No California is not a 13 week cram session anymore, not since it became a registry state, I beieve we have two year progams now, but anywho, classes are not filling up as fast as the two year RN program, so there is a significant shortage of paramedics here, but in order to make a livable wage you have to be crossed trained and become a firefighter/paramedic, and I don't think that is going to change anytime soon, as far as the formal education is concerned most departments prefer A.S. in fire scinece, but a H.S. diplom or GED will meet the requirmnts of the job flyer.