Q: I saw there are Paramedic 1 and Paramedic 2 courses. I wanted to confirm that I need to do both classes in order to be able to test for NREMT and to get a paramedic patch. Is that correct?
A: Yes, both Paramedic 1 and Paramedic 2 are required to test for a Paramedic certification at NREMT. Our Paramedic 1 is basically Advanced EMT on steroids. In other words, the curriculum in Paramedic 1 is above and beyond the standard AEMT curriculum. We did this because we found that certain parts of Paramedic training fit better inline with the AEMT curriculum, and we found students are more successful later if they have these training topics sooner.
For those who are already certified at the Advanced EMT level, we have an Advanced Placement Program that allows these students to test out of our Paramedic 1 for faster and more affordable Paramedic training. NOTE!!! Not all AEMTs have the required knowledge/experience to pass these exams, and being an AEMT is no guarantee you will successfully bypass the Paramedic 1 portion.