Critical care paramedics provide medical care to seriously ill or injured patients during transport to medical facilities. Get information on required courses, professional certification and job growth and salary projections.
What Is a Critical Care Paramedic Training Program?
A critical care paramedic training program provides instruction on advanced techniques and protocols for providing urgent, invasive medical care to patients during transports to medical facilities. These training programs vary in length and generally require that applicants have 2-3 years of current paramedic or nursing experience and licensure. Other prerequisites, such as basic life support and advanced cardiac life support certifications, may also apply.
Critical care paramedic training programs are offered through on-campus and distance-learning program formats, with single-course or multiple-course curriculums. Multiple-course curriculums usually serve as preparation for advanced professional certifications, such as Certified Flight Paramedic (FP-C) and Certified Critical Care Paramedic (CCP-C), which are administered through the Board for Critical Care Transport Certification.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Available Programs</b></td><td> Academic programs and professional credentials available</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Program Format</b></td><td>On campus or online</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Certification</b></td><td> Options include the Certified Flight Paramedic (FP-C) and Certified Critical Care Paramedic (CCP-C) credentials</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Course Topics</b></td><td>Critical care pharmacology, flight phsyiology, invasive skills, hemodynamic monitoring</td></tr>
<tr><td><b> Median Salary (2020)</b> </td><td> $36,650 (<i>for all EMTs and Paramedics</i>) </td></tr>
<tr><td><b> Job Outlook (2019-2029)</b></td><td> 6% growth (<i>for all EMTs and Paramedics</i>) </td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatWillILearn">What Will I Learn?</h3><p>Your coursework may include training on clinical principles by covering topics such as advanced pathophysiology, critical care pharmacology, advanced patient assessment, flight physiology, barophysiology and diagnostic studies.
</p><p>Instruction on techniques and protocols may be covered through subjects that include ventilator management, high-risk OB transport, intra-aortic balloon pumps, invasive skills, hemodynamic monitoring and flight safety. You may also be trained on thoracostomy, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), central venous lines and BiPAP (bilevel positive airway pressure).
</p><h3 id="section---WhatCanIDoWithMyTraining">What Can I Do with My Training?</h3><p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the employment rate of emergency medical technicians and paramedics was projected to grow 6% during the decade of 2019 through 2029 (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). You could work for various employers, such as ambulatory healthcare service companies, transit and ground passenger transportation firms, government agencies, military facilities, hospitals and sports organizations. The BLS also reported that in 2020, the annual median salary for paramedics was $36,650, with the top 10% of paramedics earning $62,150.</p>
