Admissions

This page details admission requirements and procedures for the Paramedic Studies program. The Emergency Medical Technician program is a certificate program and does not require separate admission.

The requirements, procedures, and application dates are subject to change. It is the responsibility of each student to seek up-to-date information. It is also the responsibility of any student interested in the paramedic program to schedule an appointment as soon as possible with the Health Sciences counselor.

Procedures for Applying

In keeping with the standard in the State of California, the Paramedic Studies program offers two tracks: certification as a paramedic with or without an Associate of Science degree. For those students who choose the associate degree option, additional courses satisfying general education requirements are required. Interested students will find complete information under "Degrees, Programs, and Transfer Information" in the Ventura College Catalog and should also consult the Health Sciences counselor.

Applications will be accepted on an on-going basis. Admission is subject to available openings. The application deadline is available through the Health Sciences counselor or the Department. Go to Health Sciences Home for Department contact information.

All applicants must submit:

Application to the paramedic program
All required official transcripts
Application the College (new students only)

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Qualifying Requirements

One of the following must be completed before applying to the program:
1. High school graduation and GPA of 2.5; or,
2. General Education Development (GED) with a score of 45 and a minimum of 12 semester units of completed college coursework with a 2.25 GPA; or,
3. High school graduate with less than a 2.5 GPA and a minimum of 12 semester units of completed college coursework with a GPA of 2.25.
All of the following must be completed:
1. All official high school and college transcripts must be on file at Ventura College.
2. Application must be made to the health sciences department with a choice of options to enroll in the associate degree paramedic program or the paramedic certificate program.
3. An application to the College must be filed for the appropriate semester.
4. It is the applicant's responsibility to check with the transcript clerk in the Office of Admissions and Records to see that his/her official transcripts are on file at Ventura College.
All of the following must be completed before applying to the program. Ventura College courses, listed with the Moorpark (MC) and Oxnard (OC) equivalents, are:
1. Anatomy/Physiology: college anatomy and physiology, 5- semester-unit course with laboratory, with a minimum grade of C: either ANPH V01 or both ANAT V01 and PHSO V01 (either ANPH M01-M01L or both ANAT M01 and PHSO M01–MC; ANAT R100-R100L and PHSO R100- R100L–OC).
2. Math: satisfactory score on Ventura College elementary algebra placement test or completion of introductory college math course with a minimum grade of C: MATH V01 or both MATH V11A & V11B or MATH V30 (MATH M01– MC; MATH R011–OC).
3. English: satisfactory score on Ventura College reading/ written English placement test or completion of college English composition course with a minimum grade of C: ENGL V01A or V02A (ENGL M01A or MO1AH or M02 or ESL M33–MC; ENGL R096 or R101–OC).
4. Current certification for CPR as a health care provider or professional rescuer.
The student must show documentation of current EMT-I or EMT-basic certification and six months of full time experience (defined as 1000 hours) with a primary "911" provider with emphasis on pre-hospital field care within the last 12 months. Equivalent experience will be considered. EMT certification must remain current throughout the program.

Students must be in good academic standing (not on academic probation) to be eligible for application to the associate degree or certificate program for paramedics. All applicants must contact the health sciences counselor for specific admission information regarding the paramedic programs.

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Admission Process

Qualified applicants will be placed on a waiting list on a firstcome, first-served basis. The class will be selected on the basis of available openings and qualified applicants will be notified when a space is available. Each qualified applicant, when selected, must decide either to enter the class or remove his/her name from the eligibility list. Those qualified applicants who are not selected due to limited openings may retain their names (in the order applications were received) on a waiting list.

Those applicants then have priority for admission to the next class selected. Students who choose not to enter when selected must reapply and receive a new random number assignment. Applicants may defer entry one time only.

Students are expected to pass a physical examination consistent with the policies of the teaching hospitals or agencies to which they are assigned for clinical experience. Physical exams are to be scheduled with a private physician or through the Student Health Center and recorded on the department form. The examination must demonstrate that the student is physically fit, free from communicable diseases and immune to rubella, rubeola and varicella. Diptheria-tetanus vaccine within the past ten years is required. The hepatitis B vaccine series is required.

All students admitted to a health science program are expected to maintain the highest personal standards of conduct consistent with the professional standards as perceived by health science faculty and professional personnel in the agencies used as extended campus sites. Any information indicating that such standards are not maintained is subject to review by members of the health science faculty and may result in a recommendation to the College for dismissal from the program.

Evidence of physical and emotional fitness upon admission and throughout the program is expected and is subject to medical opinion of the college physician and to medical opinion or policy of hospitals or agencies which are used as extended campus sites for assigned educational experiences.

Malpractice insurance must be carried and is part of the registration fee. Hospital and internship rotations will be assigned as space is available. This may result in extension of program timeframe.

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