Paramedic
Communities all over the state of Iowa and nationally need skilled paramedics and Emergency Medical Services professionals. You will graduate with demonstrated knowledge and skills, providing appropriate patient care for life-threatening emergencies through the use of Advanced Life Support protocol and equipment. An on-site health simulation lab, fully-equipped with an ambulance vehicle, technology, equipment and manikins, trains you for a range of patient care treatment, medical emergencies and transport. Our graduates have a 96 percent job placement rate and a 100 percent pass rate on the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Psychomotor Exam in the past five years.
If you have a passion for caring for others in emergency situations, serving your community and want a career that offers something different every day, this is the perfect career for you.
Paying for the Program
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees: $10,485 - 13,980*
Program Supplies: $2,347
There are many options available for tuition savings. Contact the Admissions or Financial Aid office for more information.
Financial Aid InfoCareer Outlook
Estimated annual salary for Paramedic graduates represents median annual wage from EMSI's Analyst, Career Coach and Institutional Research data.
Potential Careers
- Paramedic
- Firefighter
- Apply for admission.
- Submit official high school, high school equivalency and/or college transcripts to the Admissions Office of the campus you plan to attend.
- Complete ACCUPLACER® reading and writing assessment and ALEKS® math assessment for course placement. Assessments may be waived based on previous college coursework or submission of valid ACT®, or SAT® test scores. Reading and writing scores are valid for three years, and math scores are valid for two years.
- View the Program Admission Checklist.
Program Admission Requirements
In addition to the college enrollment process, applicants must be a high school graduate or equivalent, have a current State of Iowa EMT certification, and achieve a minimum ACCUPLACER NEXT GENERATION® reading scores of 250. applicants must achieve a minimum ALEKS® score of 30. ACT® scores are also acceptable. The following courses must be completed with a grade of “C-” or above within five years from the date of application:
- Basic Anatomy and Physiology [BIO:161] or
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I [BIO:168] and Human Anatomy and Physiology II [BIO:173] or
- Human Biology [BIO:157]
The health sciences programs have additional admission requirements including background checks, health records and training requirements. Please review these requirements for program admission.
The NICC Paramedic 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).
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs can be contacted at:
25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
727.210.2350
The Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions can be contacted at:
8301 Lakeview Parkway
Suite #111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
214.703.8445
NREMT Results
| Graduation Year | Cohort Attrition | Retention | NREMT Psychomotor Exam 1st Attempt Successful Outcome | NREMT Psychomotor Exam Total Successful Outcome | NREMT Written Exam 1st Attempt Successful Outcome | NREMT Written Exam Total Successful Outcome | Positive Placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 27.3% | 72.7% | 100% | 100% | 56% | 100% | 100% |
| 2019 | 39.1% | 60.9% | 100% | 100% | 85% | 100% | 100% |
| 2018 | 42.9% | 57.1% | 100% | 100% | 92% | 100% | 92% |
Gainful Employment Information
View gainful employment information for this program.
Iowa Emergency Medical Services Association
Students will have the opportunity to become student members of the Iowa Emergency Medical Services Association.
Licensure and Certification Disclosure
Successful completion of this program leads to a professional licensure or certification. Use this state guide to identify the states in which NICC program requirements fulfill the state guidelines for professional licensure and certification.
Simulation Labs
Paramedic students have the opportunity to utilize the College's Health Simulation Laboratories at the Peosta campus for hands-on learning experiences.
Program Progression
Students must successfully complete coursework with a C or above in order to proceed in the program. Students must have a current EMT or AEMT certification to enter into the Paramedic program. Students enrolled in the paramedic program must successfully complete Paramedic I to advance to Paramedic II and must successfully complete Paramedic II to advance to Paramedic III. If a student fails either Paramedic I, Paramedic II or Paramedic III, the student is required to repeat the program starting with Paramedic I.
Paramedic Required Hours
| Classroom | Lab | Clinical/Field | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paramedic I | 132 | 64 | 84 |
| Paramedic II | 108 | 104 | 240 |
| Paramedic III | 68 | 64 | 276 |
The Paramedic program maintains formal transfer agreements with the institutions listed below. Students are encouraged to speak with their transfer college or university to verify that their planned courses at NICC will meet necessary requirements. Learn more about transferring from NICC.
Nicholas Esch
Paramedic Instructor, Program Director
- Email: eschn@nicc.edu
- Phone: 844.642.2338, ext. 2186
- Location: Peosta