Having trained paramedics in rural communities can save lives! Paramedics are advantageous to rural communities because they are heavily relied upon by hospitals in emergency situations. Access to paramedics is also important for bringing industry to rural communities. Improved healthcare is appealing to businesses, as well as, college students.
Paramedics also have a job everywhere they go. Several job opportunities are available to those in the field including, ambulance and fire services, clinics and hospitals, air medical services and many others. Higher paying job opportunities are available, paramedics in Oklahoma can make $33,000-$52,000 per year, as well as opportunities to provide better service to the community.

Northwest Technology Center is implementing a Paramedic Training program. This program is for adult students with an EMT credential and a high school diploma or GED who wish to advance in this field.  Classes begin April 20, 2021 and run through June 21, 2022.  The 14-month program is 1,210 hours and prepares students to perform comprehensive patient assessments and advanced emergency procedures all in a pre-hospital setting.

Students will learn the technical skills necessary to aid in the process of autonomous decision making along with being trained in academic theory. Students at Northwest Tech who complete the program are also eligible to earn WorkKeys Certifications.It is beneficial for rural emergency services to have employees who are EMTs take this training.

Steve Kliewer, Business and Industry Services Director on the Fairview campus of NWTC has been working with other staff members on the program implementation.   According to Kliewer, “There is a need for this program in northwest Oklahoma and Junior Aguilar, Director of Major County EMS requested this course be offered at NWTC. ”Prior to acceptance into the course, an EMT certification must be obtained and completion of an Anatomy and Physiology class is required. Anatomy and Physiology can be taken at the Northwest Technology Center.  It begins February 2, 2021 and runs through April 15, 2021. It is strongly recommended that students take this Anatomy and Physiology class even if a credit for the class has been obtained elsewhere.

Program instructor Lisa Dyer, who teaches the Paramedic Program at the Kiamichi Technology Center, will walk students through 11 courses via distance learning.  Courses include: Paramedic Preparatory/Pharmacology, Paramedic Trauma/Shock, ParamedicPatient Assessment and more.  Students will learn a diverse array of information on every aspect of Paramedic Training.  Dyer is the EMS/paramedic instructor for Kiamichi’s Poteau class and has worked at Kiamichi for over 17 years.

The training is lockstep and is delivered through distance learning. The distance learning is available to students on both the Alva and the Fairview campuses, while the skills portion of the training will be taught with an in-person instructor at the Fairview campus. The distance learning training will be similar to college ITV classes, in that all students will be learning the same thing, at the same time, with the same instructor. While the instructor will not be in the classroom, there will be staff available to assist with student requirements.

Applications for the program are open now through March 1, 2021. Along with the application, immunization records, personal health history, physical examination and student’s work references must be submitted and applicants must pass a physical ability assessment.

Those interested in starting a career in Ambulance Services, Fire Services, 911 Dispatch, Air Medical Services, Hospitals, Physicians’ Offices/Clinics or Industry/Off-Shore should consider enrolling in this program. In-District Tuition is $4,230 for this 14-month program. Out-of-District Tuition is $6,410. Financial aid assistance is available to those who qualify. 

For more information, visit www.nwtech.edu or call 580.327.0344 in Alva or 580.227.3708 in Fairview.  Northwest Technology Center is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution.