The Paramedic program at Saddleback College is designed to prepare the student for licensure as a paramedic. It is an intense, full-time program consisting of lecture, skills lab, clinical practice, and field internship. The paramedic program can be completed in approximately 6.5 months. 

Degrees and Certificates

Paramedic Program Requirements

Admission to the paramedic program requires a combination of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification and previous emergency response experience. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain coursework and experience prior to applying to the program.

  • Applicants will need a Saddleback College student ID number and email in order to apply.
  • High school diploma or equivalency.
  • Current California EMT license.
  • Current basic life support (CPR) card. This card must be an American Heart Association "Healthcare Provider". No Substitutions. This card must be valid throughout the duration of the class.
  • Recommended: Minimum one year of full-time verified work experience as an EMT on an emergency response vehicle, such as a fire engine or private ambulance.
Paramedic Program Tuition and Fees - 33.5 Units
Tuition (33.5 units at $46 per unit) $1,541
Material Fees $210
Health Fees ($23 x 2 semesters) $46
Parking Permit ($40 x 2 semesters) $80
Books $651
Background and Drug Screen $92.75
Medical Document Management $39.99
Insurance $100
Uniform $150
Supplies $150
State License $250
Live Scan $51
National Registry Profile $150
NR Written Exam $180
NR Practical Exam $180
Total Estimated Cost $3,864.75

NOTE: Prices are estimates and are subject to change.

Students may be eligible for financial aid. If interested in applying, please visit Saddleback College's Student Financial Assistance & Scholarship Office https://www.saddleback.edu/fao

Course TitleUnits
EMT 219 - Paramedic Preparation4
HSC 104 - Medical Terminology3
HSC 108 - Disease Processes for the Health Sciences3
HSC 217 - Cardiac Dysrhythmias2
HSC 228 - Calculations for Medication Administration1
Future ClassesApplication PeriodProgram Start Date
Class 91September 2 - October 25, 2024January 13, 2025
Class 92May 1 - June 13, 2025August 18, 2025

NOTE: Class 91 applicants will be notified of acceptance by November 8th ,2024 through their Submittable account. Mandatory Orientation Session will be November 12th, 2024. Details will be sent out to candidates upon official acceptance to the program.

Download the HS Health Packet

 

Paramedic students will be required to obtain the following titers/immunizations/vaccines in order to complete program clinical requirements. It is highly encouraged to get started as soon as you are registered for PM 220 and PM 230. 

  • Measles
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Varicella
  • TDAP
  • Hepatitis B
  • TB skin test
  • COVID-19 vaccine/booster
  • Seasonal flu shot (when available)


Paramedic students are required to complete the following items. Failure to do so within the deadlines listed will result in you not moving forward in the program.

Immunizations/Titers/Physical

  • Spring 2024 Due Date: 1/24/2024
  • Summer 2024 Due Date: TBD


All Paramedic students are required to obtain a “Program Clearance” through the Student Health & Wellness Center, to do so you must make a telehealth appointment at https://studenthealth.saddleback.edu. This appointment will provide you with the information and necessary immunizations and titers required for your individual needs. Once you have completed your Telehealth appointment, the RN will discuss your options and needs for your Program Clearance. If you are not registered in any courses at Saddleback this semester, the link above will not let you proceed to making an appointment, please contact the Student Health & Wellness Center at (949) 582-4606 to make the telehealth appointment by phone. Click here to view the Student Health & Wellness Center office hours.

Required immunizations, titers, physical are listed on the packet. You may choose to use your own health care provider or get this done through the health center. If you use your own healthcare provider, they must fill out the “Evaluation & Recommendation” page included in your “Mandatory Health Assessments” packet. Once signed by your physician, you will submit this to the health center via fax. 

All immunizations and lab results must be faxed to (949) 582-4227; cannot be emailed, as it is not HIPAA compliant for health care records. If you do not have access to a fax, you can download a fax app through your phone. You may also mail it (but fax is preferred):

Student Health Center-SSC 177
28000 Marguerite Parkway
Mission Viejo, CA 92692

Program Clearances can take up to 3 months for necessary immunizations and or titers to be completed. Please do not delay in making your appointments.  If you have any questions, please call the Student Health & Wellness Center at (949) 582-4606. YOU DO NOT NEED TO SUBMIT PROGRAM CLEARANCE TO US. THE HEALTH CENTER WILL EMAIL YOU A COPY AND CC US.

Health Insurance

Due Date: Must be valid for the length of the program.

Proof of health insurance is required. Students who do not have health insurance will need to find a basic plan that covers them through the semester. Individual plans can be found on the web at Covered California, Kaiser, Anthem, Blue Shield, Medi-cal, etc.

Professional Liability Insurance

Due Date: Must be valid for the length of the program.

Specifics will be given during the information session and first day orientation.

COVID Vaccine

At this time, the Paramedic clinical sites that provide clinical hours and patient contacts require all vaccinations including Covid-19 (primary series and one booster)

CastleBranch Background/Drug Test/CastleBranch Compliance Tracker

  • Deadline to purchase: 2/28/25


All students will be required to complete a background/drug test and purchase the compliance tracker. To place an order visit: https://discover.castlebranch.com/

Instructions

Select "Place order" at the top right of page. Enter package code: SJ41bgdtim. Within 24 hours of your order being placed, CastleBranch will register you to take your test with a lab in your area. Allow 5-7 days for results. The results will be sent to Saddleback automatically. YOU DO NOT NEED TO SUBMIT ANYTHING FOR THIS. We have access to see the results upon completion and will be tracking this.

