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