensure at completion, you will be able to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) licensure exam.  Not all EMT courses provide this option. Consult the internet for online options, as well as speak with local EMS agencies regarding course availability.

MSU Billings currently hosts Big Sky EMS for NREMT training on the City College campus with one cohort in the fall and one cohort in the spring.  Contact Big Sky EMS at 406-670-5021. 

Program Certifications/Certificates: 

The following courses are required and included in the paramedic program.  These are typically required by employers as additional certification in conjunction with the NREMT (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician) paramedic certification.

Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support Provider Certification (PHTLS)
Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider Certification (ACLS)
Neonatal Resuscitation Program Provider Certification (NRP)
Pediatric Advance Life Support Provider Certification (PALS)

NREMT Certification

For employment as a paramedic the student must have a state license for the state the student is employed in and in most states a NRMET certification. The NREMT certification is typically held in place of a state examination if the paramedic already holds it.  To be eligible to take the NRMET certification test the student must have completed a paramedic course from a CAAHEP accredited program.  The NREMT test is available to the student once the program is completed, and all requirements met.  The NREMT test is separate from the paramedic program.  The following is information from the NREMT.

 

National EMS Certification is an important component of public protection. The National Registry provides National EMS Certification, which is a validated and legally defensible attestation of competency. Almost all states and territories in the United States require National Registry certification before a state license to practice is issued. The National Registry is recognized in every state in the United States, and 46 states use the National Registry certification as a basis for licensure. Learn more about the differences between certification and licensure in this article. In addition, the EMS Compact mandates that all member states require National Registry certification as a prerequisite for an EMS license. When an individual obtains a National EMS Certification, the general public, employers, and state licensing authorities know that the individual has demonstrated competency. (NRMET website, 2024)

 

Q: How can I get my NREMT license?

There are a variety of options for obtaining your EMT training ranging from online to in person to hybrid programs.  Prior to taking your course ensure at completion you will be able to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) licensure exam.  Not all EMT courses provide this option.  Consult the internet for online options, as well as speak with local EMS agencies regarding course availability.

MSU Billings currently hosts Big Sky EMS for NREMT training on the City College campus with one cohort in the fall and one cohort in the spring.  Contact Big Sky EMS at 406-670-5021. 

Q: Is this program hands-on? 

A: Yes! The core paramedic program involves hands-on laboratory skills and real-world clinical experience. In addition, our program contains prerequisite coursework to help build a strong foundation and some general education courses to help not only land your dream job but to continue growing within your field.  

Q: What is the difference between an EMT and a Paramedic? 

A: There are different levels of certification in the field of emergency medical services (EMS). The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) provides national certification of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and paramedics at three levels: EMT-Basic, Advanced EMT or EMT-Intermediate, and Paramedic. The biggest difference between the different EMS levels is the amount of education received and the scope of practice (what they are allowed to do). Basic level EMTs are trained to provide basic-level care, such as spinal immobilization, administering oxygen, splinting/bandaging, checking vital signs, and artificial ventilation. Paramedics are the highest skilled pre-hospital care provider. Paramedics build on their EMT training and learn additional skills, such as providing IVs and injections, interpreting EKGs, and administering a wide array of critical care medication. The exact procedures EMTs and paramedics are allowed to perform vary by state. 

Q: What skills are covered in the paramedic program?  

A: The skills covered in the paramedic program include:

• Endotracheal intubation
• Cricothyrotomy
• Chest decompress
• Gastric decompression
• BIPAP/CPAP
• Pharmacological interventions
• Intraosseous and intravenous cannulation
• Enteral and parental administration of approved prescriptions medications
• Multi-lead EKG interpretation
• Indwelling catheters and implanted central IV ports for fluid and medication administration
• Medication administration by IV infusion
• Blood or blood production infusion
• Chest tube management
• Capnography interpretation
• Thrombolytic medication initiation
• Blood chemistry analysis