School of EMT | Paramedic

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Overview

Paramedics are health professionals whose primary focus is to respond to, assess, and triage emergent, urgent, and nonurgent requests for medical care. They apply the basic and advanced knowledge and skills necessary to determine patient physiological, psychological, and psychosocial needs; administer medications; interpret and use diagnostic findings to implement treatment; provide complex patient care; and facilitate referrals and/or access to a higher level of care when the need of the patient exceeds the capability level of the paramedic. Paramedics often serve as patient care team members in hospitals or other healthcare settings to the full extent of their education, certification, licensure, and credentialing. Paramedics may work in community settings where they take on additional responsibilities, monitoring and evaluating the needs of at-risk patients, as well as intervening to mitigate conditions that could lead to poor outcomes. Additionally, they help educate patients and the public in the prevention and/or management of medical, health, psychological, and safety issues.

Paramedics commonly facilitate medical decisions at an emergency scene and during transport. They work in a variety of specialty care settings, including, but not limited to, ground and air ambulances, occupational, hospital, and community settings. Academic preparation enables paramedics to use a wide range of pharmacology, airway, and monitoring devices as well as critical thinking skills to make complex judgments, such as the need for transport from a field site, alternate destination decisions, the level of personnel appropriate for transporting a patient, and similar judgments.

The program is sanctioned by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Preparedness, EMS, and Systems of Care as an EMS Education Program Sponsor.

The paramedic program at the School of Emergency Medical Technology prepares highly educated, entry-level paramedics in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains of pre-hospital emergency medicine.

Beyond the Paramedic Program

The paramedic education program at the School of Emergency Medical Technology (SEMT) is a certificate program upon successful completion.

Students interested in pursuing a degree may find opportunities in several areas of interest, including but not limited to:

  • EMS Administration
  • Fire Science
  • Law Enforcement
  • Emergency Management

Medical Directors

Program Director

Program Sponsor Representative

SEMT Goals, Mission & Philosophy

It is the goal of the SEMT to prepare students in any EMS education programs who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.

The mission and philosophy of the program are fulfilled through program outcomes. Since emergency medicine is a practice discipline, the outcomes reflect what the student will be able to do. At the completion of the program, the SEMT student will:

  • Synthesize knowledge from the arts, sciences, and humanities with EMS theory as the basis for making EMS practice decisions.
  • Utilize critical thinking in using the EMS process to assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate the care provided to individuals and families in a variety of settings.
  • Apply prehospital EMS life support theory to design, implement and evaluate therapeutic interventions to promote and/or maintain healthy outcomes for individuals and families with complex healthcare needs.
  • Utilize a variety of communication techniques in the application of prehospital EMS life support to establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with clients.
  • Develop and implement a variety of teaching-learning strategies in providing health teaching for individuals, families, and groups in a variety of settings within the pre-hospital environment.
  • Utilize current research findings through evidence-based practice to improve prehospital EMS life support care delivery.
  • Use leadership, management, and collaborative skills as a member of a multidisciplinary team within the healthcare delivery system to develop, implement, and evaluate healthcare provided to clients.
  • Exercise independent judgment and ethical decision-making, and act as an advocate for consumers of healthcare services.
  • Demonstrate accountability in learning and in prehospital EMS life support actions, based on accepted standards of prehospital care and in accordance with standards of professional prehospital practice.

Accreditation & Sponsorship

The UP Health System Marquette School of Emergency Medical Technology Paramedic program has a site visit scheduled for pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (www.caahep.org). This step in the process is neither a status of accreditation nor a guarantee that accreditation will be granted. This letter is NOT a CAAHEP accreditation status, it is a status signifying that a program seeking initial accreditation has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the accreditation standards through the Letter of Review Self Study Report (LSSR) and other documentation. LSSR is recognized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) for eligibility to take the National Registry's Paramedic credentialing examination(s). However, it is NOT a guarantee of eventual accreditation.

Graduate information for EMT, AEMT, and Paramedic (2024, 2025)

Statistics to follow later due to issues with website access.

For more information, please visit or call: 

Our program is approved for EMS Initial & Continuing Education Sponsorship through the paramedic level with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, EMS, and Systems of Care under Sponsorship Number: P23-1250. Please visit or call for more information:

MDHHS Emergency Bureau of Preparedness, EMS, and Systems of Care

National Registry Certification Pass Rates for Paramedic 2024: Overall Pass Rates: 83%, First Attempt Pass Rates:  59%
Paramedic Program Graduation Outcomes 2024: 80%
Positive Job Placement in 2024: 94%

Graduate Information

  • NREMT Overall Pass rate for 2024 Paramedic: 94%
  • First Attempt Pass rate for 2024 Paramedic: 88%
  • Paramedic Program Graduation Outcomes for 2024: 80%
  • Positive Job Placement for 2024: 94%

Program Information

The paramedic program duration is approximately 15 months over four consecutive terms.

