Exclusively for Career Firefighter/EMTs
The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences Paramedic Program is currently open only to career firefighter/EMTs who are sponsored by their respective EMS jurisdiction and is designed to address the critical shortage of prehospital Advanced Level healthcare providers in the national capital region. . Designed to advance EMTs into highly skilled paramedic clinicians, this academy-style, 11.5-month intensive program provides rigorous training to ensure graduates are fully prepared for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Paramedic Certification Exam and ready to deliver high-level prehospital care.
Comprehensive Educational Approach
Our curriculum is built on a multi-faceted educational model that includes:
- Traditional Didactic Instruction – In-depth classroom learning with expert faculty
- Hands-On Skills Labs – High-fidelity simulation and procedural training
- Problem-Based Learning – Real-world scenarios to develop critical thinking
- Regional Clinical Rotations – Experience at top healthcare institutions
- Field Internships & Capstone – EMS preceptorship for real-world application
Clinical Rotations at Leading Healthcare Institutions
Students gain hands-on experience at GW Hospital, United Medical Center, and Children’s National Hospital, rotating through key specialties, including:
- Emergency Medicine & Anesthesia – Patient assessment & airway management
- Trauma Surgery & Critical Care – Managing life-threatening injuries
- Obstetrics & Neonatal Care – Labor & delivery, newborn resuscitation
- Pediatrics & Psychiatry – Specialized care for pediatric and behavioral health patients
Core Courses & Training Modules
- Preparatory Course – EMS systems, public health, legal/ethical issues, documentation
- Human Body, Systems & Patient Assessment – Anatomy, physiology, and critical thinking
- Pharmacology – Drug calculations, vascular access, emergency medication administration
- Airway Management – Non-invasive & invasive techniques, medications, and airway devices
- Cardiology – Cardiovascular pathophysiology, ECG interpretation, and cardiac emergencies
- Medical Emergencies – Neurologic, ENT, gastrointestinal, renal, endocrine, and immune disorders
- Trauma Management – Mechanism of injury, burns, head/spine trauma, orthopedic injuries
- Shock & Resuscitation – Managing critically ill patients and field code responses
- Pediatric & OB-GYN Emergencies – Neonatal care, pediatric shock, uterine rupture
- Operations & Disaster Management – Incident response, mass casualty, hazardous materials
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) – Critical cardiac emergency interventions
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) – Specialized pediatric resuscitation techniques
- Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) – Advanced trauma management in prehospital settings
- Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS) – Comprehensive assessment and treatment of medical emergencies
Field Internships & Capstone Experience
- Field EMS Experience – Students assess and manage patients in prehospital settings
- Paramedic Capstone Preceptorship – Hands-on EMS internship with partner agencies
- Team Leadership Development – Students transition into leadership roles in the field
Program Excellence & Accreditation
- 96% Graduation Rate – Proven student success
- All graduates employed by regional EMS agencies
- CoAEMSP Letter of Review & NREMT Recognized (Program #4012P)
- Upcoming Cohorts: May 2025 & November 2025