MICT - Paramedic

program detail hero

Apply
Compassion Meets Skill with the Cowley Paramedic program

Program classes begin every January and every August. Classes meet on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Wichita, Kansas for the didactic and simulation sessions, plus some required courses at the Winfield Allied Health Campus. Clinical and Field Internship rotations are completed at regional hospitals and EMS services.

The prerequisite General Education classes for the Associate of Applied Science degree program are comprised of many different disciplines that make the paramedic better rounded and should enhance career mobility. It is strongly recommended that the student complete the General Education requirements as soon as possible before starting the technical paramedic classes.

RESPONSE. CARE. SKILL.

BEFORE STARTING THE PROGRAM, the student must have EMT or AEMT certification or be finishing a course that would allow the student to obtain EMT or AEMT certification early in the paramedic program.

The Paramedic Program has a Selective Admissions Process. Students typically start the paramedic technical classes during the second year of school. Technical classes are provided on a block scheduling system (finish one entire class before starting another). During this phase of the AAS completion, the student will have classes almost every day for the program. Depending upon the time of entry in

EMS logo

to the program, scheduling may allow the student to complete the paramedic program within a 12-month timeframe. At the same time, other schedules add approximately one semester to the timeframe of completion.

Program Costs

Program Start Dates
Wichita 11–Month – January 2024
Wichita 11–Month – August 2024

PARAMEDIC PROGRAM APPLICATION

Kansas Promise Act logoLearn For Free
Kansas residents can earn scholarship dollars to cover expenses and learn for free by completing an eligible associate degree or certificate under the Kansas Promise Act Scholarship. Contact the Scholarships Department to find out more about the Kansas Promise Act Scholarship.

EMS students with patient Play Video
Hear from our EMS students why they chose Cowley over any other programs.

Meet Your Instructors & Staff

Faculty Chair, Health & Human Services, EMS Director
Faculty, Paramedic Instructor Coordinator
Academic Department Specialist, Health & Human Services

Statement of Accreditation

The Cowley College Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

paramedic students doing hand-on learning

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

727-210-2350
www.caahep.org

To contact CoAEMSP:

214-703-8445
www.coaemsp.org

93.3% Positive Placement Program Outcomes Data 2020

All data from the 2020 CoAEMSP Annual Report submitted in 2022.
83.3%
Retention
92.9%
National Registry Written Exam
100%
National Registry Practical Exam

Paramedic Program Prerequisites

The Kansas Board of EMS requires each Paramedic graduate in Kansas to acquire (or have) at least an AAS degree before taking the National Registry EMT-P examination. As such, our students must graduate with an AAS degree or have an AAS degree or higher upon program completion. Many of our students enter the program with a BS/BA, so the AAS requirement does not affect them.

The college requires each AAS degree candidate to complete a technical program (Paramedic in your case) and, at a minimum, the general education courses listed below. Students must also be a certified EMT (or just finishing the EMT class before the Paramedic program starts).

It is essential that the potential Paramedic student complete most, if not all, of these classes before starting the Paramedic classes.

It would be extremely difficult to concurrently take the Paramedic classes and the general education classes. Students must finish the Paramedic program and be granted an AAS degree before being allowed to take the National Registry EMT-P examination.

Potential students should review the AAS requirements found in the college catalog and are strongly encouraged to contact the EMS division faculty (regardless of assigned Cowley advisor) whenever questions arise. We will be happy to help you with any of your concerns or questions.

If a potential student holds an AAS degree or higher, they DO NOT need to complete the below-listed classes. They must complete Anatomy and Physiology and be a Kansas certified EMT (or higher) prior to entering the program.

Summary of AAS Prerequisite Degree Requirements
(Required if potential student does not have an AAS degree or higher)

  • COM2725 - Interpersonal Communications 3 hour(s) (or Communications Elective)
  • PHO6460 - Ethics 3 hour(s) (or Humanities Elective)
  • SOC6811 - Principles of Sociology 3 hour(s) (or Social Science Elective)
  • BIO4110 - Biology Review 1 hour(s) (or General Education Electives)
  • BIO4150 - Human Anatomy and Physiology 5 hour(s)

Note: The Cowley A&P class has a prerequisite of Principles of Biology (BIO 4111, a 5 credit hour class) or Biology Review (BIO 4110, a 1 credit hour class).

The above required prerequisites are the minimum a student must take for the Paramedic AAS degree.

students graudating from course

Suggested Additional Classes that may Prove Helpful

  • 5 hours of Microbiology
  • 5 hours of General Chemistry (some may opt for separate inorganic and organic chemistry classes)
  • 4 hours of Human Disease and Trauma
  • 3 hours of ECG Interpretation
  • 3 hours of Nutrition
  • 3 hours of Pharmacology
  • 3 hours of Pharmacology Calculations
  • 3 hours of Introduction to Public Health
  • 3 hours of College Algebra
  • 3 hours of Elementary Statistics
  • 3 hours of Developmental Psychology
  • 3 hours of Abnormal Psychology
  • 3 hours of Cultural Anthropology

If the student plans to enter nursing school or another allied health discipline in the future after completing the Paramedic program, the above additional classes would be helpful. It is also advisable to contact your Cowley advisor or the other healthcare program to better understand their prerequisites.

CRIMINAL BACKGOUND CHECK

Allied health students at Cowley College are occasionally required to complete a hospital or other field clinical component during their education and training. EVERY allied health and EMS student who completes hospital or field clinical training must complete a one-time background check.

MICT students will be charged $85 for a criminal background check and urinalysis. When the class starts, each will receive information about how to complete the background check. Failure to allow the check will result in dismissal because it is a mandatory requirement.

Failure to pass a criminal background check will prevent individual students, faculty or staff from being able to enter or supervise clinical or field education and training. A current student who is found to have a significant criminal background screen will be required to withdraw from their present program. A faculty member or staff employee with a significant criminal background screen will not be allowed to enter a clinical or field facility and must then withdraw from their present position at the college.

The Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services does not have a list of felony offenses that denote barrier offenses to certification. Each applicant who is a convicted felon is reviewed on an individual basis and a judgment is made by the Board.

For this policy, the prohibited offenses of employment as a Kansas certified nurse aide shall be utilized. The Via Christi and Wesley organizations prefer a criminal record check that extends seven years in the past. As such, all reckoning periods for prohibited offenses that are listed on the KDADS site as prohibited for 5 years shall be increased to seven (7) years.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Department Chair of Allied Health Education.

Selective Admissions Process

The Paramedic program has a selective admissions process. To be considered for program acceptance, prospective students can complete the online Paramedic application form, and then send the other required material listed on the form to the Paramedic program office. The size of the class is limited to 18 students.

When the application packet has been received and determined to be complete, the applicant will be notified and an interview shall be scheduled. Interviews will be held approximately 3-4 months prior to the start of the program.

If you are considering a future program entrance and have not applied for entrance, please call the EMS faculty so that you can be notified of selection dates.

students at para graduation

Criteria for selection include:

  • Previous college performance.
  • Successful completion of most, if not all, general education requirements of the A.A.S. Degree.
  • EMT certification is required (can be an EMT student).
  • Field experience. At least one year experience is preferred.
  • Letters of recommendation (a minimum of two).
  • Candidate interview.
  • Standardized math assessment.