RN to Paramedic Bridge

Program Description/Purpose: 

This RN to Paramedic bridge curriculum does not involve a certificate or degree and is non-transferable. Applicants to the RN to Paramedic program must be:

• Currently licensed in Virginia as a Registered Nurse.
• Currently participating as an active EMS field provider or actively working as an RN (the term “active” as used above for both the field provider and RN is defined as a minimum average of eight (8) hours a week over the two previous years or a total of eight hundred thirty-two (832) hours within the previous two years (8 hours/wk X 2 years = 832 hours).

Accreditation Status: The EMS program at Laurel Ridge Community College is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Virginia Office of EMS.

Admission Requirements

1. Satisfy admission requirements for Laurel Ridge Community College.
2. Be at least 18 at the start of the program.
3. High School graduate or GED.
4. Laurel Ridge Community College placement test and completion of any developmental work that may be identified by the placement test.  Must show competency in MDE 10  or eligibility for MTH 154  and readiness for ENG 111  to satisfy requirements without taking remediation.
5. Attend a mandatory EMS orientation session prior to the start of the fall semester.
6. Meet the requirements listed in the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Service document “Prerequisites for EMS Training Programs, Criminal History and Standards of Conduct”.
7. Current Virginia or National Registry EMT-Intermediate certification or higher (must remain current for the duration of the program) or completion of the EMT-Intermediate curriculum.
8. Completion of BIO 145  or equivalent (BIO 141  and BIO 142 ).
9. Current Healthcare Provider CPR Certification or other CPR card accepted by the Commonwealth of VA Office of EMS (must remain current for the duration of the program).
10. No physical limitations rendering the student unfit to perform all required duties.
11. To complete the Clinical and Field Internship portions of the program, submit results of a physical exam completed within the last 12 months as proof of immunizations or resistance to measles, mumps, rubella, Tdap, polio, Hepatitis B vaccination, and TB skin test within the last 12 months. If PPD is positive, submit results of chest x-ray showing negative for active TB.
12. Residents from outside the Laurel Ridge Community College service area are admitted only after all applicants residing in the College service area have been considered.
13. Completion of criminal background search, fingerprinting, and drug screening as required and to the satisfaction of affiliating clinical agencies.

Courses are displayed under the semester in which they are regularly offered and are recommended to be taken in this sequence to ensure timely graduation. It is possible that a course shown in a particular semester may not be offered due to low enrollment or other factors.