Once completed, you may view the report by accessing your account on the Castle Branch website. Your order will show "In Process" until it has been completed. The Paramedic Program Director has secure access to your account and will confirm that it has cleared via the website. If there are any problems, the Paramedic Program Director will contact you to discuss them with you confidentially. Similarly, if you have any concerns, you may contact the Paramedic Program Director to discuss them confidentially.

You will be asked to upload certain medical records to the compliance tracker portion. This will be in addition to submitting these to the Student Health Center. Please hold off on uploading any medical records in the compliance tracker until you have received your program clearance from the Student Health Center. This is to ensure you are uploading the correct documentation.

Basic Life Support/CPR Card

  • Due Date: Prior to the first day of class every semester


Prior to the first day of class, you are required to have a valid BLS CPR card, must be through the American Heart Association (no other providers accepted) throughout the entire length of the program.

BLS CPR Card Sample

You can do the BLS Provider course at any authorized AHA Training Center, which you can find at https://cpr.heart.org, or check out the list below for some AHA Training Centers in the Orange County area. Please note that The CPR Lady will give a 10% discount to all Saddleback Paramedic students (when registering, use Promo Code “SADDLEBACK”)

Training Centers:
The CPR Lady - thecprlady.net
Lifeline Healthcare Education - lifelinecpr.com
National Protection & Safety - npsc.us
Center for Healthcare Education - healthcareeducation.org

Student ID

  • Spring 2024 Due Date: 1/24/2024
  • Summer 2024 Due Date: TBD


To obtain your student ID card, you must be registered in a course at Saddleback. You may do so online or in person in the Admissions & Records office located in SSC 102 – see the Admissions & Records page for details. Once completed, the Admissions & Records office will print and distribute your card. You will carry your Student ID card on you in skill/clinical days.

Paramedic Class 89 Book List

  • Option #1 - Hardcover book and online access code
    • Nancy Caroline's Emergency Care in the Streets Premier Hybrid Access, Ninth Edition
    • ISBN: 9781284256840
       
  • Option #2 – E- Book and online access code
    • Nancy Caroline's Emergency Care in the Streets Premier Digital Package, Ninth Edition
    • ISBN: 9781284256833
       
  • ECG Book
    • Basic Arrhythmias, 8th edition
    • Published by Pearson (September 5th 2016) - Copyright © 2017 Gail Walraven
    • Paperback
    • ISBN-13: 9780134380995
    • Basic Arrhythmias
       
  • ACLS Manual
    • 2020 ACLS Provider Manual Paperback – January 1, 2021 Publisher: American Heart Association (January 1, 2021) SBN-10
    • 1616697725
    • ISBN-13 978-1616697723

   

Paramedic Program Accreditation

The Saddleback Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

To contact CAAHEP:
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
1361 Park Street
Clearwater, FL. 33756
www.caahep.org

To contact CoAEMSP:
8301 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
(214) 703-8845
FAX (214) 703-8992
www.coaemsp.org

To file a complaint regarding the Paramedic program, please visit the CoAEMSP website.

Paramedic Program Statistics

Class 87 - Pending

Class 86 - 83.33%

Class 85 - 100%

Class 84 - 94.73%

Class 83 - 100%

2023 - 85.7%

2022 - 81.6%

2021 - 90.06%

2020 - 92.6%

 

2023 (through quarter) - Attempts 17; 1st attempt pass 76%; within 3 attempts 94%; within 6 attempts 100%

2022 - Attempts 12; 1st attempt pass 83%; within 3 attempts 100%; within 6 attempts 100%

2021 -  Attempts 34; 1st attempt pass 44%; within 3 attempts 94%; within 6 attempts 94%

2020 -  Attempts 18; 1st attempt pass 78%; within 3 attempts 94%; within 6 attempts 94%

2024-2025 Estimated Cost of Attendance

The estimated cost of attendance at Saddleback College includes an estimate for tuition and fees, books
and supplies as well as basic living expenses like food and housing, and personal and miscellaneous
expenses. Your actual expenses may be higher or lower than the amounts listed below.

ExpensesLiving With Parents (2 Semesters)Living Away from Parents (2 semesters)
Tuition & Fees$1,432$1,432
Books & Supplies$1,062$1,062
Living Expenses: Food & Housing$14,480 $25,916
Personal & Misc.$4,059 $4,968
Transportation$1,791 $1,962
Total Resident$22,824$35,340
Total Non-Resident$35,124$47,640
ExpensesLiving with ParentsLiving Away from Parents
Tuition & Fees$712$712
Books & Supplies$354$354
Living Expenses: Food & Housing$4,827$9,276
Personal & Misc.$1,353$1,656
Transportation$597$654
Total Resident$7,843 $12,652
Total Non-Resident$13,993$18,802
ExpensesLiving With ParentsLiving Away from Parents
 Fall & SpringSummerFall & SpringSummer
Tuition & Fees$1,432$712$1,432$712
Books & Supplies$1,062$354 $1,062$354 
Transportation$1,791 $597 $1,962 $654
Total Resident$4,291 $1,666 $4,462 $1,723
Total Non-Resident$16,591 $7,816 $16,762 $7,873
  • Enrollment Fee: $46 per unit
    • Based on 15-units for Fall, Spring and Summer
  • Health Fee $26 for Fall and Spring, $22 for Summer
  • Non-Resident Tuition (in addition to the $46 per unit enrollment fee): $446 per unit ($376 non-resident tuition fee + $70 capital outlay fee)
  • Estimated cost of attendance may be adjusted for documented circumstances such as dependent care expenses, purchase of a computer, and other special circumstances (except for students enrolled less than half-time)

Optional fees

  • ASG Sticker - $10
  • Student Representation Fee - $2.00 (per semester)
  • Parking Permit Fee
  • Instructional Material Fees - as listed in the Schedule of Classes

Contact the Paramedic Program