Paramedic Academics Degrees & Certificates Paramedic Certificate Build the patient care knowledge, medical skills and confidence necessary to advance your career in emergency medicine Request Information Apply Now Program Contacts Laura Earl, Health Occupations Admissions (413) 775-1816 earl@gcc.mass.edu Dawn Josefski, Program Director (413) 775-1761 josefski@gcc.mass.edu Program Overview Admission Degree Requirements Learning Outcomes Faculty Career Outlook EMT Basic/EMS 101 Upcoming Events No Events As a certified basic or advanced EMT, you can complete GCC’s paramedic certificate to take the next step in your career. Our rigorous program covers all aspects of advanced life support care, such as advanced patient assessment, differential diagnosis, treatment plans and implementation. The paramedic certificate program starts each fall. It meets on campus two evenings per week, as well as an average of two Saturdays a month. The program can be completed in as few as 15 months and includes 600 hours of clinical and field time. Accredited by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Office for Emergency Medical Services (OEMS), CoAEMSP (#600741) and CAAHEP 29credits Certificate Certificates are typically completed in one (1) year and designed for immediate workforce entry CORI/SORICORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) and/or additional background checks required for participation in this program. This program follows a specific sequence of required courses. 100% attendance at all classes and clinical sessions is required. A strict attendance policy forces the supervised makeup of all missed work. Classes must be completed sequentially within 24 months of beginning the program; we do not accept transfer into our paramedic program. Consult our Student Handbook and academic calendar for policies and important dates. The paramedic program is a comprehensive course of study in advanced life support care. Lecture Schedule Section 1: Tue/Thurs 5-9:30 p.m. Section 2: Mon/Wed 5-9:30 p.m. Both sections meet together on scheduled Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at GCC for skills labs, seminar teaching and other specialty topics. Paramedic students are required to purchase paramedic program shirts and texts. There are lab fees which cover the cost of drug screen testing, national background check and the costs of ACLS, PALS, PHTLS and PEARS certifications, disposable goods, instructor/student ratios and initial NREMT examination fee. Students are required to cover the costs associated with travel to and from clinical and field sites. What's Next?The curriculum of GCC’s paramedic program meets the most recent national standard requirements for paramedic education and prepares you to take the National Registry certification examination. Paramedics go on to work with fire departments, ambulance services, hospital emergency departments and in other clinical settings where advanced emergency care skills are required. What's New? Paramedic is a health occupations program with a special admissions process and health requirements. You must submit a separate application to this program in addition to a general application for admission to GCC. Please review all criteria prior to applying! Apply to GCC Apply to the Program Download/Print an Info Packet Application open: September 1, 2026 - August 10, 2027 Application Process Applicants to this program must: Be 18 years old at the time of program enrollment Be a current or new GCC student New students — Submit a general GCC admission application and select Paramedic as your intended major; if accepted, you will be placed into Liberal Arts/PMC Intent (LIB) Current students — Submit a change of major form to Allied Health/PMC Intent (ALH) Have a minimum GPA of 2.0 (current students) Meet the English requirement by either: Successfully completing any college-level course at GCC (with a grade of C- or better) Submitting official transcripts of previous college coursework (with a grade of C- or better) Taking a placement assessment Be a currently certified EMT or AEMT Acceptable documentation includes current Massachusetts EMT or advanced licensure card; current NREMT basic or advance certification card; any other state basic or advanced EMT licensure card (e.g., CT, VT, NH) Have a minimum of 75 ambulance patient contacts Hold current CPR certification (American Heart Association Basic Life Support only) Submit official high school transcript or HiSET®/GED® transcript with graduation date Complete the Paramedic Certificate Program Application Requirements for Final Program Enrollment Informational meeting with program coordinator — Schedule after acceptance into the program All students are required to submit a current AHA BLS Provider CPR certification and NREMT, state EMT or advanced certification documentation at the time of application. Students must maintain CPR and EMT/advanced credential currency while in the program. The program accepts students on