Any recommended Paramedic schools in the Sacramento area?

[HereToLearn]

I might be moving up there and just wanted to get some feedback from this forum about any recommendations you would have for Paramedic programs in the area? I'm also going to be looking for an EMT job in the area. So any recommendations of companies to check out would be greatly appreciated!


Before anyone blurts this out, this isn't the only research I doing on schools or jobs. Just throwing it out there to the forum to see what recommendations I might find.

Anyway, stay safe. B)

 

[Akulahawk]

Out here in Sacramento, I'd have to say that your two major choices are NCTI and American River College. Of those two, I'd recommend ARC.

They require approximately 1 year of EMT experience, either an intro to A&P (4 unit course) or a full year of A&P (8 units total), and a Medical Dosages Calculations course. I suspect that they prefer the full year...

Their program is limited in class size, so they will likely choose from random drawing the folks that will attend. For selection purposes, I suspect that they give equal weight to the A&P courses, but in practice, I get the impression that they prefer the full year.

As a bonus, by completing your LDGE requirements along with doing the program, you earn a AS Degree in Paramedicine. They call it: "Paramedic Associate of Science" degree. A&P has as a prereq, Chemistry. If you can get into ARC's General Chemistry (CHEM 400) that's the better of the three qualifying courses.

NCTI is more expensive, takes about a year (also) and they've been impacted in the past, so they'll also choose who attends. Their program eligibility is a bit easier to find on the 'net than ARC's.

Either way, if you get through the program, and pass the NREMT, you'll get your Paramedic License. Then you get to go through Local Accreditation... and that's a joy. Really. I mean it...

 

[HereToLearn]

Thanks for the info! I'll definitely check into those more.

It's looking like the job market is probably going to be even tighter in Sacramento then it is in the bay area. So I'm not sure I'd even be able to find work as an EMT. I'm hoping I don't have to move back down to Southern California, but it might just happen since I'd have a much better chance of finding work. I worked down there for two years, so hopefully my connections down there are still around...

 

[Akulahawk]

I've heard that the market for EMT's is pretty tight up here too. Not great for Medics either.