Program Course Requirements

Term 1                                                                                            Semester Hours

  1. Foundations of Paramedicine                                                           8
  2. Concepts of Airway & Respiratory Medicine                                  2
  3. Patient Assessment in Emergency Situations                               3
  4. EMS Practicum 1                                                                                   8

Term 2                                                                                            Semester Hours

  1. Medical Emergencies                                                                         12
  2. Special Patient Populations                                                               4
  3. Paramedic Practicum 2                                                                       8

Term 3                                                                                            Semester Hours

  1. Traumatic Injury Management                                                          8
  2. Paramedic Practicum 3                                                                       8

Term 4                                                                                            Semester Hours

  1. EMS Operations                                                                                    4
  2. Professional Development Seminar                                                4
  3. Paramedic Capstone                                                                            8


Paramedic Technical Position Requirements

STANDARD ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES/TASKS (not all inclusive)
 
Critical thinking ability is sufficient for clinical judgment and decision-making.
  • Understand and apply an extensive variety of complex technical and instructional materials.
  • Use relevant data to support the decision-making process.
  • Identify priorities of care based on analysis of data.
  • Make accurate, independent judgements and assumptions to determine a plan of care within the scope of practice appropriate to the level of provider licensure, while following oral or written directives.
  • Evaluate the plan of care and revise as appropriate.
  • Use critical thinking to solve problems and make valid, rational decisions using logic, creativity and reasoning that are ethically sound and legally defensible.
Interpersonal abilities are sufficient to interact with individuals, families and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.
  • Establish rapport with clients and colleagues through speech, touch, and hearing.
  • Work effectively in small groups as team members and/or as a leader.
  • Deliver respectful, culturally sensitive care to diverse populations while upholding patient dignity and privacy.
  • Practice therapeutic (non-harmful) communication using speech, hearing, and judgment of appropriate responses.
  • Coordinate with firefighters, police, and receiving hospital staff to ensure seamless patient transfer.
 
Communication abilities are sufficient for interaction with others in verbal, nonverbal, and written form.
  • De-escalate nervous or hostile patients and family members by explaining procedures, providing reassurance, and practicing active listening.
  • Communicate pertinent information in the English language both verbally and in writing to appropriate persons.
  • Document data and care completely and accurately using appropriate terminology.
  • Provide health teaching for clients, families and groups.
  • Rapidly read, understand, analyze, apply, and act on work-related written messaging, assessments, policies, procedures, forms, publications, and regulations in a time-sensitive manner, where there is no extended time or alternate accommodation for receiving, processing, or deliberating the content. This also includes reading and discerning street names or business addresses.
  • Write factual, accurate, complete, and timely reports and business
    correspondence that includes all relevant data.
  • Author a detailed narrative relative to extenuating circumstances or conditions that go beyond what is included on a standardized form or electronic template as appropriate.
  • Ability to use various communication formats to give a concise and accurate
    verbal description of a patient’s condition to dispatch, supervisory personnel and/or online medical direction as needed.
Mathematical skills are adequate for the practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios and proportion, and measurement.
  • Accurately add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure (including metric) using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals; estimate patient weights in kg; convert centigrade and Fahrenheit scales, determine age from date of birth; calculate drug doses; draw up the exact amount of drug for each patient from original packaging, and administer fluids and/or drugs over time intervals and routes.
  • Paramedic providers are legally accountable and responsible for maintaining Class I Medications (narcotics) and must keep an accurate count and inventory of such items.
Gross and fine motor abilities are sufficient to provide safe and effective care.
  • Calibrate and use equipment such as reading numbers on measuring cups, syringes and adjusting flow rates with oxygen equipment.
  • Maintain sterile technique when performing sterile procedures.
  • Hold skin taunt with one hand while inserting the needle in the skin or vein with the other hand and perform other procedures requiring the use of two hands.
  • Maintain immobilization devices such as traction equipment and feel for heat or wetness.
  • Have good eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity to manipulate equipment, instrumentation, and medication appropriately.
  • Perform therapeutic interventions (example- perform needle thoracostomy).
Environmental
  • Be exposed to infectious agents, chemicals, medications, blood and body fluids and communicable diseases.
  • Work in environmental temperatures determined by the patient and/or the patient's condition.
  • Be able to perform duties in potentially dangerous situations.
Auditory abilities are sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.
  • Be able to hear alarms, emergency signals, cries for help, and answer phones
  • Distinguish changes in tone and pitch, such as in listening to patients' breathing characteristics.
  • Able to hear and interpret communication in stressful situations, such as when more than one person is talking at a time, or when they are talking in a loud voice.
Psychological, social, and emotional skills are sufficient to manage unpredictable, high-stress situations.
  • Able to handle sensitive situations and keep confidential information in compliance with privacy laws, rules, and guidelines.
  • Adaptability to be able to meet the demands of uncertain, complex,
    ambiguous or potentially volatile situations.
  • Possess self-confidence, the ability to self-regulate, above average emotional and social intelligence.
  • Ability to display integrity, fair-mindedness, courage, empathy, and respect
    for autonomy and perseverance.
  • Resilience to cope with stress, grief and loss, and the ability to maintain self-care while caring for others.
Physical abilities are sufficient to move from room to room, maneuver in small spaces, and accommodate stairwell when necessary.
  • Provide or assist with activities of daily living such as bed bath, oral hygiene, and positioning patients.
  • Lift and carry customary EMS equipment without weight restriction and safely move over rugged, uneven terrain, up and down stairs, in and out of tight spaces and vehicles.
  • Safely lift and move patients of all sizes with adequate partners from the
    scene location to the final disposition location (lift 125 lbs. independently or 250 lbs. with assistance).
  • Possess sufficient strength, stamina, endurance and conditioning to stand, walk, run, crawl, squat, bend, kneel, climb stairs, lift, pull, push, balance, and
    carry patients/EMS supplies and equipment in all environments.
  • Perform at least two minutes of uninterrupted, high-quality, manual CPR with two-minute breaks between compression sets for at least thirty minutes.
Visual abilities sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in EMS care.
  • Read numbers on dials, thermometers, gauges, measuring cups, etc.
  • Corrected vision to 20/30 in at least one eye with color discrimination for red, amber, and green and the ability to differentiate different skin colors as well as the color of various body fluids. Distinguish alterations in normal body activities such as breathing patterns, level of consciousness or changes in color, size, and continuity of body parts.
  • Observe safely features in the environment, such as water on the floor, obstacles in the path of the patient.
  • Observe nonverbal responses of patients, families or coworkers
  • Read the small print.
  • Perform basic EMS skills (such as counting respirations, preparing and giving medications)
Demonstrate accountability and responsibility in all aspects of practice.
  • Able to distinguish right from wrong, legal from illegal and act accordingly.
  • Accept responsibility for one's own actions
  • Able to comprehend ethical standards and agree to abide by them.
  • Demonstrate flexibility.
  • Show concern and respect for others.


