Paramedic, Fire Science Concentration, AAS

The Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic AAS degree prepares individuals to use critical thinking skills to provide medical treatment for patients with illness or injury-related disease. The Paramedic provides medical care for patients, performing skills in a variety of settings including pre-hospital, emergency departments, critical care units and cardiac catheter labs. Course content includes anatomy and physiology, pathology and the identification and initial diagnosis of disease and injury in a variety of populations. Paramedics use advanced medical and surgical skills that may include initiation of advanced airway management techniques, interpretation of electrocardiograms and advanced cardiac and trauma life support protocols. Instruction in rescue operations, crisis scene management and patient triage is included.

This program will prepare students to become a Paramedic. This program provides students with the necessary preparatory courses for seeking certification as a Nationally Registered Paramedic, which leads to certification as a Paramedic in the state of Iowa. National certification will require a passing score on a nationally recognized certification exam of Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (NREMT-P).

In addition, the AAS program provides an avenue of specialized study in one of three categories: public administration, fire science or advanced clinical knowledge. These three concentrations offer the Paramedic the ability to obtain a higher level of understanding in their respective areas. Each track requires the foundation courses to obtain an AAS degree and delves more deeply into the particular area of interest.

For those seeking management, the public administration concentration offers a broader understanding of management concepts and principles. While it does not provide the student a comprehensive education in management, it provides a flavor of what management is all about. 

The clinical concentration enhances the Paramedic with an emphasis on the sciences. Anatomy and physiology, chemistry and physics afford students the basic requirements toward a variety of degrees. These students will have the basics to opt into a degree in nursing or other medical professions. 

The fire science concentration prepares the Paramedic for application to the fire service. While it will not make the Paramedic a firefighter, it offers background knowledge in building construction, fire suppression and sprinkler systems. The student may opt to pursue a Fire Science degree at a later point or obtain their Firefighter I and Firefighter II training from the Fire Service Training Bureau.

This unique program holds the Paramedic as the foundation of the program, but provides the student with an opportunity to broaden their horizons and begin to experience the various facets of job opportunities awaiting them.

Criminal background checks will be completed on each student. Criminal convictions or documented history of abuse may delay or prevent students from participation in Paramedic education experiences. Students unable to participate in Paramedic education will be unable to complete the Paramedic program.

For more information about the Paramedic program, please visit our website at www.dmacc.edu/programs/health/paramedic.

Location: Ankeny

Program Entry Requirements

1. Complete an application for admission.
2. Attend any required information/registration session.
3. Submit a copy of current State of Iowa EMT-Basic, Iowa EMT-Intermediate/85 or Iowa EMT-Paramedic certification (I/99). All students must have an Iowa EMT-B or EMT-I certification.
4. Submit evidence of a grade of “C” or better in one year of high school biology OR a grade of “C” or better in DMACC Academic Achievement Center Biology I OR equivalent.
5. Obtain a minimum score of 81 in Reading on the COMPASS test OR a minimum ACT Reading score of 19.
6. Obtain a minimum score of 46 in Algebra on the COMPASS test OR a minimum ACT math score of 19 OR obtain a grade of “C” or better in MAT 073  or equivalent.
7. Obtain a minimum score of 70 in English on the COMPASS test OR a minimum ACT English score of 19 OR a grade of “C” or better in ENG 061  or equivalent.
8. Submit evidence of a grade of “C” or better in one year of high school chemistry OR a grade of “C” or better in DMACC Academic Achievement Center Chemistry I and II OR equivalent.

Students start Fall semester.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a Paramedic AAS degree, a student must complete all coursework as prescribed and maintain a 2.0 grade point average. A grade of “C” or better is required in all EMS courses.

All Paramedic AAS degree students take courses listed in Semesters 1-4. Prior to Semester 5, students must choose the Clinical Concentration, Fire Science Concentration or the Public Administration Concentration and take those courses listed for Semesters 5 and 6.