More and more people are currently joining the medical profession as EMT’s and paramedics. If you would like to know how to become a paramedic in North Carolina, and get involved in emergency medical care and intervention, first check out the characteristics of people who become successful paramedics below.
Characteristics of a paramedic
- Be compassionate and ready to serve others
- Have excellent listening abilities
- Pay attention to detail
- Be a strong individual
- Be prepared to handle all sorts of situations
- Be a problem solver
- Have good communication skills
How to become a paramedic in North Carolina – Important Requirements
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You must be a high school graduate or have a GED.
- You should have completed an EMT – basic course and be certified
- You should have proper CPR certification
- All your immunizations should be up to date as part of the training will involve hospital experience
- You should have had a criminal background check and drug screening done
- You should be in excellent physical health
How to become a paramedic in North Carolina – Next Steps
- Get first responder training certification, e.g. EMT-basic which includes guidelines in anatomy, physiology, and advanced medical abilities.
- After you finish the course, you will need to complete an internship for a specified number of hours in an ambulance, emergency room or fire department.
- Ensure that you comply
with state requirements. For example, physiology and anatomy coursework (either
as a pre-requisite or co-requisite) must meet the standards of the North
Carolina Community College System Continuing Education Master Course List.
State requirements include:
- A minimum level of proficiency in academic subjects
- Post-secondary level reading and writing ability
- 596 hours of didactic coursework that includes practical and written evaluation and remediation
- 200 hours for the clinical component
- 300 hours of field experience
Examination Process
- Practical testing is a crucial component of the North Carolina Education program. A paramedic can be credentialed on the basis of a practical evaluation, even before doing a written assessment.
- After certification, the paramedic can do a North Carolina state-constructed written examination.
Application Process
- In the state of North Carolina, the education, examination and application process are closely intertwined, especially for those who choose to study there.
- On completing the course and evaluations, the applicant’s data is entered into the online Credentialing Information System (CIS).
- For applicants who have not lived in the state for five years, a fingerprint-based background check is required.
- Finally, after you have been certified as a paramedic in North Carolina, you can then apply to the National Registry of EMT’s (NREMT) for countrywide accreditation. This qualification gives you wider flexibility in case you decide to transfer to another state.
Now that you now know how
to become a paramedic in North Carolina, go ahead and start the process, and become
part of the noble task of saving lives!