speedygodzilla Posted December 2, 2007 Posted December 2, 2007 I am interested in going to a local Paramedic Program here which is not affiliated with a college. I also want to and will earn my degree, which is a determining factor in if I choose the program or not. I have earn most of my college classes for the degree from a local community college, however none of there Paramedic classes work for my schedule, or really meet my interest. My question is can I get college credit for this program so I can earn my degree? I have check with both schools and the community college counselor has receive a no in many directions but is still checking for me on other options. The Paramedic program only offered me one option and that was going to Trenton, MO (2 hrs north of me) and taking 12 credit hours earning the remainder of the degree classes there and more and than they will accept my license as 30 credit hours and I will be able to earn the degree. Not an option I will to take due to the distance and the cost of a credit hour at that college.
Dustdevil Posted December 2, 2007 Posted December 2, 2007 A lot of colleges with EMS programmes will offer you advanced standing/credit for paramedic school attended elsewhere. I think I have seen everything from 27 to 45 hours of credit offered by different community colleges. It's an popular option right now, since so many old school medics are playing catch-up with the degree age. And the college will make its money off of you regardless, since you'll be required to take a certain number of courses there before they will grant you a degree. I would say that going to medic school before taking all those college courses is a horrible idea, and ultimately delays your professional growth. Great for getting your established career up to speed, but bad for starting your career off with. But it still beats what the majority of the medics do in this country, which is take a quickie tech school, then never return for a single hour of real college. Are you saying you already have a lot of college hours? If so, does that include the usual pre-requisites, like A&P and psych and algebra and micro, etc...? If it does, then I hope they are from the school with the EMS degree programme, or you may be stuck looking for more hours to take there just to meet the residential requirement for graduation. Good luck!
speedygodzilla Posted December 2, 2007 Author Posted December 2, 2007 Yes I do have many of the college credits. From A & P to math. I still need a few like chemistry, psych (I got sociology first, don't know why)., micro, and plan on staying in school to earn much more. They are from the school with the Paramedic program, just not the one that I was planning on attending. I have talk to many paramedics and this area and they all recommend either the CJC(Central Jackson County) or Mast paramedic program which is not college affiliated, and also the CJC program works wonderful with my schedule. However if I go there I will not be able to get any college credit for it, at least not here at my local community college. The only option the community college has given me as of yet is to attend their program or another from a vocational program which is transferable. I am ready to go to paramedic school now. I may be acting impatient, however I will put my mind to it and be a great paramedic and continue to attend school.
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