Iowa Western Community College

• Copy of current Iowa EMT or (AEMT) certification
• Copy of Copy of American Heart Association (AHA) BLS Provider Card
  • We Offer CPR Classes! More Information
• 18 Years of Age Upon Enrollment
• Proficient in the English Language
  • We Offer ESL Classes! More Information
• Physically Able to Perform Paramedic Functions (Lifting, Carrying, etc.)
• Proof of High School Diploma or GED
  • You Can Achieve Your GED with us! More Information
• Documentation of Current Vaccinations and Immunizations including (2) Two-Step Tuberculin Skin Tests*
• Students will be required to complete a physical with the provider of their choice
• Criminal Background Check
• Receive Formal Acceptance into Program

*(2) Two-step tuberculin Skin Tests must be completed within 12 months prior to the class start date (One week’s time is required between first and second skin tests. Tests are performed by the healthcare provider of your choice

EMS Paramedic Application & Required Documentation

• EMS Paramedic Application
• EMS Background Check
• EMT Immunization Form
• Student Health and Immunization Record

Please scan and email OR hand deliver copies of your Iowa EMT or AEMT certification, BLS Provider Card, High School Diploma or GED, Completed Criminal Background Check (must be signed; no digital signature will be accepted), Current Vaccinations and Immunizations, 2-step Tuberculin Skin Tests, and Physical exam. If scanning and emailing these documents, please email them to zrasmussen@iwcc.edu. If hand delivering, please deliver to the Continuing Education Offices in Looft Hall.

Supplies Needed

• Blue IWCC EMS Paramedic Student Polo
  • Polo is REQUIRED for clinical and field internship; t-shirts are also available for student purchase, but can ONLY be worn to class
• Stethoscope
• Black or Navy Pants with Belt Loops
• Black Shoes or Boots
• Watch with Second-Hand Capability
• Computer

Students MUST purchase the blue IWCC EMS Paramedic Student polo from Great Plains Uniforms in Omaha, Nebraska. Students can purchase their stethoscope, pants, boots, and belt from Great Plains, but can also be purchased from another location as long as they meet the requirements listed. Price List for Great Plains Uniform

2020 Outcomes

National Registry Pass Rates 77.8%
Retention Rate 100%
Positive Placement 77.8%
*Faculty meet monthly to review outcomes

2021 Outcomes

National Registry Pass Rates 66.7%
Retention Rate 81.8%
Positive Placement 0%*
*Due to massive changes in program administration during the 2020-2021 paramedic cohort, some paperwork was not completed. The current administration that arrived in 2021 has ensured that all classes moving forward complete the proper paperwork that is required. This process has been initiated with the 2021-2022 paramedic cohort.

*Changes have been made to the paramedic program that has seen a drastic increase in pass rates for the 2021-2022 paramedic cohort. Further details to come in 2024.

2022 Outcomes

National Registry Pass Rate: 73.3%
Retention Rate: 94.1%
Positive Placement: 87.5%

Paramedics provide the highest level of pre-hospital emergency care. This individual possesses the complex knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation.

Paramedics provide advanced care in a variety of settings. Utilizing critical thinking skills, paramedics rapidly assess, treat and stabilize injured or ill patients and provide transport to or between hospitals. Settings may include ground and air ambulances, emergency departments, critical care units, or cardiac cath labs. Along with advanced assessment techniques, paramedics utilize medications, cardiac monitoring and interpreting, defibrillation, and advanced invasive skills as guided by state and local protocols, as well as the medical direction of each service. They perform interventions with the basic and advanced equipment typically found in an ambulance and emergency rooms.

The Paramedic program follows the current National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The standards prepare the EMT and AEMT for the more advanced scope of practice of the paramedic.

Every student must have a working knowledge of computers. These skills should minimally include keyboard functions, access to and the use of email, the use of Word and PowerPoint, creating/saving/sharing files, copy/paste functions, and the use of a flash drive. Students will be required to have daily access to a computer with Internet access fast enough to stream videos without interruption (dial-up connection will not be sufficient).

Students should plan on attending 12 hours of internship each week throughout the program to be complete and ready to test for certification at the end of the program.

Students will also obtain certifications in:

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)

This Paramedic Program is intense and attendance in both the Zoom sessions and face-to-face labs will be essential to a successful outcome. The entire course (didactic, laboratory, clinical, field, and capstone field internship) will be completed in 40 weeks.

Accreditation

The Iowa Western Community College Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org

To contact CoAEMSP:
214-703-8445
www.coaemsp.org

Staff Information

Dr. Samantha Lord

Medical Director
slord@iwcc.edu

Zach Rasmussen

Program Director
712-325-3446
zrasmussen@iwcc.edu

Frank Daniels

Lead Instructor
712-325-3359
fdaniels@iwcc.edu