Course Description
Our paramedic education course is offered in 2 formats: a traditional in-person course and our brand new Part-Time/Hybrid course, which combines online and in-person instruction in an extended, part-time format.
Both course formats are divided into three phases: didactic (classroom), clinical (in-hospital) and field internship (assigned to an active paramedic unit) for a total of 1230+ hours.
Didactic: Traditional program format (540 hours)
During this phase, cognitive and psychomotor learning occurs through lectures, interactive presentations, skills labs, and simulations.
You will attend class in person 4 days a week, usually with Wednesdays off. Classes typically meet from 8:00am to 5:00pm over 17 consecutive weeks.
Didactic: Part-time/Hybrid program format (540 hours)
In the part-time/hybrid course, learning also occurs via live online sessions with an instructor, interactive assignments and on-campus skills labs. Synchronous (live) online sessions occur each Monday and Wednesday evening from 7-10pm Pacific time. Online participation is required. Interactive online modules and quizzes can be completed anytime, but are due before midnight each Saturday night. Students will come to campus for one day each week as scheduled. The meeting times for on-campus days are 8am-5pm. Didactic (combined online and on-campus sessions) for the hybrid course runs for 32 consecutive weeks (January - August).
Clinical (both formats)
The clinical phase is approximately 5 weeks in duration. The assigned tours of duty include day, evening, night, and weekends shifts so that the student will receive training and exposure that will closely simulate actual prehospital care functions. In the clinical segment, students are rotated through affiliated hospital clinical areas that may include an emergency department, anesthesiology, pediatrics, and labor and delivery. Students function on a one-to-one basis under the direct supervision of a nurse or physician.
Field (both formats)
The field internship phase is approximately 8 to 12 weeks in duration and consists of a minimum of 20 assigned 24-hours shifts. During the field internship phase, the student is assigned to an active affiliate paramedic unit and must work that crew's schedule with them. While in this rotation, the student will perform the full scope of practice of an Paramedic, under the direct supervision of at least one certified Paramedic Preceptor with at least two years of field experience. Field internships are arranged under the auspices of, in conjunction with, and are monitored by the UCLA Paramedic Education Program.
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Course Fees
The course fees for our two Paramedic program formats are:
- Traditional format: $10,500
- Hybrid (part-time) format: $16,000
For information on financial aid and payment plans, please see How to Pay for School. For information on estimating all related costs (housing, etc.), please visit Costs & Budgeting.
College Credit
Through a relationship between the UCLA Center for Prehospital Care (CPC) and the West Los Angeles College (WLAC), students who successfully complete our Paramedic Education Program are eligible to receive academic credit (up to 36 units).
To be eligible for academic credit, each student must be enrolled into WLAC. For our accepted Paramedic students, enrollment is accomplished by completing a WLAC Enrollment Application and Add Permit. Paramedic students are enrolled into WLAC while in attendance in the Paramedic Education Program (not at the WLAC campus unless they are applying for financial aid). Designated enrollment dates will be announced in each class.
Course Policies
We recommend you review our Course Policy Manual to gain a comprehensive understanding of the expectations and obligations of our program.
Program Accreditation
The UCLA Paramedic Education Program is part of the UCLA Center for Prehospital Care and is located at the Pacific Concourse location in Southern California near Hawthorne, El Segundo, and Manhattan Beach.
Our program was the first accredited program in the country and is approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), the national accrediting body for all allied health programs, the State of California, and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services EMS Agency. (CAAHEP is at 1361 Park St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Ph: 727-210-2350.)
As always, our program is open and available to private students. Students do not have to be affiliated with or sponsored by fire-service agencies in order to attend.