a rolling basis pending completion of specific admission criteria. Acceptance is contingent upon space availability. Program applications are accepted throughout the year until the program is full, but not after August 10 of each year. If applications exceed program capacity, a waiting list will be established. The waiting list will roll over to the next academic year; applicants need not reapply. Health Requirements All health occupations students must provide appropriate documentation of immunity as required by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Greenfield Community college and clinical practice sites. Requirements are subject to change at the discretion of clinical healthcare facilities. If requirements are updated during your time in the program, you are required to take the necessary steps to meet the new requirements and continue in the program. Forms for documentation can be found in your admission status portal upon acceptance and should be submitted only after you have been directed to do so by the Health Records Office. Health records can typically be obtained from your primary care provider's office. Most offices have a patient portal where you can print your immunization records and laboratory results. The print option produces the best version for a screenshot as the document must show your name and date of birth as well as a list of immunizations or blood test results with dates. Your immunization records may also be available from the Massachusetts Immunization Information System. All health records must include your name, date of birth (DOB), type of vaccine/test and date of vaccine/test and must be signed/labeled by a healthcare provider such as a pharmacy, clinic, healthcare provider's office, patient portal, school/college or state immunization system Laboratory test records must include the results COVID-19 and flu vaccination records must include the name of the site that administered each vaccine COVID-19 vaccination records must include the manufacturer (Pfizer, Moderna, etc.) of each dose Documents your receive prior to vaccination will NOT meet the criteria Payment receipts, consent forms and prescriptions will NOT be accepted as proof of vaccine administration Required Documentation Upload to your application status portal after acceptance to the program; refer to your status portal for forms and deadlines. Deadlines in your acceptance packet are strictly enforced; students who do not have these items completed by the posted dates will be replaced by students on the waiting list. Student Health Information Release Authorization for Health Occupations Students — This form allows the college to share your health records with clinical agencies if requested. Form must be signed and dated. Student Health History & Physical Exam Attestation — You must have a complete physical performed by your healthcare provider within a year of the deadline; form must include the date of the exam and be signed by the provider. CPR certification — American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) only Clinical Onboarding Information Form — Required by the clinical agencies for security onboarding purposes Respirator Medical Clearance Form — Must be completed and signed by your healthcare provider within a year of the deadline COVID-19 vaccination — At least an initial series OR one (1) dose received September 2022 or later is required. A dose of the most recent booster formula is strongly recommended, however the updated booster dose may be declined. If this requirement changes during your time in the program, you will be required to meet the updated requirement. Influenza (flu) — Seasonal vaccination required each fall. Meningococcal ACWY — Required only if you are 21 years old or younger; one Meningococcal C Conjugate vaccination on or after 16th birthday, OR a signed MDPH Meningococcal Information and Waiver form. Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) — One (1) vaccination within the past 10 years (must be the TDaP vaccine—the Td vaccine does NOT meet this requirement). Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) — Two (2) vaccinations at least 28 days apart OR positive IgG blood titers for measles, mumps and rubella. Varicella (chickenpox) — Two (2) vaccinations at least 28 days apart OR a positive IgG blood titer. Four-panel urine drug screen — Screening will occur between July 15 and August 15 of the year you begin the program. Annual tuberculosis (TB) screening — Choose one (1) of the following two methods. Students with a positive TB test result must submit a negative chest x-ray and a tuberculosis symptom questionnaire. Another TB test is required annually one year after initial test, and after any break from your clinical program where you went to a high-risk facility or traveled to an endemic area outside the United States. One (1) negative IGRA blood test (T-SPOT or QuantiFERON Gold) Two (2) negative skin tests (PPD/Mantoux) one-two weeks apart with