Dutchess Community College is located in Poughkeepsie, New York. The campus sits right near the Hudson River and sits off Route 9 and Myers Corners Road. Reese Park is a nearby location to look for when visiting the campus.
The paramedic training program at Dutchess is an accredited program and fulfills the requirements set by State and national agencies for credentialing of the Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic.
Program Information
Dutchess Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic degree. The course is four semesters in length, takes approximately two years to complete, and consists of 68 credit hours. Students will be required to discuss applications and entrance into the program with a program counselor, as there are prerequisites. For students that are entering the paramedic training program full time the tuition cost per semester is $1450 for New York State residents and $2900 for nonresidents. Students entering the program part time will pay $121 per credit hour for residents and $242 per credit hour for nonresidents. These prices do not include the cost of additional fees, books, uniforms, examination costs, and other costs that a student may incur.
Program Prerequisites
Students wishing to enter the EMT-paramedic program offered through the college must first meet all of the standard admission requirements for the college, which include being a high school graduate or having a GED, and must be 18 years of age. Students must complete the college application and appropriate paperwork for entrance.
High school courses in biology, human anatomy and mathematics are highly recommended for those planning to apply for entrance to a paramedic education program. A New York State Emergency Medical Technician (or reciprocity) certification is also a prerequisite. The number of candidates in to the program is limited on the basis of clinical facilities available. Upon completion of this program graduates are eligible to take the New York State and National Registry certifying Paramedic exams. Those completing the AAS degree will be able to operate as a licensed paramedic in the state of New York.
In addition, students must submit a completed physical examination and have all required immunizations. It is recommended that paramedic students receive the Hepatitis B vaccination series as well. Students may be required to submit to a drug screening and background check before beginning their clinical rotations.
Contact Information
For more information about the program offered at Dutchess Community College you may contact the Department Head of the Department of Allied Health, Karen Ingham, at ingham@sunydutchess.edu. Or you may call the school at (845) 431–8000.