Estimated Costs of Attending per student

Program Tuition Fees                                   $12,000.00
Program Textbooks                                      $1000.00
LMS Platform                                                $250.00
Testing & Skills Tracker Platform $            $200.00
Uniforms                                                         $150.00
Fit for Duty Physical                                     $100.00
Vaccinations                                                   $500.00
TB Screening                                                  $100.00
Criminal Background Check                        $100.00
10-Panel Drug Screening                            $80.00

Total Estimated Costs                                   $14, 480.00


Enrollment is now open.

UP Health System – Marquette School of Emergency Medical Technology Application

Applicants who meet the following criteria will be fully considered on an individual basis for admission.

  • Must be 18 years of age.
  • Must be an EMT upon admission (Paramedic and CIP Programs ONLY).
  • Licensure as an EMT in the State of Michigan.
  • Must have a high school diploma or GED certificate—students requiring assistance in attaining this requirement can locate the contact person for Region 1: Adult Education Programs offered through the Michigan Workforce Development Agency here.
  • Valid, government-issued ID.
  • Must be capable of meeting the Essential Requirements for the profession of Emergency Medical Services.
  • You may be asked to complete a personal interview with an admissions committee.
  • Must have reliable internet and email access throughout the program.
  • Must provide completed School of EMT forms required for admission and clinical.
  • Required to submit to a Criminal Background Check based on the applicant’s social security number—with acceptable results—to continue in the program upon receipt of the results by the School of EMT. (Results of a Background Check that are consistent with felony or misdemeanor convictions as identified in MCL 400.701 to 400.737, including 34(b) and 34(c), may result in disqualification for participation in the education program.)
  • Must submit an approved UPHS Drug Screen at your own expense with acceptable results to continue in the program upon receipt of the results by the School within 30 days of the course start date. You are also required to provide the results of the completed 10-panel UP Health System Drug Screen to the SEMT to be maintained as part of any current student’s active file. (Please call Occupational Medicine at 906.449.1140 to schedule.)
  • Course participation requires the submission for verification of completion to the SEMT official documentation of the following vaccinations/health examinations (positive titer will be accepted if vaccination records are not available). Any vaccinations that may be required by the student must be initialized before completion of any clinical time. Waivers of any vaccinations will be considered for religious or medical reasons with facility documentation.

Applicant must submit proof of the following to the School of EMT:

  • Hepatitis B Vaccination
  • TB Testing
  • Two completed TB tests or chest x-rays from an approved public health source; provide proof of annual testing for each year enrolled in any EMS Education Program. The student must provide proof of these requirements that will remain current (within one year of the last day of the course).
  • MMR Vaccination
  • Varicella Vaccination
  • SEMT Health Examination Report

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

EMS Education Course Application