documentation of the plant and read dates and induration reported in mm. Hepatitis B — Completion of a three-dose vaccination series OR a two-dose Heplisav-B series Positive hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) blood titer — See table; any titer result that is indeterminate or equivocal will be considered a negative result and you will need to be (re)vaccinated with a complete series of vaccinations per current standards for healthcare personnel. Titers are not recommended after two (2) vaccinations against MMR or varicella. Hepatitis B Schedules Vax Type 0 Month 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 4 Months 5 Months 6 Months 7 Months Original 3-dose infant schedule 1st dose 2nd dose 3rd dose This original series is typically given between birth and the first birthday. No titers are drawn until required by a college, employer or medical necessity. Therefore, get a titer as soon as possible while you search for your records. If it is positive you may be all set or able to decline vaccination. If negative you will need to be vaccinated over the next 2–6 months with ONE of the following: 2-dose series due to negative titer HeplisavB, HepB-CpG 1st dose 2nd dose Titer Repeating a 3-dose series due to negative titer EngerixB, Recombivax HB, Twinrix, PreHevbrio 4th dose Titer Positive: Stop here Negative: Complete the next 2 doses 5th dose 6th dose may be given 4 months after 4th IF it is also at least 2 months after the 5th 6th dose Titer If the titer is still negative after a second series of vaccinations you may be a non-responder. No further vaccinations are needed and you may continue in your program. Discuss the results with your healthcare provider to see if further testing is required and to be aware of your risk of exposure to hepatitis B and the precautions to follow in such an event. Technical Standards Program applicants must: Be ambulatory and able to lift, carry and balance up to 100 pounds Be in sufficient physical condition so as to be able to bend, stoop, balance and crawl on even and uneven terrain Have the ability to withstand varied environmental conditions such as extreme heat, extreme cold and moisture, at times under prolonged conditions Possess fine motor coordination and hand/eye/foot coordination required to perform technical and precise skills. Motor coordination may be defined as the ability to make a movement or response quickly and accurately Possess the visual acuity necessary to perform technical skills and to make precise discriminations Have sufficient verbal ability and auditory perception to be able to perform comprehensive patient assessment, management and transport Be able to effectively communicate with patients, bystanders and other health care providers. Communication involves speech, reading, writing, and awareness of emotional messages included in body language, tone and presentation. Have the emotional stability and maturity to exercise sound judgment while effectively completing patient care activities Occupational Risks Provision of emergency medical services poses inherent occupational risks for EMS responders. Risks include the following: Violence/assaults Verbal threats/aggression Motor vehicle crashes Infectious disease Lifting injuries Sprains and strains Psychological trauma Hazardous chemical exposure Hyper/hypothermia Program Costs Costs below are an estimate only based on the most recently available tuition and fee schedule; all costs are subject to change. Tuition & Fees Semester Tuition & Fees Program Fee Total Fall Year 1 (5 credits) $1,255 $735 $1990 Spring Year 1 (10 credits) $2,490 $666 $3,156 Summer I (8 credits) $1,996 $293 $2,289 Fall. Year 2 (4 credits) $968 $450 $1,530 January Year 2 (2 credits) $494 $405 $1145 Total $10,110 Additional Costs Malpractice insurance (per year)* $13 Clinical and field uniforms $175 Books and supplies $1,300 NREMT Cognitive Exam fee (if needed) $175 OEMS certification fee† $150 Remediation fee (if needed) $200-300 Health insurance (waivable)‡ $4,379 * Required of all students, collected in fall semester † Fee to practice in Massachusetts after certification; other state feeds will vary ‡ All students must have proof of health insurance; this is the cost to purchase through MyGCC Program Goal To prepare paramedics who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession Program Learning Outcomes Students completing a course of study in this program will be able to: Demonstrate the ability to gather information, assess a patient, develop and execute a treatment plan as a team leader relative to the role of an entry-level paramedic Conduct oneself in an ethical manner Conduct oneself in a professional manner Show proficiency in interpersonal relations and communication Integrate pathophysiologic concepts with assessment findings to develop a field impression and treatment plan for patients with both medical and traumatic emergencies Demonstrate technical proficiency in all of the skills necessary to