four male ems students practicing backboarding

Emergency Medical Services

Programs at Tacoma Community College 

Level 1: Emergency Medical Technician

Spring 2024 applications open January 15th and close February 15th at 5 p.m.

There will be various options for EMT cohorts offered for the 2023-2024 academic year:

  • Community based location: This daytime program is specifically designed to enhance options for access in underserved Tacoma neighborhoods. Tacoma's East Side is the anticipated community site.
  • Evening/weekend course option

Although subject to change, it is anticipated that all options will be offered in a face-to-face environment. Due to high volume of interest in the EMT program, TCC will select applicants for specialty cohorts based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, application completion, location, academic preparation, etc. All others will be randomly selected via a lottery-based system.

Note:  If you do not receive an anticipated email from the online application system, please be sure to check your Junk mail.   


Level 2: Paramedic

Thank you for your interest in our program! With the Paramedic Certificate, you'll build on your EMT training. As a paramedic, you may be employed by the fire department, hospital, or private ambulance companies. You'll be the eyes, ears, and hands of an emergency physician while in the field. The program is designed to prepare graduates to meet Washington state certification requirements and to take the National Registry EMT-Paramedic examination. Upon successful completion of the certificate program, students have the option to pursue an Associate in Applied Science Degree.

Each year, the application will open mid-January and close on March 31st at 11:59pm. The link for the current application is: tacomacc.embark.com/apply/2023. After clicking the link to apply, applicants will need to create an account/register to login.

We hope prospective students find the new application to be intuitive and user-friendly.  If you have questions or need help, please email us at ParamedicProgram@tacomacc.edu.  Applicants will have the opportunity to return to this site to edit open applications, up until they click “submit” or until the application deadline of March 31st or until the application closes. 

Note:  If you do not receive an anticipated email from the online application system, please be sure to check your Junk mail.   

For general information about admission requirements, please review the Paramedic Application Guidelines. Ready to apply? Please also consider reviewing the Application FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions). 

Learn More About EMS

Questions?

Please reach out to a Pathway Specialist

EMAIL US

Take Your Career Further 

Paramedic Certificate + Associate of Applied Sciences Degree 

Upon successful completion of the certificate program, students have the option to pursue an Associate of Applied Sciences degree by completing 42 additional credits of general education courses as outlined in the curriculum. Those classes may also be taken prior to beginning the Paramedic Education program. 

Community Health BAS 

Students who complete the Paramedic program and Associate of Applied Science Degree may apply for TCC's Bachelor of Applied Science in Community Health degree, which offers elective tracks in Community Health, Advanced Respiratory Care, and community paramedicine. Learn more about how TCC's Paramedic program can be a starting point for a number of health careers pathways at a Health Careers Info Session. 

 

 

Accreditation

The TCC Paramedic Education Program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 9355 - 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775; telephone 727-210-2350, fax 727-210-2354, www.caahep.org.

Program Outcomes

The information listed below is a requirement requested by Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 1361 Park Street, Clearwater, FL 33756, 727-210-2350. 

Paramedic Program Outcomes 

CAAHEP Accredited Paramedic Programs and CoAEMSP Letter of Review (LoR) Programs track and report outcome measures annually to the Committee on Accreditation for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). 

The most current CoAEMSP Annual Report was for the calendar year 2020. 

The most recent success rate for the National Registry of EMT Paramedic/State Cognitive exam was 100%. 

The most recent positive placement rate for graduates was 100%.  Positive placement is defined by the CoAEMSP as “Employed full or part-time in a related field and/or continuing his/her education and/or serving in the military.”  Positive placement is measured at the completion of the program. 

 The most recent retention rate was 91%.

Outcomes Assessments
Graduation Year, Class of 2021
 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
Graduates 23
 20 18 20 23 22 21 21
Attrition 4.2%
 9% 5% 16.5% 11.5% 1.1% 4.5% 12.5%
Retention 95.8%
  91%  95% 83.3% 88.5% 98.9% 95.5% 87.5%
Positive Placement 100%
 100% 100% 95% 100% 95% 90.5% 76.2%
National Registry Written - % of grads Attempting 100%
 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
National Registry Written- Pass Rate - Success 100%
 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
National Registry Practical - % of grads Attempting 100%
 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
National Registry Practical - Pass Rate - Success 100%
 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Comprehensive Final Written - % of grads Attempting 100%
 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Comprehensive Final Written - Pass Rate - Success 100%
 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Comprehensive Final Practical - % of grads Attempting 100%
 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Comprehensive Final Practical - Pass Rate - Success 100%
 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

Resources