A statewide paramedic shortage is part of the driving force behind the new Direct to Paramedic program being offered this fall at NW-SCC.

By Alison James

alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

Northwest-Shoals Community College Emergency Medical Services will offer a new pilot program known as Direct to Paramedic beginning with the 2015 fall semester.

The new program, offered by the State, will allow students to bypass Emergency Medical Technician and Advanced EMT classes. Students entering the Direct to Paramedic program should have all general education requirements for their associate in the EMS degree plan.

“These students some in with an academic background of already having their academic core work done for their associates degree,” explained Mark Simpson, EMS program director and chairperson of the health studies division at NW-SCC. Simpson said offering this program simplifies the process, making it easier to get those who are interested into the workforce to combat a paramedic shortage the state is facing.

EMS instructor Chris DeMorse said about 10 people have sign up for the Direct to Paramedic program, which is “about what we were expecting – really the class size we wanted,” he said. DeMorse said he thinks that, at least for some, interest in becoming a paramedic was spurred by the availability of the Direct to Paramedic course.

NW-SCC is one of three community colleges in the state to undertake the program, and DeMorse said they will take the successfulness and viability of the program into account when deciding whether to continue to offer it to future students.

“I think it’s something that will continue. It will depend on the success of the national certification exam and how they do on it,” DeMorse said.

The courses are being offered at the Shoals campus.

Anyone who is interested or would like more information about the new pilot program can contact the NW-SCC EMS Program at 256-331-5436.