RN to Paramedic Program

Program Description/Purpose: The RN to Paramedic program curriculum is designed to develop the competencies needed to prepare current registered nurses to achieve National Registry Paramedic Certification and to function as a Paramedic in the community.   

Coursework aligns with the Paramedic certificate, and registered nurses may receive credit for prior learning to earn the credits remaining for the certificate.  

Occupational Outcomes: To serve the community with advanced life support care via the National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards (NEMSES). 

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. Currently licensed in Virginia as a Registered Nurse.
2. 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).
3. Completion of BIO 145  or equivalent (BIO 141  and BIO 142 ). Class may be taken concurrently with the Paramedic program
4. Satisfy admission requirements for Laurel Ridge Community College.
5. Be at least 18 at the start of the program.
6. High School graduate or GED.
7. Completion of all developmental work identified by the college placement. 
8. Attend a mandatory EMS orientation session prior to the start of the fall semester.
9. Meet the requirements listed in the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Service document “Prerequisites for EMS Training Programs, Criminal History and Standards of Conduct”.
10. Current Virginia or National Registry EMT-Basic
11. Current Healthcare Provider CPR Certification or other CPR card accepted by the Commonwealth of VA Office of EMS
12. No physical limitations rendering the student unfit to perform all required duties.
13. Submit results of a physical exam completed within the last 12 months as ​proof of immunizations or resistance to measles, mumps, rubella, Tdap, polio, Covid, Hepatitis B, and a TB skin test within the last 12 months. If PPD is positive, submit results of chest x-ray showing negative for active TB.
14. Complete a national background check, including fingerprinting and drug screen, with no record of any sexual crime and at least five years past the final release of any felony or drug-related convictions.
15. Must be a current Virginia or NREMT EMT and maintain their EMT certification throughout the training. RN’s seeking this option must contact the Virginia Office of EMS to “challenge” the EMT  exam unless they are currently certified as an EMT. Students must also have current AHA ACLS certification to be eligible for the National Registry Paramedic Exam (NREMT).

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.