fulfill the role of an entry-level Paramedic Use critical thinking skills to assess and treat patients in a variety of settings Communicate effectively through oral and written methods in a patient care setting Demonstrate preparedness proficiency to pass the National Registry Paramedic Level cognitive and psychomotor examinations Graduate Outcomes Graduation Year 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Enrolled 22 retention 25 retention 17 retention 20 retention 28 retention Completed 20 91% 21 84% 14 88% 17 85% 23 82% NREMT Cognitive pass rate pass rate pass rate pass rate pass rate Passed 1st attempt 13 65% 18 89% 10 71% 9 53% 19 83% Passed w/in 3 attempts 6 95% 2 95% 13 93% 6 88% 3 96% Passed w/in 6 attempts 0 1 100% 2 100% 1 100% Never passed 1 5% 1 5% Positive Placement 90% 91% 100% 100% 100% These are just examples of jobs that someone with a certificate in Paramedic might pursue. Our programs provide a solid foundation for many careers, but some paths may require additional education, or even a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Don’t worry! Our advisors are here to support you in planning your educational journey. This is an entry level course and is the first step in the EMS career ladder. As with most healthcare professions, a Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information Check (CORI) will be required for licensing by MA OEMS after successful completion of this course. If a student thinks there might be an issue for state licensing, the college may run and review a CORI based on individual student request. Upon successful completion of the course and with the instructor’s recommendation, students are eligible to take the NREMT-Basic certification exam and then work for private or fire-based ambulance services or volunteer-based emergency services. Please note, this is a very intensive course with a lot of required reading. Many students state that they spend at least 6 or more hours a week outside of class just on the reading assignments. Class meets in-person in the East Building of the GCC main campus on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6-10 p.m. and some Saturdays from 9 a.m-5 p.m. There is a 100% attendance policy and our curriculum meets the National Standard Curriculum requirements. EMT classes run in spring, fall and summer semesters. We only accept 30 students per semester. There is a separate health requirement if you choose to schedule the optional hospital emergency department observation and/or the optional ambulance ride-a-long shift. You can get the form from the instructor and submit it during the final three weeks of class. There are two ways to take the class—both options are acceptable for future entry into the GCC's paramedic certificate program: Option 1: As a six-credit college class (EMS 101) if you are interested in obtaining college credits. Approximate cost is $1,400 plus books (~ $150) and certification fees.* Please contact the Office of Admission to register. If you are not already a GCC student, you will need to take the English placement test. If you have college-level English, will need to provide transcripts to GCC. When you take the class for college credits you may be eligible for financial aid or free community college. Enroll in EMS 101 (Credit) Option 2: As a non-credit class (EMH 310). Cost is $1500 plus books (~ $150) and certification fees.* You do not need to apply to be a student at GCC or take the English placement test, but financial aid is not available for this option. Most students who select this option already have a college degree. Enroll in EMT Basic (Non-Credit) Massachusetts Regulations-105 CMR 170.910: Initial Certification Be 18 years of age or older Be free of any physical or mental disability or disease which could reasonably be expected to impair the ability to be an EMT, or which could reasonably be expected to jeopardize the health and safety of the patient Meet the training requirements applicable to the level of certification for which the person is applying, as specified in 105 CMR 170.800 Successfully complete a Department-approved psychomotor examination (meeting the requirements of the NREMT) and the NREMT cognitive computer-based examination; and obtain NREMT certification * Additional certification fees $80 fee to be paid to GCC for the NREMT psychomotor exam (we hold the psychomotor certification exam here at GCC for our students) A $104 fee to be paid to the NREMT for certification; your first attempt at the computerized cognitive exam is covered by GCC (this fee is for any additional attempts to pass if needed, max of of six (6) attempts to pass). Once you have successfully completed your NREMT computerized cognitive exam and GCC psychomotor exam and are a Nationally Certified EMT (NREMT), you will then need to contact the state office of EMS in any state you plan to practice in and obtain that individual state’s license/certification. In Massachusetts the application fee is $150.